Mini Meatloaves Wrapped in Bacon... AND Stuffed with Cheese
All i can say about this dish is O.M.Geeeeeee. I know I have said this about many of my dishes but THIS is probably one of our family favourites. What has made it even better lately is our smoker/bbq unit!!!!!! We love this so much that I even have made teenie ones for kids to take in their lunches. On a sunday afternoon I have prepared a full cupcake pan (12) and pop them in the freezer for kids to take in their lunch kits. My kids make lunches for school in the evenings so by the time noon comes around the next day they are defrosted. Then they zap them in the microwave at school, and they are hot and ready to enjoy. My son actually has been known to eat them cold. LOL.
I tend to side this dish with either scalloped or mashed potatoes, as well as a nice salad with berries and goat cheese.
Ingredients
● Ground beef or a mixture of turkey/chicken/beef/pork. It is totally up to you. Mix a pound of each together. Sometimes I do beef/chicken and pork.
● 2 Pounds of bacon
● Baby bells or any block cheese cut into thick cubes
● Salt
● Onion... diced small
● Mushrooms..diced small
● Worcestershire sauce
● Pepper
● Garlic
● Crackers smashed up... or pork rinds smashed
● 1-2 Eggs
You will need
● 4 Small foil loaf pans
● Large mixing bowl
● Cooking spray ● Chopper
Instructions
1. Take your foil pans and bacon. Begin to layer each pan across with the bacon making sure each piece falls over the edge.
2. In a large mixing bowl add in your ground meat(s). Sprinkle your seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce over the meat. Add in the crushed bonding product (rinds or crackers), crack one egg into the mixture. Combine and if it is still dry add another egg if desired. As we all know i don't really measure seasonings and just go with the flow and i can usually tell if it is good just by the smell. I know I know not everyone can do this... just use your best judgement is all I can tell you.
3. In your chopper add in 3⁄4 of an onion, garlic and your mushrooms. Chop until fine. Then add to your meat mixture and continue to mash it all together until fully combined.
4. Take one of your foil pans and add a thin layer of meat.... Add in your cheese all the way down the middle. Top it off with another layer of your ground mixture. Pat down and fold over your bacon creating a cocoon. Do this with each foil pan. If you don't have enough bacon or not enough ground mix... don't worry, it is a learning process and it isn't a contest. If there is too much of something, mix in with the other foil pans.
5. I don't always like to cook my Meatloaves in a foil pan when I use the smoker. The pan is more used as a mould for myself. I place my loaves directly on the grill and cook at about 300-325 until my loaf temps are about 155-160 internal temp... check your temps at about 40mins, that way they finish off to 165 while resting. You will have a crispy bacon shell, while the inside will be moist and gooey with all the goodness.
If you are using your oven … turn your oven to about 375 and check internal temperature about 30-40mins … 160-165 or take off earlier and let rest until inside temp reaches 165.
Enjoy,
Amanda
Sylvan Lake,AB
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