Even people who don't like meatloaf will like this one. It's like a tasty, giant cheeseburger mixed with cheese, onion and bacon. It's so good and easy, you will put it on your meal rotation.
non-stick cooking spray
6 slices Texas toast, cubed
1/2 c. milk
2 lb. ground beef
6 strips crisply cooked bacon, chopped
2 large eggs
1 red onion, chopped
1 c. plus 2 T. ketchup, divided
1/4 c. plus 1 T. mustard, divided
1 t. kosher salt, divided
1 t. freshly ground black pepper, divided
8 oz. Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
1/4 c. grated yellow onion
dill pickle chips, for serving, optional
1 red onion, thinly sliced, for serving, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a broiler pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Mix together cubed bread and milk in a bowl; set aside.
In a large bowl, add ground beef, bacon, eggs, chopped red onion, 2 T. ketchup, 1 T. mustard, 1/2 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper. Add soaked bread; gently mix with your hands, trying to keep the mixture light. Gently mix in the cubed Cheddar, distributing it evenly throughout the meat.
Form meat mixture into a loaf approximately 6 - 8 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick on the prepared pan.
In a bowl, mix grated yellow onion with remaining ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper; spread half of the sauce on top of the meatloaf.
Tent the broiler pan with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour.
Remove foil, add the remaining sauce; bake until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees and meatloaf is no longer pink in the middle, another 35 - 40 minutes. Sprinkle on the grated Cheddar cheese; bake for 5 more minutes until cheese is melted.
Allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before removing to a platter.
Serve with sliced red onions and dill pickle chips.
4-6 servings.