You may think that you don't like meatloaf, but that's because you haven't tried this one. It just may be the best meatloaf you will ever eat!
non-stick cooking spray
6 slices Texas toast, cubed
1/2 c. milk
2 lb. lean ground beef
6 strips crisply cooked bacon, chopped
2 large eggs, beaten
1 red onion, 1 finely chopped
1 c. + 2 T. ketchup, divided
1/4 c. + 1 T. mustard, divided
1 t. kosher salt, divided
1 t. freshly ground black pepper, divided
8 oz. cubed Cheddar cheese
1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
1/4 c. grated yellow onion with its juices
dill pickle chips or spears, optional, for serving
1 sliced red onion, optional, for serving
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a broiler pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Mix bread and milk together in a bowl; set aside.
Add ground beef, bacon, eggs, chopped red onion, 2 T. ketchup, 1 T. mustard, 1/2 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper to a large bowl. Add soaked bread; mix with your hands, trying to keep the mixture light. Don't over mix. Gently mix in cubed Cheddar cheese, distributing cheese evenly through the meat.
Form mixture into a loaf about 6 - 8 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick on prepared pan. (A flatter, thinner loaf cooks more evenly.)
Sauce:
Mix grated yellow onion with remaining 1 c. ketchup, 1/4 c. mustard, 1/2 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper in a separate bowl. Evenly spread 1/2 of this sauce on top of the meatloaf.
Tent the pan with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour.
Remove foil; spread on remaining sauce. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F and meatloaf is no longer pink in the middle, another 35 - 40 minutes.
Sprinkle on the grated Cheddar cheese; bake for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before transferring it to a platter and slicing.
Serve with sliced red onions and dill pickle, if desired.
4-6 servings.