As seen in our latest Instagram reel
Smoky ground beef, a juicy meatloaf, and a crispy bacon blanket wrapped around every bite — this smoked meatloaf is comfort food taken to the next level. Fresh from @homecookingbymadison, where everyone was commenting WRAPPED for the recipe. Slice it thick, watch the juices run, and thank the bacon blanket.
Why you’ll love them
- The beef bacon blanket bastes the loaf as it smokes — every slice stays juicy with caramelized, smoky edges.
- About 34g of protein per slice, so it fits a high-protein week perfectly.
- Smoked low and slow for deep flavor you can’t fake in the oven (though we’ve got an oven backup plan below).
- Feeds a crowd: 7–8 generous slices from one loaf.
Ingredients
- 2 lb (900 g) ground beef (80/20)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup ketchup or BBQ sauce, plus more for glazing
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 10 slices beef bacon
Instructions
- Mix. In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper — just until everything is mixed. Don’t overwork it.
- Shape. Form into a loaf on a parchment-lined sheet pan or smoker-safe pan.
- Wrap. Lay the beef bacon slices across the loaf, slightly overlapping, and tuck the ends underneath.
- Smoke. Smoke at 250°F (120°C) for about 2½–3 hours, brushing with extra BBQ sauce in the last 30 minutes, until the internal temperature hits 160°F (71°C).
- Rest & slice. Rest 10 minutes before slicing thick — the juices need a minute to settle.
Tips
- Don’t overmix the meat — that’s what keeps the texture tender instead of dense.
- No smoker? Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 1 hour and lean on the smoked paprika plus a smoky BBQ glaze.
- Leftover slices make an unbeatable next-day sandwich.
Nutrition
Estimated per slice (makes 7–8): ~400 calories, ~34g protein, ~29g fat, ~8g carbs. Values are estimates computed from USDA reference data, not lab-tested.
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Team crispy bacon edges or juicy center slice? Follow @homecookingbymadison on Instagram for the reel and more easy recipes.
