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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Beef and Red Meat Recipes

    Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf

    Published: Nov 3, 2019 ยท Modified: Dec 12, 2021 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 27 Comments

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    Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf takes the classic comfort food to the next level by adding sausage and thick cut peppercorn bacon. 

    Looking for more recipes that include ground beef? Give our Cast Iron Meatballs a try or our delicious Cast Iron Skillet Burgers.

    Peppered bacon latticed over a hearty meatloaf in a dutch oven garnished with fresh parsley.
    Jump to:
    • What is meatloaf?
    • Dutch Oven Meatloaf Recipe
    • Why are eggs added to meatloaf?
    • What to serve with meatloaf?
    • Easy Potato Recipes
    • Easy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
    • Our favorite tools to make Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf!
    • Other Related Cast Iron Beef Recipes
    • Get the Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Directions:

    There is nothing more American than apple pie. Unless we're talking savory, then it's meatloaf.

    What is meatloaf?

    For something so delicious, why does it have a less than appetizing name. A loaf of meat.

    Well, now that I put it like that, it does sound down right scrumptious.

    Peppered bacon meatloaf garnished with fresh parsley served with mashed potatoes and green beans.

    Meatloaf, as its name states, is a loaf of meat, mixed with other ingredients like aromatics (onions, garlic, celery, peppers), binders (eggs, breadcrumbs, crackers, rolled oats), and flavorings or mix-ins (sauces like ketchup or Worcestershire, herbs, spices, cheeses).

    Traditionally, it is cooked in a loaf pan, then sliced like bread.

    One might be surprised to learn that much like the hot dog, pretty much every culture has a form of meatloaf in their cuisine.

    Dutch Oven Meatloaf Recipe

    Ingredients to make the meatloaf: ground Italian sausage, ground beef, eggs, panko, onion, celery, peppered bacon, fresh parsley, seasonings, and a dutch oven.

    A few notes before we begin:

    Using a 10" or 12" skillet instead of a Dutch oven will work for this recipe. Additionally, you can use cast iron loaf pans (or any kind), but you'll need to divide the mixture among two pans.

    For ease, I used ground Italian sausage, however, buying links and removing the casings will work perfectly too.

    Ground beef and ground Italian sausage crumbled into a large bowl.

    Crumble both the ground beef and ground Italian sausage into a large bowl. Crumbling the meats before hand will help reduce the mixing later. Over-mixing ground meats tends to lead to dry and tough results.

    And nobody likes dry, tough meat. Nobody!

    Two eggs have been added to the crumbled meats in the large bowl.

    Add two eggs. Three, if using medium.

    Why are eggs added to meatloaf?

    Eggs are added to meatloaf (meatballs too) for two reasons: moisture and binding. Rich egg yolks add silky fat which will help keep meatloaf juicy. Together with egg whites, they will hold or bind the meat and other ingredients together in the desired form.

    The remaining ingredients have been added: onions, celery, parsley, panko, and seasonings (salt, pepper, granulated garlic.)

    Eggs and ground meat are the two constants in any meatloaf, after that, the ingredients will vary wildly depending on the desired flavor.

    We've added diced onions and celery, panko (Japanese bread crumbs), fresh parsley, and seasonings: salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.

    Because we used Italian sausage, we wanted to stick with more milder mix-ins, allowing the sausage flavor to shine through.

    All the ingredients for the meatloaf have been combined in a large bowl.

    Mix together, (by hand with or without gloves, a spoon, or by telekinetic powers) all the ingredients. Take care to not over mix, remember my warnings above.

    The meatloaf mixture patted down into a Dutch oven, ready for baking.

    Add the meatloaf mixture to the Dutch oven (or whatever pan you're using) and pat smooth. Take care the mixture is spread evenly in the pan to ensure even cooking.

    Peppered bacon has been applied to the top of the meatloaf in a lattice weave.

    Layer the bacon across the top of the meatloaf. The slices may need to be trimmed, but can be used to fill in wholes or gaps.

    We did a lattice weave, but this is not necessary. We were striving for beauty along with taste. And nothing says beauty like woven bacon strips.

    Cooked Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf garnished with fresh parsley.

    Once the meatloaf is done, allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing and drain off any renderings.

    We served this with the classic sides mashed potatoes and peas.

    A slice of peppered bacon meatloaf plated with mashed potatoes and green peas.

    What to serve with meatloaf?

    While mashed potatoes and peas are a classic; there are so many delicious side dishes to pair with your meatloaf.

    Triangle slices of sweet cornbread on a black platter.
    • Cast Iron Sweet Cornbread
    • Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon
    • Rice Pilaf from The Complete Savorist
    • Cast Iron Cinnamon Apples

    Easy Potato Recipes

    Brimming bowl of red potatoes mashed with bacon and blue cheese, garnished with chives.
    • Bacon Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes from The Complete Savorist
    • Cast Iron Cheesy Hassleback Potatoes
    • Dutch Oven Potatoes
    • Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes
    • Yukon Gold Buttermilk Thyme Mashed Potatoes from The Complete Savorist
    • Scalloped Potato Gratin
    • Buttered Asparagus and Spring Peas

    Easy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes

    Dutch Oven Honey Glazed Carrots in a green serving bowl garnished with fresh thyme.
    • Dutch Oven Honey Glazed Carrots
    • Parmesan Zucchini Chips
    • Slow Cooker Milk and Honey Corn on the Cob from The Magical Slow Cooker
    • Steamed Dutch Oven Asparagus
    • Bacon Bleu Cranberry Brussels Sprouts from The Complete Savorist
    • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli from The Complete Savorist
    Slow cooker crock full of cheesy creamy corn with slices for fresh jalapeño.
    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Jalapeño Corn from The Magical Slow Cooker
    • Maple Thyme Roasted Carrots from The Complete Savorist
    • Steamed Corn on the Cob
    • Sautéed Spinach from The Complete Savorist
    • Tangy-Sweet Green Beans from The Complete Savorist
    Fresh green beans tossed with bacon and sun-dried tomatoes.
    Mashed potatoes and peas in the background with peppered bacon meatloaf plated in the center.

    Our favorite tools to make Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf!

    Image of Lodge Blacklock 5.5 quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven

    Lodge Blacklock 5.5 quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    Buy Now →

    Other Related Cast Iron Beef Recipes

    • Slices of beef roast on top a bed of vegetables covered with mushroom whiskey gravy.
      Whiskey Pot Roast
    • Cast iron steaks in a cast iron skillet.
      Cast Iron Steak
    • Plated pot roast over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans.
      Dutch Oven Mississippi Pot Roast
    • Plated corned beef and cabbage dinner with onions, carrots, potatoes, and dipping sauce.
      Dutch Oven Corned Beef and Cabbage

    If you tried this Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    Cooked Dutch oven peppered bacon meatloaf garnished with fresh parsley
    Print Recipe
    5 from 22 votes

    Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf

    Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf takes the classic comfort food to the next level by adding sausage and thick cut peppercorn bacon.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Resting Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 675kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Cost: $15
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 4 qt. Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs ground beef I used 85%
    • 1 lb ground Italian sausage I used mild
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup yellow onion diced
    • ⅓ cup celery diced (2 ribs)
    • ½ cup panko
    • 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
    • ½ teaspoon salt to taste
    • ½ teaspoon pepper to taste
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic to taste
    • 8 slices thick cut peppered bacon
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 350°F
    • Crumble the beef and sausage into a large bowl (see notes).
    • Add the eggs, onions, celery, panko, parsley, salt, pepper, and granulated garlic to the meat in the bowl.
    • Mix well until combined.
    • Add the meatloaf mixture to the Dutch oven, making sure it is even and smoothed.
    • Lattice weave or layer the peppered bacon over the top of the meatloaf; trimming if neccessary. Use trimmed pieces to fill in any holes or gaps.
    • Cover and bake for an hour and 15 minutes.
    • With 15 minutes remaining, remove the lid, allowing the bacon to crisp up.
    • Once done, remove from oven and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    This can be mixed right in the Dutch oven.

    Slow Cooker Directions:

    Heat the Dutch Oven or skillet and softly cook the the bacon; don't make it overly crispy. Place on a paper-towel lined plate to absorb excess renderings.
    Form the meatloaf. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray. For the meatloaf and place it in the slow cooker. Layer the bacon atop. 
    Replace the slow cooker lid and cook on low for 5-6 hours. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 188mg | Sodium: 922mg | Potassium: 589mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

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      Dutch Oven Chili Mac

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 22 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. D

      November 10, 2024 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      Delicious meatloaf!!

      Reply
    2. Kerri

      February 18, 2024 at 8:35 pm

      5 stars
      This meatloaf is seriously next level! That bacon makes this meal out of this world.

      Reply
    3. Michelle

      July 28, 2023 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      Love that this meatloaf is cooked in the Dutch oven and the bacon topping adds the perfect touch!

      Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      July 28, 2023 at 5:30 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this incredible Dutch Oven Peppered Bacon Meatloaf recipe. It has become a family favorite in my household, and I can't wait to make it again and again. If you're a meatloaf enthusiast or simply looking for a show-stopping dish with unbeatable flavors, this recipe is an absolute must-try. Prepare to be blown away!

      Reply
    5. Stephanie

      July 28, 2023 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      This bacon meatloaf is one of those dishes you just want to dive into and eat your way out of! Wrapping in bacon is such a great idea as the juices keep everything moist and add such an inviting top to the entrรฉe.

      Reply
    6. Anjali

      July 28, 2023 at 1:35 am

      5 stars
      The bacon really took this meatloaf to a whole other level!! It was moist, juicy and so flavorful too!

      Reply
    7. Beth

      July 28, 2023 at 12:25 am

      5 stars
      Great price, delicious, and feeds a crowd - perfect recipe!

      Reply
    8. Dannii

      May 05, 2023 at 1:02 am

      5 stars
      This was insanely cook and my bacon loving husband was very happy.

      Reply
    9. Chenee

      May 04, 2023 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      Wrapping the meatloaf in bacon really does make it so moist and flavorful. I loved the peppery accent from the bacon, too.

      Reply
    10. Kim

      May 04, 2023 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      I've seen this done on a grill, but never in a dutch oven. It looks so good! I've always wanted to try meatloaf wrapped in bacon.

      Reply
    11. Casey

      May 04, 2023 at 11:06 pm

      5 stars
      I love the extra peppery flavor you get from using the peppered bacon in this recipe. So tasty!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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