Bacon Wrapped Mini Meatloaf Recipe (Oven Baked)

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This bacon wrapped mini meatloaf recipe is the perfect savory treat for a fun weeknight dinner or as an unexpected appetizer at any party. Little meatloaf bites are wrapped in bacon, slathered in a kicked up BBQ sauce mix, and baked until the bacon is crispy and the BBQ sauce creates a nice crust.

A white plate with blue trim with three mini meatloaves wrapped in bacon and oven baked.

If you think meatloaf is boring, then we’re glad you’re here. We’re about to change your mind. We love classic meatloaf, but we also love getting creative with it. Classic meatloaf is good, but we have fun with it by changing the ingredients and what we do with it. You’ll find recipes like meatloaf grilled cheese and BBQ meatloaf in our recipe boxes, and now, you’ll also find our bacon wrapped mini meatloaf recipe. We adapted a basic meatloaf recipe into a bite-sized form, then wrapped them in bacon, and coated them in BBQ sauce. The result is a tiny little meatloaf bite that explodes with flavor in every bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients: These are just tiny little meatloaves, so they use the same simple ingredients as their full-sized counterpart. You’ll find them all at your local grocery store.
Easy to Make: Just like full-size meatloaf, you’ll just mix and bake.
So Much Flavor: The meatloaf mix is filled with bold seasonings, BBQ sauce, ketchup, and more, and the topping features more BBQ sauce. And let’s not forget the bacon!
Versatile: These meatloaf bites make a great appetizer for parties or an unexpected and super-fun dinner.
Great for Meal Prep: These little meatloaf bites are freezer-friendly, so they’re perfect for meal prep.

Two white plates with blue trim filled with bacon wrapped mini meatloaves.

Ingredients

Meatloaf

Ground Meat: A blend of ground beef and turkey creates leaner meatloaves that are still juicy and flavorful.
Eggs: Eggs add moisture for tenderness and help hold the meatloaf together.
Saucy Ingredients: A blend of ketchup, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire sauce adds moisture to keep the meatloaf moist and tons of flavor.
Stove Top Stuffing: Crushed Stove Top Stuffing takes the place of breadcrumbs to bind the meatloaf together while adding so much more flavor.
Seasonings: Cajun seasoning, garlic, onion powder, and paprika add a deep, somewhat spicy, aromatic flavor to the meatloaves.
Bacon: A slice of bacon wrapped around each mini meatloaf adds smoky, salty flavor and crispy texture.

Topping

BBQ Sauce and Ketchup: A mix of BBQ sauce and ketchup creates a flavorful coating that caramelizes and crusts as the meatloaves cook.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact measurements.

A white rectangle plate with blue trim filled with eight bacon wrapped mini meatloaves.

Flavor Variations

Ground Meat: For a leaner version, use ground turkey exclusively. For a meatier flavor, use ground beef. You could also use ground chorizo, buffalo, or beefalo.
Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a kick of heat.
Seasonings: Play with your favorite seasonings to change up the flavor of the meatloaves.
Cinnamon: Believe it or not, a touch of cinnamon really brings out the flavors of the meat and sauce.

In process photos of bacon wrapped mini meatloaves on a wire rack with foil under on the baking sheet.

Instructions

Meatloaf

Mix all the meatloaf ingredients except the bacon in a large bowl until just combined.
Shape the mixture into 2-inch oblong meatballs and wrap a piece of bacon around each one.
Secure the bacon with a toothpick, or two, and place the meatloaves on a wire baking rack over a baking sheet lined with foil.

Topping

Mix the topping ingredients in a small bowl and spread it over the meatloaves.
Bake at 400 degrees until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the bacon is crispy.

A baking sheet with foil and a wire rack with a dozen oven baked mini bacon wrapped meatloaves on it after it has baked in the oven.

Tips

Don’t overwork the meatloaf mixture. Overmixing causes dry meatloaf.
The easiest way to mix your meatloaf is with clean hands.
It’s important to use a baking rack so your meatloaves aren’t sitting in grease.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, wrap the meatloaves individually in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.

To reheat the meatloaves, defrost them overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Then, microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through.

A few bacon wrapped oven baked mini meatloaves on a white plate with one held above the plate.

Pairing Suggestions

As a main course, these little meatloaves are perfect with mashed potatoes. As appetizers, these bacon wrapped mini meatloaves are perfect alongside your favorite savory finger foods like habanero salsa and chips, crispy fried tortellini, and jalapeno fries.

A stack of mini bacon wrapped meatloaves and the one on top has a bite taken out of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to keeping meatloaf moist?

There’s actually more than one secret, and they work together to make meatloaf moist. First, be sure to use plenty of moisture. That can be in the form of milk, broth, or sauces. Second, mix your meatloaf ingredients until just combined. Overworking the meat cause it to dry out as it cooks. Finally, let your meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute back into the meat.

What is the best meat for meatloaf?

If you’re using just beef, 80/20 ground chuck is perfect. It has the best fat to lean ratio for a moist, tender meatloaf. If you’re using blend, at least half the meat should be ground beef. In the case of a blend like beef and turkey, the beef should have a bit more fat to help ensure the meatloaf isn’t dry, as turkey is extremely lean.

Why was my meatloaf dry?

Dry meatloaf is usually the result of overcooking it, cooking it with heat that’s too high, using too much lean meat, or adding too many breadcrumbs.

Two mini bacon wrapped meatloaves on a white plate.

Try This Bacon Wrapped Mini Meatloaf Recipe for Yourself

Whether you want an unexpected dinner or a tasty appetizer at your next party, this bacon wrapped mini meatloaf recipe is always the perfect choice. These little meatloaf bites are juicy, tender, and loaded with flavor. They’re also super easy to make, which is a big bonus. Give these a try, and we know you’ll find yourself looking for reasons to make them.

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