Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

I am unable to cook meatloaf.  I feel like it is a staple that I am somehow fundamentally unable to recreate.  I have no problem making meatballs.  Whom, in my opinion, are just mini-meatloaves.  Yet the meatloaf itself is always just beyond my reach.  Now I am not saying that what I create is inedible.  Normally my "loaves" have a perfectly fine meatloaf taste.  They sometimes stay in loaf formation and other times form a nice "breadcrumb" consistency.  It is a flaw, inability to cook a good meatloaf.  I always wonder if my issue with meatloaf stems from the fact that I didn't even eat ground beef until I was in my 20's.  Whatever the cause, I am still looking for that "to die for" meatloaf recipe that will fix my quandary.

This recipe doesn't solve my problem :-D  The loaf came out fine and it tasted as it should, but I was not blown away and therefore still consider this a meatloaf failure.  Which, given the response to dinner, is anything but.  Seconds were requested and devoured.  It just didn't strike my fancy - it was good but not mouthwatering, willing-to-do-an-extra-mile-on-the-treadmill-for-another-piece good.   Give it a whirl and let me know your opinion.

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 Onion, diced
• 1 Celery Stalk, Diced
• 4-8 oz Mushrooms, Diced
• 1 Zucchini, shredded
• 1/2 c Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
• 1/4 c Breadcrumbs
• 1 Egg
• 4 T Bacon Crumbles *
• 3 slices Wheat Bread, chunked
• 1/4 c Milk
• 4 T Ketchup
• 1 t Mustard

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.  Foil and grease a roasting pan and set aside.
2. Place the bread chunks in a large bowl and pour the milk over them.  Set the bowl aside.
3. In a non-stick skillet sauté the onion, celery, and mushrooms until soft and slightly transparent.  
4. Add the shredded zucchini and toss until warmed through.  Remove from heat and set aside to slightly cool. 
5. Add the beef, bacon, breadcrumbs, egg and cheese to the bread and milk mixture.  Mix/combine well.
6. Once the vegetables have cooled sufficiently, add them to the bowl as well.
7. In a small bowl combine the ketchup and mustard.  Pour 1/4 of the mix into the meat/veggie bowl and mix well.
8. Transfer the mixture to the roasting pan and form a loaf.
9. Spread the remaining ketchup mixture on top of the loaf and bake for about 60 minutes, or until cooked through.
10. Enjoy

I know that it seems like a lot of instructions, but it really is a simple process. I am not sure if you NEED to sauté the veggies prior to adding them, but I do know that it gives the loaf a nice robust flavor.  I should also point out that you don't really taste the bacon over the other flavors in this loaf, so if that is your aim you might want to increase the amount of bacon used.

Calorie-wise this is a pleasing meal.  The loaf, cut into 6 slices, comes to about 250 calories per slice.  Now those are BIG slices so I guess it all depends on what you will be serving with your meatloaf.  For dinner tonight I accompanied mine with oven roasted potatoes (a hubby favorite) and a large salad.

*Bacon Crumbles - I can't believe I have never shared this little find on my blog before: Hormel Real Bacon Crumbles.  I am sure there are those of you that already know of this wonderful food, however for those that don't I felt the need to share.  I buy a bag of Hormel Real Bacon Crumbles from BJ's or Sam's Club.  The bag is the equivalent of approximately 5 pounds of uncooked bacon.  I think it is $6-7, though don't quote me on that.  I use these crumbles in EVERYTHING that requires bacon.  It goes on Brian's pizza, in the Corn Chowder, and in the twice-baked cauliflower - heck I use it in a LOT of recipes.  Brian likes bacon - show me a man that doesn't - and this is an easy way to bring that bacon taste into my recipes.  Not only is it convenient, but one tablespoon of these crumbles is only 25 calories - and let me tell you a tablespoon goes a LONG way.  I have found that a lot of "low cal" recipes call for canadian bacon, something that I like though am not a fan of mixed with things.  I have substituted the caloric equivalent of these crumbles in those recipes many a time.  OK I will stop with the product plug now, I just wanted to share one of our enjoyable finds.

I wasn't planning on posting the meatloaf here so I didn't take any pictures.  (The hubby convinced me that it was good and I should share.)  Seeing it seems to be a hit I am sure I will be making it again and will post pictures at that time.