Hearty Comfort Food (Printable Format)

A delicious twist on classic meatloaf with crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and gooey Swiss cheese. The ultimate family comfort food!

# What You'll Gather:

→ Meat Base

01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1/2 pound ground pork

→ Binding Ingredients

03 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
04 - 1/4 cup milk
05 - 2 large eggs

→ Flavor Enhancers

06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 cup finely chopped onions
08 - 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
09 - 4 slices bacon
10 - 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

→ Seasonings & Sauce

11 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon ketchup (plus 1/2 cup for glaze)
13 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
14 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). This moderate temperature is perfect for cooking meatloaf evenly without drying it out.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove, let cool, and crumble it into pieces. Keep those delicious bacon drippings in the pan! Add the chopped onions and mushrooms to the same pan and sauté them in the bacon fat until they're soft and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan cheese, the sautéed onions and mushrooms, crumbled bacon, and shredded Swiss cheese. Add the eggs, Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon of ketchup, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix everything gently with your hands until just combined - overmixing can make your meatloaf tough!
04 - Transfer the mixture to a baking dish or lined baking sheet and shape it into a loaf about 9x5 inches. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup of ketchup evenly over the top to create a tangy, caramelized glaze.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 160°F (71°C). The outside should be beautifully browned and the cheese inside melted and gooey.
06 - This step is crucial! Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every slice is moist and tender.

# Important Tips:

01 - The combination of beef and pork creates the perfect balance of flavor and juiciness.
02 - Cooking the mushrooms and onions in bacon drippings adds an incredible depth of flavor.
03 - Feel free to customize with different cheeses - smoked Gouda or Gruyere are fantastic alternatives to Swiss.
04 - This meatloaf makes excellent sandwiches the next day - if there are any leftovers!
05 - For a lower-carb version, use crushed pork rinds in place of breadcrumbs.

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