Moist, tender, flavorful, and topped with crispy, smoky bacon, there are few things as good as Bacon Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf. Easy to make and just as good the next day, this is a must-try recipe for smoked meat fans if you love amazing flavor!
Sick of plain old meatloaf? Yeah, me too. This smoked bacon-wrapped meatloaf is the best way to take regular meatloaf to a whole new level. Whether you make smoked meatloaf on a traditional smoker, pellet grill smoker, on a charcoal grill with wood chips, or in a vertical barrel smoker, swapping the oven for a smoker creates the most amazing results.
And you can never go wrong with anything that’s wrapped in bacon!
Of course, this isn’t just any old smoked meatloaf recipe. With a double dose of bacon INSIDE the meatloaf and wrapped over the top, there’s bacon in every bite this ultiamte comfort food.
And, because I’m all about big flavors, you’ll find flavor through and through this classic meatloaf recipe. Starting with a blend of spices, plenty of onions and garlic, and a tasty combination of meats, this sure ain’t your Mama’s traditional meatloaf!
Ingredients
There’s nothing fancy in this bacon-wrapped smoked meatloaf recipe – but if you can’t find Porter Road’s Beef vs Bacon blend, you can use a mix of ground beef and ground pork with some chopped bacon added in.
- Beef vs Bacon Mix – I use Porter Road’s Beef vs Bacon for this easy smoked meatloaf recipe. See more on where our favorite sources to order meat online are. Alternatively, use a mix of ground meat like beef and ground pork.
- Olive Oil
- Onion and Garlic – Onions add a subtle caramel-y sweetness while garlic adds a punch of nuttiness.
- Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs – Breadcrumbs help keep the smoked meatloaf moist.
- Parsley – Fresh parsley.
- Bacon – Thick-cut bacon works best, so it doesn’t overcook.
How To Make Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
Prep your grill with neutral flavor wood chunks and get it ready to smoke at 225-250ºF.
Preheat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion in the olive oil until soft. Add in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, then mix in the paprika, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Remove the mixture from the heat.
In a large bowl, add eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, beef bacon mix, and the onion to make the meatloaf mixture. Stir to combine.Â
Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape, then layer and wrap the bacon on top of the meatloaf. If you’re feeling fancy, make a bacon weave to adorn the top. Place the loaf into a loaf pan.
Place the pan on the preheated smoker rack and close the lid. Smoke the meatloaf over indirect heat until the bacon is crisp and the ground meat is 160ºF with an instant read meat thermometer.
Rest the smoked meatloaf for 10 minutes. As it rests the meatloaf’s internal temperature will rise to 165 degrees F, before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips
Follow these tips to make the best smoked meatloaf recipe:
- Use neutral flavor wood chunks. I recommend using mellow wood for a more mild smoke flavor. I use Western Wood Hickory Chunks. Stay away from fruitwoods so the smoke can work its magic.
- Don’t over-mix. Mix the meatloaf ingredients only until just combined. If you mix too much, the meat can become tough and dry.
- The key to keeping this our favorite meatloaf recipe and not dried out like mama used to make – is not skimping on the fat. We use 85% or higher fat ground beef and even mix with Italian sausage when we can’t find the bacon mix listed above for an incredibly juicy meatloaf.
- Use thick-cut bacon in this smoked meatloaf with bacon recipe so that it cooks at the same rate as the meatloaf. Thin-cut will cook too fast and could burn in the smoker.
- Drain off excess fat. As the meatloaf starts cooking, drain off any excess fat if it starts to accumulate, so the meatloaf doesn’t end up soggy or greasy. Fat is good, but greasy is just bad. You can use a spoon to remove the fat or simply tilt the pan to drain it once or twice while it’s smoking. Also, by draining the fat, this allows the bacon a better chance to crisp up.
- Don’t overcook the smoked meatloaf! Stop cooking the meatloaf as soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF. Overcooked meatloaf isn’t as tender and moist.
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf? This easy meatloaf recipe pairs so well with so many dishes, but these smoked side dishes are some of my favorites:
- Smoked Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
- BBQ Glazed Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Smoked Corn on the Cob
- Smoked Potato Salad
Storage
Leftover Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months. To reheat it, thaw it in the fridge (if frozen) and reheat it in the oven until it is heated through and the bacon is crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions
I use a combination of paprika, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. This is a simple trio of seasonings that gives the smoked meatloaf a spicy, smoky flavor.
For smoked meatloaf, you want an internal temperature of 165ºF. The key is to keep a close enough eye on your meatloaf that you cook it to 160ºF, but no more. The temp will continue to rise 5 degrees while it rests. If it’s overcooked, the meat will be dry and tough.
A perfectly cooked meatloaf will probably take around 2 hours in the smoker. Keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that can alter the smoking time. I recommend using a quick-read digital thermometer, like a Thermapen, to verify that it’s cooked to the right temperature before serving.
MORE BACON WRAPPED RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
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Perfect Bacon Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf
Recommended Equipment
- Pit Barrel Cooker or any smoker.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef vs bacon mix see note*
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- ½ lbs thick-cut bacon
Instructions
Prep Grill
- Preheat your smoker with good neutral flavor chunks and get it ready for a smoke at 225 – 250 degrees.
Sautee Onion
- Line a 9″ loaf pan with parchment paper or butcher paper.
- Meanwhile, preheat a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan.
- Sautee the onion 5 minutes, until soft.
- Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add in the paprika, chili powder, and red pepper flakes and stir to coat.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Make Meatloaf
- In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, and beef bacon mix.
- Add in the onion mixture.
- Stir to combine well.
- Form into a loaf and gently layer the bacon atop as desired, based on the length of the bacon.
- Place the meat in the prepper loaf pan.
Smoke Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Smoke the meatloaf over indirect heat until the bacon is crisp and the meatloaf temps at 160 degrees F in the center with an instant read thermometer.
Rest and Serve
- Remove the meatloaf from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
- Carefully wiggle the meatloaf from the pan and slice into even portions to serve hot.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Bacon-wrapped anything is pure appetite pleasing GOLD!!!
I have actually never made meatloaf before but this looks incredible. Also your photography skills are on point. Thank you for sharing!
I love meatloaf and adding this new spin on things will make my family love it more. The picture alone makes me hungry
That meatloaf looks so well made and would be a great dinner for a hungry family. I never thought to use a meat thermometer for meatloaf but this leaves no chance of cooking error.
You had me at bacon! I tend to love anything with bacon on it. I must try this for dinner one night.
I always put bacon on my meatloaf but I had never tried to smoke one before. I bet that is amazing! Pinning.
This sounds like an awesome weeknight dinner. I’ll need to keep those moisture tips in mind!
I haven’t made meatloaf in ages. I think this is the perfect recipe to toss together and fix that asap. Bacon wrapped really makes everything taste better!
I’m a vegetarian, but my husband isn’t. He is always so touched when I find yummy recipes for him. This is going to be a huge hit. I never would have thought of smoking a meatloaf. I’m sure it’s such an awesome flavor.
I think its really cool that you are willing to try non-vegetarian recipes for your husband. High fives to you both!
I have never tried to bacon wrap anything. I think I might just start with this meatloaf!
Do you know I don’t think I’ve ever made meatloaf before, it’s not something that has ever made me think wow I need to try this. Until now! I TOTALLY need to try this – it looks incredible! You had my mouth watering with your pictures.
Wow! This smoked meatloaf looks amazing. From your beautiful images I can almost taste and smell this deliciousness. Thank you for sharing this unique meatloaf recipe. I look forward to trying this over Labor Day weekend.
You had me at “bacon wrapped”. I have to make this. It looks so good!
I actually make this in a vegan version; it’s delicious!
Rock out!! I love a delicious vegan spin – was just talking to a friend about substitutes and options .
My husband does this same recipe on his Big Green Egg and it is amazing! We love summer because he makes it weekly and we snack on it all week.
I can see why this is a favorite recipe. We used to make a similar meatloaf recipe, but not in a smoker. I am sure a smoker would make it better.
You sound like a legit meatloaf guru at it’s finest. I love home made meatloaf because of it’s controlled quality. Nothing beats a smoked meat.
I love bacon and i didnt know you can use it to wrap the meatloaf! What a creative way!
This sure does look good. I haven’t had a good meatloaf in such a long time either. I will certainly have to try this recipe out real soon. Looking forward to trying it too.
This smoke meatloaf looks so delicious. I can’t wait to get the ingredients to try to out this recipe.
I have to say, I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf, but this stuff looks incredible! Plus Bacon ALWAYS helps!
My family would love this meatloaf! I’ll have to make it for them soon.
I can just imagine how good the flavor of the bacon really added to the goodness of the meatloaf.
This recipe looks perfect for cooler days and a table full of friends celebrating something 😉 love the vibe!
I could never find meatloaf that I liked BUT with your bacon idea I might love this! Looks good!
You seem to really know your meat stuff! Homemade meatloaf is so delicious! Smoke meat is a favorite.
My mom loves meatloaf. I will have to share your recipe with her! She’d love it.
Ohh la la this recipe is making me hungry even more. I like the idea of bacon wrap. Deliciously good.
Oh my goodness, these ingredients sound perfect together! This is going on our meal plan for this week. My family will love this
I love meatloaf and this one has my mouth watering. I am bookmarking this page. Thanks for sharing
bacon is my kids’ favorite! what a delicious looking recipe, i’ll try this soon
Wow this sounds so amazing! i bet my fiance would love it.
Smoked meatloaf sounds absolutely marvelous! What a delicious meal…the family would go nuts for this!
Our kids love the meatloaf recipe I make. I’ve never made it with bacon wrapped around it though. Sounds amazing!
We are massive meatloaf lovers!! I will make two for dinner for the 7 of us, and then the kids will put slices in their sandwiches for school!
So i was really excited to try this recipe. It was delish! The bacon and smoke made it very different from our normal recipe, but everyone agreed that we should have this version again. YUMMY!
Made this, love this! I followed the recipe step by step and everyone loved it! Next time I’ll have to make 2 because we devoured the first one!
As a hardcore bacon love you just made meatloaf better! This comes out so perfect in texture and absolutely delicious. A great family dinner!
I have been telling my husband that we need to make meatloaf on our pellet smoker. After coming across your Bacon Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf, I had to give it a try. Your recipe was so easy to make and it tasted amazing!! I will be adding this recipe to my families regular menu!
The seasoning really brought out the flavors! I can’t wait to make this smoked meatloaf again!
I love leftover meatloaf sandwiches.
Cut a half inch thick slice, put it on a slice of dark rye bread and paste the meat with horseradish.
Enjoy!
Tomato, onion etc are optional.