Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf

BONUS recipe for this week of leftovers!  This recipe is very cheesy and is a great alternative to the everyday same-old boring cheeseburger.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf

EVOO
1 red onion; finely chopped
2/3 cup ketchup
2/3 cup bread crumbs
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped
5 pieces (or more) of cooked bacon, crumbled
2 lbs. ground turkey
16 oz. cheddar cheese cubes
Salt/Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly oil loaf pan or 9x13 baking dish*.  In a medium skillet, heat 2 Tbsp EVOO  over medium heat.  Add the onion, season with salt & pepper and cook until softened. 

In a large bowl, combine the ketchup, bread crumbs, eggs, & pickles.  Mix in the onion.  Add the ground turkey and combine mixture & turkey together using your hands.  Add the bacon pieces and 3/4 of cubed cheese and mix together.  Transfer to prepared loaf pan or 9x13 dish and mold into a loaf.  Stick the remaining 1/4 of cheese cubes in the loaf where needed (visible gaps in cheese).   **Optional - you can also mix in some of your favorite burger seasonings to this meatloaf; we like to use a palm full of Montana Steak seasoning.

Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 160 degrees.  We've found this can take anywhere between 35-50 minutes.  Just keep checking until it's done.

Serve with mashed potatoes, french fries, chips, or chilled pasta salad. 

*Because this uses 2 lbs. of ground turkey, it's not very greasy nor does it shrink up much when it cooks.  We have found using the 9x13 pan is easier and large enough to fit this meatloaf.  I'm not sure it would fit well in a true loaf pan.

**Adapted from the original "Cheeseburger Meatloaf" recipe from Everyday w/ Rachael Ray Menu Planner April, 2008