I have figured it out. And let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS! I did not want to stop eating it. I know for next time to double the recipe so I have plenty of leftovers!
If you're not following paleo, (which I'm technically not, I just like finding paleo recipes to be a little healthier) you can just cook this as you normally would a meatloaf, using non-paleo ingredients. If I were you however, I wouldn't, because the healthy version is just as delicious, if not more so!
The secret is the "cheese". Lucky for those paleo cheese lovers there is now non-dairy cheese. I've seen a number of different brands, but thanks to the great staff at Whole Foods I tried (and loved!!) the Daiya brand. They make cheddar, mozzarella and Monterey Jack "cheese." It's shredded, and melts and "strings" just like normal cheese, and literally just tastes like cheddar. I have used this in multiple recipes and not told my fiancée and he didn't even notice - sorry Mike! :)
Just a note on that cheese, I like it better in dishes where I mix the cheese in, (like my quiche-check back for that recipe!) rather than say on a burger, but it does melt enough if you are strictly following paleo and dying for a cheese burger.
Ok, on to the recipe.
As you know I don't measure so I'll do my best for you bakers out there.
I used 1lb of ground beef, and I needed a little extra, so I added half a pound of ground turkey because that was what I had on hand. Feel free to change it up, but 1.5 lbs of meat was perfect for a normal sized loaf pan.
1.5 lb ground meat of choice
1 onion diced
1 bell pepper diced
1/2 zucchini diced (I wanted veggies and had it on hand, so why not?! You can leave it out if you want)
You could add mushrooms too (I didn't have any so I couldn't :(
A couple garlic cloves chopped to taste. You know I love garlic so I used about 6, use 3 if you're not a garlic lover.
About a cup of cheese (daiya, or real cheddar if you're not following paleo)
1/2 lb of bacon
Almond meal/flour or breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400
Take the 1/2 lb of bacon and slice the strips in half. Reserve half. Take the other half and chop into pieces. Cook for just a couple minutes, you want to let them cook the rest of the way in the meatloaf to impart flavor. Strain.
Use the bacon grease to cook the onions, pepper and zucchini. Add salt and pepper to taste and sweat out. Cook until almost tender, then add the garlic and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
Once cooled, add veggies, bacon, almond meal (or breadcrumbs if you're not following paleo), cheese, salt and pepper to taste to meat and mix well.
Put mixture into loaf pan, and top with the reserved strips of bacon.
Bake for about 45 minutes, or and internal temperature of 160.
Cut in slices and enjoy!!!!
Mmmm, look how nice and juicy and cheesey it turned out! Yum! I even enjoyed it just as much as leftovers today. I may take this recipe and make meatloaf muffins with it too. It would also be a great party appetizer putting them in mini muffin tins-little bite sized meat loaves! I can't wait to make this recipe again. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Happy cooking!
