banner
logologo
search
INGREDIENTSdown
CUISINESdown

Bacon-Wrapped Buffalo Meatloaf

Most people who replace their ground beef with buffalo, in recipes like meatballs, burgers, and meatloaf, are usually disappointed. Ground buffalo is much leaner than ground beef, which is the biggest challenge. In case you're new, it's the fat that provides most of the flavor and moisture. Also, for whatever reason, pre-packaged buffalo is ground very fine, almost to a paste, which can lead to a rubbery meatloaf, unless you use a few tricks.

Prep Time:
40 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

Meatloaf:

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 slices bacon, chopped

  • ½ yellow onion, chopped

  • 1 carrot, cubed

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 fresh poblano pepper, chopped (Optional)

  • 4 button mushrooms, chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary

  • 2 cups fresh bread crumbs

  • ¼ cup milk

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

  • 2 pounds ground buffalo

  • 7 slices thick-cut bacon, or more as needed

Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (Optional)

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (Optional)

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (Optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-heat. Cook and stir chopped bacon in hot butter until almost crisp, 5 to 10 minutes.

  3. Pulse onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add vegetable mixture and rosemary to bacon in the skillet; cook and stir until vegetables soften and sweeten, about 5 minutes.

  4. Mix vegetable mixture, bread crumbs, and milk together in a bowl. Let cool to room temperature. Stir egg, salt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into vegetable mixture. Add buffalo meat to vegetable mixture and mix with your hands until well-blended.

  5. Turn meat mixture out into prepared baking dish and shape into a 9x5x3-inch meatloaf. Lay bacon strips crosswise over the top of the meatloaf, tucking in ends of bacon under the loaf.

  6. Whisk rice vinegar, brown sugar, and mustard together in a bowl until glaze is smooth.

  7. Bake meatloaf in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Brush glaze over loaf and continue baking until no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 155 degrees F (68 degrees C). Cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Cook's Note:

You can substitute 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary for the 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, if desired.

To check for seasoning: once everything is mixed, fry a small piece of the meatloaf mixture and taste. Adjust, if necessary, and recheck.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

348 Calories
14g Fat
19g Carbs
36g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 348
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 135mg 45%
Sodium 1239mg 54%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 36g 72%
Vitamin C 40mg 44%
Calcium 70mg 5%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 662mg 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

goTop