BBQ Cheddar & Crispy Onion Meatloaf

"Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beetloaf. I hate meatloaf."

This is the line that comes to mind whenever I think of meatloaf.  It is from one of my favorite movies, A Christmas Story.  Randy, Ralphie's younger brother, says this while sitting at the kitchen table poking at his dinner with a fork.  I think this is the sentiment a lot of children people have towards meatloaf. I myself was not a fan of the the log shaped meal as a child but have grown to accept it as an adult.  Especially when it is loaded with cheese and covered in a deliciously tangy sauce like this BBQ, Cheddar, & Crispy Onion Meatloaf.

Here are the Fresh & Easy players:

So these are wonderful little cheese snacks that I typically pack in my lunch but I decided to cut of 3 of them and use them in this meatloaf.

Mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, cubed cheese, egg, sauteed onions, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire  sauce, garlic powder and crispy onions in a large bowl until well combined.

Form the mixture into 4 loaves and place on a baking sheet lined with tin foil. Coat with 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce. Bake in a 425 oven for 15 minutes.

Take the loaves out of the oven and coat with shredded cheese and crushed crispy onion. bake for an additional 5 minutes. 

To make your A Christmas Story complete serve these meatloaves with this mashed potato substitute made with cauliflower. 

BBQ Cheddar and Crispy Onion Meatloaf
adapted from Iowa Girl Eats

Ingredients:

• ½ sweet onion, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg
•  1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, divided
• ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1oz low-fat cheddar cheese, cubed
• Salt and Pepper
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar, for topping
• ¼ cup crispy onions, for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Add chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden. Cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl combine ground beef, egg, Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, cubed cheese, pinch of salt and pepper, and sautéed onions. Mix until combined. Form the mixture into 4 loaves and place on a baking sheet lined with tin foil. Coat each loaf with 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce. Bake in a 425 oven for 15 minutes.
4. Take the loaves out of the oven and coat with shredded cheese and crushed crispy onion. bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Click here for a printable recipe