The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf
Wait until you taste this yummy meatloaf! It’s a perfect texture (moist, not crumbly), and baking it with strips of bacon creates a dreamy delicious flavor! Each serving has only 170 calories and 5 grams of fat. If you’re tired of making the classic meatloaf, give this new one a try!
Why You'll Love The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf
If you are looking for a show-stopping dinner that combines savory Italian herbs with a smoky, crisp bacon crown while keeping things wonderfully light and macro-friendly, you are going to fall head over heels for The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf! Swapping heavy, traditional beef for extra-lean ground beef keeps the saturated fat low and the protein high, while clever moisture-boosting ingredients ensure every single slice stays unbelievably juicy. Crowned with a layer of smoky bacon and baked to absolute perfection, this cozy comfort-food favorite delivers all the rich, comforting flavors of a classic trattoria meal without ever derailing your healthy eating goals.
Ingredients For The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf
Let's look deeper into these ingredients to see how simple, wholesome items come together to create this incredible comfort-food classic:
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef (96% lean): Provides a rich, savory, high-protein base while keeping saturated fat low.
- 1 cup jarred pasta sauce (plus ½ cup for topping): Infuses the meatloaf with classic Italian tomato flavor and natural moisture.
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs: Acts as a light, crispy binder that helps lock in juices without weighing the meatloaf down.
- 1 cup onions, diced: Builds a sweet, aromatic flavor foundation as it bakes.
- 1 large egg: Binds everything together so the loaf holds its shape perfectly when sliced.
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder & ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning: Deliver that quintessential, savory Italian herb flavor profile.
- ¼ teaspoon salt & ¼ teaspoon black pepper: Essential seasonings to tie all the flavors together.
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated): Sprinkled on top to add a nutty, savory finish as it bakes.
- 3 strips of bacon: The ultimate smoky, crispy crown that renders delicious flavor right down into the Italian-style tomato glaze.
How to Make The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking pan with foil and coat it lightly with cooking spray.
Step 2: Mix the Meatloaf
In a large bowl, combine the extra-lean ground beef, 1 cup of pasta sauce, Panko bread crumbs, diced onions, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until completely combined.
Step 3: Shape, Glaze, and Top
Place the meatloaf mixture in the center of the prepared baking pan and use your hands to shape it into a 12x4-inch loaf. Spread the remaining ½ cup of pasta sauce evenly over the top of the meatloaf. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese, and lay the 3 strips of bacon right across the top in neat stripes.
Step 4: Bake, Rest, and Slice
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting the loaf into 12 beautiful slices to serve.
Pro Tips for Success
When mixing your Italian-style meatloaf, handle the beef gently and combine just until incorporated so your loaf stays wonderfully tender rather than dense. Letting the meatloaf rest for a full 5 minutes after baking allows the juices to settle and the crispy bacon crown to set, ensuring your slices hold their shape perfectly when serving.
When mixing your Italian-style meatloaf, handle the beef gently and combine just until incorporated so your loaf stays wonderfully tender rather than dense. Letting the meatloaf rest for a full 5 minutes after baking allows the juices to settle and the crispy bacon crown to set, ensuring your slices hold their shape perfectly when serving.
Helpful Tips About this Recipe
Makes 6 servings. Each serving 2 slices.
Shopping Tips
There are many healthier bacon choices these days. They’re uncured with no nitrates. I like Oscar Mayer Select Natural. Most supermarkets carry it. Another I like is Applegate Farms Natural Sunday Bacon. Many supermarkets carry this brand. I bought it at Vons/Safeway and Whole Foods. Here’s the link to their website: http://www.applegate.com/products/natural-sunday-bacon
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 4-Blue
WW SmartPoints 4-Green
Shopping Tips
There are many healthier bacon choices these days. They’re uncured with no nitrates. I like Oscar Mayer Select Natural. Most supermarkets carry it. Another I like is Applegate Farms Natural Sunday Bacon. Many supermarkets carry this brand. I bought it at Vons/Safeway and Whole Foods. Here’s the link to their website: http://www.applegate.com/products/natural-sunday-bacon
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 4-Blue
WW SmartPoints 4-Green
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 serving 170 calories, 5g fat, 2g sat fat, 66mg chol, 20g prot, 10g carbs, 1g fiber, 382mg sod, 4g sugar |
| FACTS: for Freestyle SmartPoints 147 calories, 2g sat. fat, 18g protein, 3g sugar |
The BEST Skinny Bacon Topped Italian-Style Meatloaf
Ingredients
Ingredients for Meatloaf:
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef (I use Trader Joe’s (96%) lean or extra lean grass feed beef)
- 1 cup jarred pasta sauce, I used Classico tomato basil
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 1 large egg
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Ingredients for Topping:
- ½ cup jarred pasta sauce
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 strips of bacon, see shopping tips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine beef, 1 cup pasta sauce, bread crumbs, onions, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until completely combined.
- Place meatloaf mixture in center of the baking pan and by hand, shape into a 12 x 4-inch loaf. Spread remaining ½ cup pasta sauce over top of the meatloaf. Evenly sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and line 3 stripes of bacon on top.
- Bake for 1 hour. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut the loaf into 12 slices.
Nutrition
Serving: 2slicesCalories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 20gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 382mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gBlue Smart Points: 4Green Smart Points: 4Plus Points: 4
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
