Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Ahhh! Comfort food at it's best! What's not to like?
Bacon...cheese...beef. No, it's not the healthiest, but we don't eat like this every day, right? (ahem) Right? At least it sits atop the bread to soak up some of the fat. Actually, when I made this, the bread stayed rather dry through the cooking process. But the meat was very juicy. This is delicious served with a side of mashed potatoes and a green salad.

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
10 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 egg
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup ketchup, divided
2 slices bread, toasted

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the bacon, cheese, egg, soup mix, bread crumbs, pepper and 1/4 cup of the ketchup, mixing well.

Spray a 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Lay the 2 pieces of toast on the bottom. Form meat mixture into a loaf shape and place on top of the toast. Spread remaining 1/4 cup ketchup over the top of the loaf. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Remove meatloaf from the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake for 1 hour. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate, removing the bread from the bottom of the loaf, if desired.