Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 large egg
1/2 c. plain bread crumbs
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. ketchup, divided
9 strips bacon, halved
2 tbsp. brown sugar
Preparation
Step 1Preheat an air fryer to 400°. In a large bowl, combine beef, onion, bell pepper, egg, bread crumbs, salt, black pepper, and 2 tbsp. ketchup. Using your hands, mix until evenly incorporated.Step 2On a piece of parchment paper, form beef mixture into 2 equal loaves that will fit in your air fryer. Layer bacon slices on top of loaves.Step 3In a small bowl, whisk brown sugar and remaining 1/4 c. ketchup. Brush onto bacon.Step 4Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet or something similar that fits your air fryer, as juices may overflow during baking. Bake, tenting with foil if bacon starts to burn, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of loaves registers 160º and top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.Step 5Make Ahead: Meatloaf can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.
Oh, but did we mention that there’s a layer of bacon on top? It adds delicious, salty flavor to each bite, but you can skip it if you like. The underside of the bacon is not going to get super crispy—it’s there for flavor. Feel free to omit if you don’t want it. To cook the meat evenly, you’ll shape the mixture into two loaves rather than one. Split one for date night and freeze the second for an easy future weeknight dinner, or cut each loaf in half to serve four tonight. (If you prefer a single meatloaf that you can cook in a regular oven, check out our classic meatloaf.) Don’t have an air fryer yet? Check out our list of the 10 Best Air Fryers of 2022 to pick the right one for your kitchen. Many of the recipes can be modified to fit different styles of eating such as gluten-free or vegetarian. She has paired her experience in production with a passion for food and cooking to build Olde & New.
