Family Meatloaf with Bacon and Cream Sauce

This is one of the recipes I grew up with. My mom used to make it when I was living at home, and I have been making it myself ever since I moved out at 17. Together with our Chicken and Peach Casserole, it is still one of our family favourites.

In our family, we have always called this meatloaf with bacon and cream sauce Forloren hare. On the blog, I call it Family Meatloaf with Bacon and Cream Sauce, as that describes the dish better in English. The old handwritten recipe has certainly been well used over the years , as you can probably tell from the photo. ☺️

The original recipe is made with minced beef, although I usually make mine with lean minced beef, or karbonadedeig as we call it in Norway. The meatloaf has a layer of bacon in the middle and a cream sauce that is added during cooking. And the sauce? Is honestly so good. 😍

Ingredients

Meatloaf

• 500 g minced beef
• 3 dl milk
• 1/2 medium onion
• 3 tbsp potato starch
• 1 tsp salt
• Black pepper, to taste
• 140 g bacon

Cream Sauce

• 2 dl heavy cream
• 3 dl milk
• 3-4 tbsp mild yellow mustard ( I use regular Norwegian pølsesennep)

How to Make It

Step 1 – Mix the meat and the salt

Mix the minced beef and salt together in a stand mixer until combined.

Step 2 – Add the remaining ingredients

Add the finely chopped onion, black pepper and potato starch to the meat mixture, alternating with a little milk at a time. Continue mixing as you go until all the ingredients are well combined.

Step 3 – Assemble the meatloaf

Spread half of the meat mixture in the centre of a deep baking tray shape, roughly in the shape and size of a loaf of bread. Place the bacon in a layer over the meat, then add the remaining meat mixture on top and shape it into a meatloaf. Make sure there is plenty of space around it for the sauce that will be added later.

Step 4 – Bake the meatloaf

Bake at 175°C until the meatloaf starts to turn golden brown, about 30-40 minutes

Step 5 – Prepare the cream sauce

While the meatloaf is baking, whisk together the heavy cream, milk and mustard until well combined.

Step 6 – Add the sauce and continue baking

Pour the cream sauce over and around the meatloaf. Return it to the oven and bake for another 20-30 minutes. During this time use a spoon to scoop up some of the sauce from the tray and pour it over the meatloaf a few times. If the sauce becomes too thick while baking , add a little more milk and whisk it into the sauce.

Step 7 – Slice and serve

When the meatloaf is done, remove it from the oven and cut it into slices. Arrange the slices in a deep serving dish. Whisk the sauce together in the baking tray until well combined, then pour it over the sliced meatloaf before serving.

Tips

I usually serve the meatloaf with boiled potatoes and a mix of vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.

The sauce is honestly so good that i often make more than the recipe calls for. 😊

Most of the time, I make a double batch, and sometimes even a triple batch, and sometimes even a triple batch. I love this dish, and since I usually make it for family dinners, I like to make enough to have plenty of left over.

Storage and Freezing

If we have leftovers after a family dinner, my children will often take some home with them. There is usually still some left, especially when I make a double or triple batch. If I know I will not eat it within the next few days, I freeze it together with sauce. It freezes really well.