I don’t make meatloaf very often and when I do, I often use ground turkey instead of beef to lighten things up. Recently I was in the mood for a really hearty, wicked good meatloaf. So I jazzed it up with bacon, caramelized onions and kale. It was awesome!

Meatloaf with Bacon, Caramelized Onion, and Kale

2 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces

1/3 sweet onion, sliced thinly

pinch sugar

1 lb ground beef

1 egg

1/2 cup breadcrumbs (I used gluten-free)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/8 cup skim milk (I used lactose-free)

1/8 cup sweet and sour sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

1 tbsp yellow mustard

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup frozen kale (see note)

3 slices Fontina cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon in a small skillet until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and add the onions with a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat until onions caramelize. Place beef in a bowl and add bacon, onions, and all other ingredients, except Fontina. Mix completely and place in a loaf pan. Bake for an hour. Top with cheese and broil until it melts.

Note: I buy fresh kale, cut the ribs out, roughly chop it and boil it until it is tender. I drain most of the water out and I freeze it in ziploc bags, like frozen chopped spinach. You could use fresh kale for this, just cut the ribs out, roughly chop and boil, then drain. 2-3 large kale leaves will be the right amount. You could also substitute pre-made frozen spinach.