Barbecue Baconloaf Buns

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon
• chopped
• 1/2 yellow onion
• minced
• 1 pound ground beef sirloin
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated aged cheddar cheese
• 2 large eggs
• beaten
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• plus more for serving
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Cooking spray
• Salted butter
• for the buns
• 12 slider buns
• split
• Sliced dill pickles
• for topping

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes.
2. Remove with a slotted spoon; set aside.
3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
4. Add the onion to the skillet; saute until soft, about 8 minutes.
5. Let cool.
6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the bacon, onion, beef, panko, cheese, eggs, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce and the parsley in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper and mix with your hands until just combined.
7. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray.
8. Pat the meat into each muffin cup to just below the top.
9. Spread 1/2 tablespoon barbecue sauce on each.
10. Bake until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
11. Let cool in the pan.
12. Meanwhile, butter the buns and toast cut-side down in a skillet over medium-high heat.
13. Sandwich the meatloaves on the buns; top with pickles and serve with extra barbecue sauce.
14. Photography by Johnny Miller