Pepper Jack Meatloaf

This Pepper Jack Meatloaf is absolutely delicious. Especially if you like the flavor of Pepper Jack Cheese. Meatloaf with a kick!

This Pepper Jack Meatloaf delivers a kick! Meatloaf is probably the ultimate comfort food. Adults and kids love it alike.

Probably because it tastes like a hamburger without the bun. Or maybe because it's so easy to make and can serve the whole family.

My Horseradish Meatloaf is another great spicy meatloaf but If spicy is not your thing, make sure you check out my Sweet Ketchup Meatloaf.

I have several other gourmet meatloaf recipes on this site but this one has quickly become one of my favorite meatloaves to make. My wife is not a big fan of red meat but she said this was her favorite meatloaf so far!

What I especially like about this meatloaf is there aren't too many spices to overwhelm the meat so you get to really taste the pepper jack cheese.

💭 Baking Meatloaf

When it comes to baking your meatloaf, you have a couple of options. You can bake it the traditional way in a loaf pan or bake it on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Depending on how lean your ground beef is, you may find the meatloaf sitting in grease. One way to avoid this is to shape the meat mixture into the shape of a loaf and bake it on a baking sheet. This will allow the grease to run off into the pan.

Since this recipe is called Pepper Jack Meatloaf, it's important that the primary flavor you taste is indeed the Pepper Jack Cheese. And it doesn't disappoint!

🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef

Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.

🌡️ Meatloaf Temperature

Our friends over at the USDA recommend an internal temperature of 160°F. This should be enough to kill salmonella.

You can take the meatloaf out of the oven at around 150°F and let it rest for 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature again before slicing & serving.

📋 Gather your Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make this Pepper Jack Meatloaf recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Eggs, Seasoned Bread Crumbs, Yellow Onion, Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Ground Beef, Pepper Jack Cheese and Salsa.

🥣 How to make Pepper Jack Meatloaf

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, onion, salt, and pepper.
Add the ground beef to the mixture and mix well. Press half of the beef mixture into the bottom of a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle ¾ cup of the pepper jack cheese over the meat to within ½ inch of the sides. Press the remaining beef mixture over the cheese.
Bake uncovered for 50-55 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the meatloaf and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Let meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with salsa if desired.

📖 Recipe