Whether you call them Meatloaf Drumsticks or Meatloaf Lollipops, they are mini meatloaves on sticks. I used to make a version of these Barbecue Meatloaf Drumsticks when I was in elementary school from a recipe I found in one of my childhood cookbooks. I can still see the black and white illustration of how the drumsticks should look in the book. I was sure I would find that illustration when I started looking through my Xerox Discovering Cooking book as soon as I pulled it out of the box from my attic. However, it was not there. Thus, I began my search to find the cookbook with the original recipe. I even went so far as to find and order my favorite childhood cookbook from a used book site as my original copy did not survive my parent’s basement flooding. Alas, there is no triumphant end to my search. I still have no idea of what cookbook I used to make meatloaf drumsticks back in the day.
However, my story does have a very happy ending. I decided to make barbeque meatloaf drumsticks using the same stick and bacon technique as the original version. The result looked very similar to what I used to make…but coated in barbecue sauce. Time did not improve my bacon wrapping ability.
Before serving, you should remove the toothpicks that are put to hold the bacon in place. . . don’t be like me. I did remove them after taking the above photo and before we ate them at least.
While my teenager and husband enjoyed eating the meatloaf drumsticks, I think my grandchildren might have appreciated the drumstick/lollipop aspect more. This is a fun recipe to have kids involved in making and eating.
Barbecue Meatloaf Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef
- 1 c. quick-cook oats or rolled oats (cut smaller by food processor or similar, but not to the point it is oat flour)
- 1/2 c. barbecue sauce
- 1/2 c. onion, minced (or dried soaked in a little water or frozen chopped)
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp. season salt
- 4 – 5 strips bacon
- wooden sticks (similar to sticks you would youse for caramel apples)
- toothpicks
- extra barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Cut bacon strips in half and partially cook either in the oven at 375 or in a skillet/griddle. It should still be very pliable.
- Combine beef, oats, barbecue sauce, onion, egg, Worchestershire sauce, and season salt thoroughly.
- Divide up the meatloaf mixture into 8 or 10 pieces of similar size and form each into balls.
- Soak wooden sticks and toothpicks in water for about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, wrap cooled bacon around the meatloaf balls to form an X on the top with the bacon. Secure bacon to the meatloaves with soaked toothpicks.
- Insert a soaked wooden stick into each meatloaf. Secure the sticks by making sure they are nearly halfway through each of the meatloaves.
- Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven a brush with barbecue sauce.
- Return to the oven and continue cooking until the internal temperature indicates that they are done, about 30 minutes in total.
- Remove toothpicks before serving.
They look yummy! Can’t wait to try them.