Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon, drain it on paper towels, and crumble it into small pieces. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.

Place 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese in small mounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes until the mounds turn golden and crisp. Let the crisps cool, then crush them into coarse crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crumbled bacon, crushed Parmesan crisps, cheddar cheese, eggs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and the reserved bacon fat. Mix with your hands until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it on the same baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese over the top of the loaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing.