A simple BBQ meatloaf recipe that’s topped with a savory BBQ sauce to give you a combination of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. It uses a traditional meatloaf recipe with a tangy barbecue sauce slathered on top.
Not only does this simple BBQ meatloaf use BBQ sauce in the meat mixture, but extra sauce is slathered on top to create a delicious glaze.
The barbecue glazed meatloaf is amazing when it comes to flavor and can easily be customized to fit your desired level of BBQ flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Notes
No fancy ingredients needed! This BBQ meatloaf uses simple ingredients like premade BBQ sauce and traditional meatloaf ingredients.
- Meat – I recommend 90/10 ground beef, which is what is used for this recipe. It’s less greasy.
- Mix-ins – Bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- BBQ sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce or you can use homemade BBQ sauce.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Substitutions, Variations & Tips
- Your favorite homemade BBQ sauce can be substituted for the store bought BBQ sauce.
- Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey.
- Use a small amount of liquid smoke to add a more smoky flavor to the meatloaf.
- Make mini meatloaves or use a muffin tin to make meatloaf bites.
- If using a casserole dish instead of a loaf pan, keep in mind cooking times. A thinner loaf will cook in less time but does help keep the meat from sitting in so much grease.
How To Make a Meatloaf with BBQ
See below for a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. You can also use a deep lined sheet pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, egg, milk, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and shape it into a loaf. You can also use a casserole dish. If using a fattier meat, I always use a casserole dish so that the grease doesn’t soak into the meat too much. You can always drain the grease halfway through cooking time if you find that a lot of grease has collected.
- Spread the remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce evenly over the top.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
What To Serve With Simple BBQ Meatloaf
Serve the BBQ meatloaf with your favorite side dishes. A nice healthy vegetable side like cauliflower mashed potatoes, green beans, or a veggie mix.
You can also add garlic swirl bread, rolls, or biscuits on the side.
Storing & Reheating
- Store: Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container. I like to slice the meatloaf before putting in the fridge. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: When you’re ready to reheat, put the sliced meatloaf pieces onto a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Reheat in 30-40 second cycles until the meatloaf is heated through.
FAQs
You can prep the meatloaf ahead of time. Put together the meat mixture, cover, and store in the fridge. I recommend adding the BBQ sauce on top when you’re ready to bake.
Absolutely. Use your favorite brand of BBQ sauce or make your own.
Simple BBQ Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, divided
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. You can also use a deep lined sheet pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, egg, milk, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and shape it into a loaf. You can also use a casserole dish. If using a fattier meat, I always use a casserole dish so that the grease doesn’t soak into the meat too much. You can always drain the grease halfway through cooking time if you find that a lot of grease has collected.
- Spread the remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce evenly over the top.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. For best results, calculate these on your own.
