Delicious BBQ Meatloaf Recipe – Oven Baked Classic

 _{An easy, oven-baked BBQ Meatloaf recipe! Tender, juicy ground beef is loaded with savory flavors and topped off with a BBQ Sauce glaze! It is the perfect weeknight dinner.}

Delicious BBQ Meatloaf Recipe – Oven Baked Classic

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Total Time: 55 Minutes Servings: 4 Servings

This best meatloaf recipe just takes just a few minutes to put together and 45 minutes to cook. A satisfying, comfort meal after a long day and the perfect weeknight meal.

A classic dish turned up a notch. Your whole kitchen will smell amazing as well! Now don’t forget to bookmark this page, Easy Weeknight Barbecue Meatloaf for some seriously delicious dinnertime inspiration!

Growing up, meatloaf made a pretty regular appearance on our family dinner table.

I often make many varieties of meatloaf… sometimes the Italian version with breadcrumbs, garlic, eggs, etc… This version is tasty and very simple. I call this one an inspiration for my love of summer. We can’t seem to have lovely warm weather in the winter.

I thought, let us turn one of our family’s favorite comfort food recipes into a summer version we can have on a chilly weeknight. And if you need a great side for this meatloaf, we really enjoy these Brown Butter & Maple Sweet Potato Hasselback.

Don’t settle for your old plain version of meatloaf.

The sauce on the top isn’t just plain old’ ketchup. It is a mixture of your favorite Barbecue sauce (We prefer Newman’s Own Hickory flavor), mayonnaise, and spices.

How To Make BBQ Meatloaf – Easy Recipe Instructions

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Bye-Bye, Loaf Pan, and random baking sheet. – Meatloaf is best not in a pan. For best results, meatloaf is better when you ditch the loaf pan altogether.  In the past, meatloaf was only cooked in a loaf pan. We are changing that up.

There is a trick to this meatloaf! Ditch the loaf pan! (and the grease). Cover a cooling rack with aluminum foil, and poke holes in the foil for the grease to drip through.

This will crisp the bottom of the meatloaf and keep it from being greasy. No one wants to eat greasy meat. It will also allow the hot air from the oven to evenly cook your meatloaf. This is just a quick tip that I picked up over the years.

BBQ Homemade Meatloaf Ingredients

You can find a full list of ingredients listed below. Most items you may already have on hand, and won’t need to run out to the grocery store. Total cooking time is 45 minutes.

You can also feel free to print this recipe for future use. All ingredients in this recipe provide great texture and taste you will love. This recipe is not gluten-free but can be made to be by substituting with gluten-free Italian breadcrumbs.

• 1 lb ground beef, 80/20
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp BBQ sauce for meat, plus 1/2 cup for the topping
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp kosher salt

In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Then add the mayonnaise, 1 tbsp BBQ sauce, and seasonings. Add the ground beef, hand fold in the breadcrumbs, and diced onion. Mix with hands until everything is well incorporated.

Keep your meatloaf juicy

No one likes dried-out meat. This is why we prefer to use 80/20 ground beef in our meat mixture. The leaner your meat, the drier it will be. Here is a fun article to read on the mistakes of making meatloaf. See the first tip on ground beef.

Now you are ready to shape your meatloaf mixture into a loaf and place it on the foil. Cover with an additional 1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce. Bake for 45 minutes or until medium-well to well done in the middle.

Allow it to cool for 10 minutes before slicing into. If you don’t wait until it is cool, your slices will just fall apart.

Not all BBQ sauce is created equal

You have a lot of options when it comes to the glaze for your BBQ Meatloaf, but one thing you’ll want to make sure of is that the BBQ sauce you pick is thick. You don’t want a thin BBQ sauce. It just won’t do.

In fact, if it isn’t thick, your BBQ sauce will run off your meat and will pool on your pan (like Sticky Fingers brand BBQ sauce). Keeping it thick will keep it on the meatloaf. Our family’s preferred brand is Sweet Baby Rays.

When the meatloaf is done, slice and serve. I like to let it sit for a few minutes just to cool down. When removing the meatloaf from the pan, PLEASE do it carefully so the hot glaze does not get on you. 

I like to cut my meatloaf into 3/4–1 inch thick slices. My kids like to argue over who gets the crunchy and crispy end pieces. You may do just the same. I love to serve this dish with a nice green salad and spoonfuls of mashed potatoes. Meatloaf is one of my favorite comfort foods.

If you are looking to make a wonderful and tasty meatloaf, you will want to whip up this recipe. Serve with a side of green beans and homemade mashed potatoes for the perfect meal. Let’s bring Meatloaf back to the dinner table – your taste buds will thank you.

Our Best Barbecue Meatloaf Recipe

This classic meatloaf is one of the most popular comfort foods to make for dinner. Always a family favorite and pretty simple to make. It is an easy meatloaf recipe.

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Tell us about your favorite BBQ sauce and why?

Other Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Easy One-Skillet Lasagna Recipe

Fajita Style Easy Chicken And Rice Recipe

Delicious Steak & Cheese Wraps

Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli Bake

Eating out is easy, and it usually tastes delicious, but it’s expensive. Making this meal at home will save you money. Add this recipe to your weekly meal plan.