BBQ Meatloaf

Comfort Food in 1 Hour

This BBQ meatloaf recipe is similar to my classic homemade meatloaf but instead of a sweet and tangy meatloaf sauce, it’s topped with BBQ sauce for a sweet and smoky flavor. Liquid smoke added to the sauce is an easy way to get that real woodsmoke taste without fussing around with a smoker.

To serve my meatloaf, I like to go traditional with a pile of fluffy mashed potatoes and a side of green beans. For the more adventurous, you might enjoy serving it up with twice-baked potatoes or baked macaroni and cheese. And don’t forget the dinner rolls!

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Meatloaf Recipe

• Favorite comfort food. This family favorite meal is so delicious! If you are a fan of traditional meatloaf, you will love this!
• Easy to make. Only a few minutes prep and then it’s hands off time in the oven.
• Make ahead. Meal prep this ahead of time for a busy night!
• Leftovers. Store and reheats well! Eat leftovers as is or use them to make the best meatloaf sandwiches.

Recipe Ingredients

Simple ingredients come together to make this tasty meatloaf with BBQ sauce.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Meat: Use 80% – 90% lean ground beef, make ground turkey meatloaf, or 1 pound ground pork and 1 pound ground beef.
• Binder: I use panko breadcrumbs, broth or milk, and eggs to hold the meat together. Panko breadcrumbs are dryer than regular bread crumbs which can sometimes cause meatloaf to be mushy.
• Seasoning: I use onion and garlic powders because it’s easy, but you can use fresh if you prefer.
• Liquid smoke: You don’t have to add liquid smoke, but it adds a smoky flavor that goes perfectly with the meat.
• BBQ glaze: I add some brown sugar and a splash of liquid smoke to BBQ sauce for the perfect smoky glaze. You can usually find liquid smoke near the BBQ sauces in the grocery store.

Substitutions and Additions

This is a pretty simple and easy BBQ meatloaf recipe which you can tweak in a few places depending on your tastes! 

• You can swap fresh onion and garlic (1/2 cup chopped onion and 4 minced garlic cloves) for the onion powder and garlic powder. Make sure to sauté them first with a little bit of olive oil before adding them to the meat mixture.
• If you prefer a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat or a few dashes of chili sauce or sriracha to the meatloaf sauce. 
• Use crushed crackers or Rice Chex cereal in place of panko breadcrumbs.
• Add some taco seasoning to the meat mixture to add some warm and spicy flavor.

How to Make BBQ Meatloaf

You can make this BBQ meatloaf in a 9×5-inch loaf pan lined with foil or shape it into a loaf on a regular baking sheet lined with foil. Spray the foil lightly with cooking spray to help prevent it from sticking to it once it has cooked.

1. Assemble ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, mix the beef, breadcrumbs, broth, eggs, parsley, Worcestershire, ketchup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until just combined. Add the liquid smoke if you’re using it and mix lightly. Don’t overmix the ingredients at this stage or you could end up with a dense loaf.
2. Shape the loaf. If you’re using a loaf pan, gently press the meat mixture into the foil-lined pan. If you’re using a baking sheet, gently form a loaf shape in the middle of the sheet.
3. Make the glaze. Mix the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and liquid smoke in a small bowl and carefully pour it over the top of the meatloaf.
4. Bake. Bake BBQ meatloaf at 375°F/190°C for 45 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reaches 160°F/71°C. Let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting it into slices.

Expert Tips

• Do not overmix. Overmixing the meat mixture can result in a dense BBQ meatloaf.
• Line your pan. If you’re using a loaf pan, line the pan with foil or parchment, leaving some overhang over the edges. You’ll be able to easily remove the meatloaf from the pan once it has rested.
• Do not overcook. Keep an eye on your meatloaf as it cooks and start checking the internal temperature ahead of the full cooking time. Overcooking can make your meatloaf dry and crumbly.
• Rest is important. Your BBQ meatloaf will need to rest for 10 minutes or so after it comes out of the oven before slicing it. The juices will have time to redistribute throughout the loaf and it will be easier to slice.

Sides

To serve my meatloaf, I often garnish it with fresh parsley or green onion and pair it with classics like creamy mashed potatoes and green beans.

It really goes with just about anything, though, from cheesy potatoes to fried mac and cheese! A basket of fresh yeast bread rolls is always a must for the table, too.

What to Do with Leftover Meatloaf

You can’t beat a sandwich made from leftover meatloaf, but did you know there are a lot more ways you can use it? Here are a few ideas you can try:

• Tacos. Replace regular ground beef with crumbled leftover BBQ meatloaf in your favorite taco recipe.
• Shepherd’s pie: Chop up leftover meatloaf, add some peas, carrots, and gravy, then top with mashed potatoes and you’ve got yourself an easy pie for dinner!
• Pizza. Crumble leftover loaf on top of homemade or frozen pizza.
• Nachos. Crumble it over nachos and cheese.
• Spaghetti. Add chunks of BBQ meatloaf to tomato sauce to make a quick and easy spaghetti dish.