a hand grabbing a plate full of mashed potaotes broccoli and meatloaf

Why I love this BBQ meatloaf recipe

The weather isn’t too cold yet this fall, so it seems appropriate to continue grilling as long as possible. By no means am I an expert at grilling – because I haven’t always had access to a grill – but while I’m home I am using it as much as I can.

My favorite thing about grilling is that there are no dirty pots or pans to wash. And since I feel like I’m constantly washing or drying dishes, it seems like the best excuse it the world to use the grill.

This time I’ve made grilled barbecue meatloaf. It’s a nice change from a regular baked meatloaf. It’s got the spicy kick of barbecue sauce and added flavor complexity from the mixture of ground pork and beef. It’s also a cinch to put together.

Just throw everything in a bowl, mix it up and shape it into loaves. Then top the loaves with some ‘homemade’ sauce and toss them on the grill.

We love to serve this with Instant Pot baked beans and our favorite easy macaroni salad recipe, but you can also pair it with more traditional sides like mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli or even air fryer green beans.

Searching for more ground beef recipes? Try making dairy free beef stroganoff / slow cooker beef tacos / Irish shepherds pie / mini meatloaf recipe / quick and easy beer chili

plates with meatloaf and mashed potatoes and broccoli ready to eat

SHOP THIS RECIPE:

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

ingredients in a mixing bowl, ground beef egg, ketchup, breadcrumbs etc.
A meatloaf being brushed with bbq sauce.
A grilled meatloaf sliced on a serving platter with bbq sauce drizzled over the platter.

The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.

How to make grilled meatloaf

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. You don’t want to over mix, as it will make the meatloaf dense, just make sure everything is combined well.

Divide the mixture into two separate loafs. You won’t be using a loaf pan, but I like to make mine similar shaped.

Top with barbecue sauce and grill for an hour without flipping the loaves. Grill until your meatloafs reach an internal temperature of 160˚F.

an close up of a plate with grilled barbecue meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli

FAQs and tips for making meatloaf on the grill

  • What is the internal temperature of a cooked meatloaf? Ground beef and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160˚F, so you’ll want to cook your meatloaf to 160˚F. I recommend using an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.
  • Why does my meatloaf fall apart? If you followed this recipe exactly then there shouldn’t be any issues. That said, it your meatloaf begins to fall apart there are two pretty common reasons. 1) there wasn’t enough of a binding agent like eggs or bread crumbs and 2) you overcooked the meatloaf.
  • What barbecue sauce should I use for my bbq meatloaf? You can use any barbecue sauce that you want! This is great because it gives you an advantage of already knowing that you’re going to like the meatloaf when it’s done. So if you’re looking for a hickory smoke, honey, or vinegar flavor added to the dish, just pick a sauce that matches the flavors you want incorporated!
  • Is there dairy in breadcrumbs? Check the ingredients before buying your breadcrumbs! You wouldn’t guess it, but some store-bought breadcrumbs actually contain milk. It’s usually the seasoned ones, but always be sure to check.
grilled barbecue meatloaf sliced on a plate with roasted broccoli and mashed potatoes.
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Barbecue Grilled Meatloaf

By: Melissa Belanger
For the most flavor, this BBQ grilled meatloaf recipe is made from a combination of beef and pork, then seasoned to perfect and basted with barbecue sauce while it cooks.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup

For the sauce:

  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup

Instructions 

  • Preheat grill to medium-low indirect heat.
  • In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients.
  • Shape meat mixture into two loaves.
  • Top with barbecue sauce mixture.
  • Grill for 1 hour or until internal temperature reaches 160˚F.
  • Let rest for about ten minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 18g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 71mg, Sodium: 384mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin C: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Recipe adapted from Weber’s Way to Grill.

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

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19 Comments

  1. Krista says:

    I love this meal idea, but even more than that, I LOVE your serving dish! Where did you find that?

    Reply
    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Thanks! I got it at Goodwill, but it has no markings of any kind on it so I can’t even tell you that. Sorry!

      Reply
      1. Wayne says:

        Just curious. On the grill with indirect heat. But did you cook this directly on the grill or leave on a pan of some sort?

        Reply
        1. Melissa Belanger says:

          Indirect just means that the burner under the food is off, but we cook these directly on the grill grates!

          Reply