BBQ Smoked Meatloaf
40 Comments
Posted: 04/01/23
Updated: 04/22/24
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Dare I say this might be the BEST Meatloaf I have ever had? It has so much smoked flavor bursting from it along with a delicious BBQ sauce and it’s stuffed with cheese! You are going to love this cheesy BBQ Smoked Meatloaf that you can make on your Traeger pellet grill as much as I do.
In fact, you might never make meatloaf any other way again. It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner but delicious enough to serve it to guests. Make you are pair it with our Smoked Baked Potatoes and Easy Smoked Vegetables for an entire meal on your smoker!
Meatloaf is one of the best meals to make on the Traeger. Whether it’s the Mini Smoked Meatloaf or Smoked Meatloaf Recipe these have been super popular so I know it’s time for one more!
This meatloaf recipe is stuffed with cheese and then topped with a delicious BBQ sauce to finish it off.
There was an amazing smoke ring on this meatloaf and the flavor was AWESOME.
Why You’ll Love This Easy BBQ Meatloaf!
- That smoke ring! You’ll love the elusive smoke ring that this meatloaf gets when you cook on your smoker.
- Not your Grandma’s Meatloaf. Let’s be real, meatloaf has a bad rap. This one is so flavorful you won’t be disappointed!
- Pantry staple ingredients make this so easy to make!
Ingredients for BBQ Smoked Meatloaf
Meatloaf Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Bacon
- Eggs
- Panko bread crumbs
- Milk
- Seasoned salt
- Garlic powder
- Yellow onion chopped
- Ground black pepper
- Cheddar cheese
BBQ Sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- honey
- brown sugar
How to Make BBQ Smoked Meatloaf
- Preheat the smoker to 325 degrees F
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, shape into a loaf
- Place on smoker and smoke until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F
- While it’s smoking, mix the ingredients together for the BBQ Sauce
- Remove the meatloaf from the smoker and slather with the BBQ Sauce
Make Ahead Tips
You can make this ahead by prepping the meatloaf up to a day before you smoke it. Simply mix the ingredients together, shape into the meatloaf and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to smoke.
What Wood Pellets Should I use to Smoke Meatloaf?
Sweet fruit woods like apple or cherry are great wood chips for this recipe, but you could also use a competition blend.
How to Store Leftover Meatloaf
Refrigerator: Place any leftovers you have in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Place leftover meatloaf in a freezer safe container and store it in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Leftover Meatloaf
- Meatloaf Sandwiches are certainly my favorite. Some great whole grain bread, mayonnaise and cheese. Yup – that’s leftover heaven right there!
- Add it into Shepherds Pie – just sub out the turkey in this recipe. It’s a perfect use of leftovers.
- Add it into large pasta shells and top with marina sauce and some cheese – repurpose perfection!
Servings Suggestions
This is what really gets my taste buds rolling, I love planning menus! Since this is a great family meal, we’ll keep it easy and casual. Dinner rolls are a MUST, then some smoked vegetables and maybe finish with a Smoked Crumb Apple Pie.
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Shop Now!Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!
Cheesy BBQ Smoked Meatloaf
Easy Smoked Cheesy BBQ Smoked Meatloaf made on your Traeger!
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 8 strips bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 eggs whisked
- ½ cup Italian Panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup yellow onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoons honey
- 1 ½ Tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare electric smoker to 325 degrees Fahrenheit according to manufacturer's directions.
- In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients. Shape into a loaf.
- Place on smoker and smoke until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F which should take about 1 ½ hours.
- Meanwhile mix together all the ingredients for the BBQ Sauce.
- With a half hour left of cooking time brush meatloaf with BBQ sauce and cook the remaining ½ hour.
- Remove from smoker, brush with the BBQ Sauce, slice and serve immediately.
Tips
Sweet fruit woods like apple or cherry are great wood chips for this recipe, but you could also use a competition blend.
Refrigerator: Place any leftovers you have in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Place leftover meatloaf in a freezer safe container and store it in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 780kcal (39%), Carbohydrates: 31g (10%), Protein: 40g (80%), Fat: 53g (82%), Saturated Fat: 24g (150%), Cholesterol: 199mg (66%), Sodium: 1887mg (82%), Potassium: 566mg (16%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 17g (19%), Vitamin A: 740IU (15%), Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%), Calcium: 501mg (50%), Iron: 3.2mg (18%)
Lisa Genter says
Absolutely delicious! Followed recipe exactly and used cherry wood. It turned out perfect!
Becky says
This recipe is a favorite in our house! I’ve made it numerous times and it always turns out great. I do glaze the meat at the beginning and again toward the end. Thanks for another keeper!
Sarah Hill says
We’re so happy this is a family favorite! Thanks so much for commenting and rating this recipe!
Gary says
Is this site just for pellet grills.
Sarah Hill says
While a lot of our recipes are for pellet grills, we do have recipes for gas grills and Blackstone as well!
Phil says
Question about the timing – you say it takes 1hr 40 total. To cook for 1hr 30, bring off, put on bbq sauce, then “cook for remaining 1/2 hour”. Those times don’t add up – is it cook for an extra 10 minutes or total time is 2 hours? Or just cook for a hour before putting on the bbq sauce? I’m going to work on this recipe tonight though, it looks awesome!!!
Courtney says
With a half hour left of your cooking time…Meaning after its been on the smoker for an hour you then add you BBQ sauce and then continue smoking for another half hour. So 1.5 hours totals.
Thomas says
All I added was a few shakes of Sweet Preacher seasoning otherwise I made it just as written and it was Great. Wife and a friend from work ate like they hadn’t seen food a couple days. Recipe makes enough for 2 people and some leftovers or 3 people and no Leftovers. But it is very good as written.
Courtney says
Awesome! Thank you for letting us know you loved it & for rating this recipe!
Eddie fortmann says
Do you preheat the bacon first or just cut the raw bacon up or do you wrap it?
dixon says
Made this on my Traeger. Baked it at 225c for 3 hours. turned out amazing.
the Evinks says
So glad you enjoyed them Dixon!! Thanks so much for commenting and rating the recipe!
Matt says
Hey I have an electric smoker that only gets to about 250 how would I make this recipe work
the Evinks says
You can just cook at a lower heat and add about 10-15 minutes to cook time. Monitor the internal temperature.
Trish says
What temp is your smoker set for and for how long? Going to try it this week!
Julie Evink says
Follow the directions in the recipe card to set your smoker at 325 degrees F for about 1 1/2 hours. Hope you enjoy it!
Thomas says
I did 325° and went about 2hours and it came out perfect.
Mark Adkison says
Have made this recipe twice now and it was perfect each time. It was actually requested for Christmas dinner. Going to make it today. I will say I use breakfast sausage for the ground pork. It adds some extra flavor. Thanks for the recipe.
Megan Mitzel says
That’s a great tip! I’m glad it’s a recipe you can continue to come back to!
russ says
2nd time making this to freeze and share.
Megan Mitzel says
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoy it!
Glenn says
HI Megan, it went very well and was delicious! My family loved it! Thanks for the reply. I ended up putting it in an aluminum pan and it worked great!
Megan Mitzel says
Glad to hear it!
Glenn says
Going to try this today. Do you place the meatloaf directly on the smoker grates or on/in a foil pan or other type of pan?
Megan Mitzel says
Hi Glenn – I hope it went well! You can put it right on the smoker grates!
Theresa Taylor says
This meatloaf is amazing. I followed the directions to a tee and it turned out great. I was going to make the recipe for friends and when I tried to get to it through Pinterest, I couldn’t get to it because they had blocked it, claiming the link could lead to spam. So I went to your website and tried to repin it and it wouldn’t let me for the same reason. I thought you might want to know there is a problem, this recipe is too good not to be able to pin it!
Julie Evink says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, Pinterest accidentally marked me as spam this weekend but it’s been resolved. Thanks for going around Pinterest and finding this recipe!!
Malinda Linnebur says
I promise once you try smoked meatloaf it’s almost impossible to go back to the traditional oven meatloaf!!
Julie Evink says
Got that right!
Patricia Silbaugh says
Can this meatloaf recipe be baked in an oven if you don’t have a smoker? If so, please advise at what temperature and for how long.
Thank you
Julie Evink says
Yes I’m sure it can be. I would think it’d bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hr or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Melissa Howell says
This sounds SO yummy! Especially with all that bacon! My family would die for this!
Julie Evink says
You can never go wrong with something that has bacon 🙂
Liz says
Such a fun grill recipe! Bookmarking this one for the summer because I know this will be perfect for a party!
Julie Evink says
Yes it will be. Enjoy!
Sandi says
This recipe looks so good. We have a barrel smoker a friend made for us, hoping this will work because this recipe looks too good not to try!
Julie Evink says
I hope it does too because it’s amazing!
Danielle Green says
I am not sure this would get shared and everyone would get equal size portions! Yum!