Classic comfort food with a Southern twist! You just can’t beat this moist, tender, and easy bbq meatloaf recipe with bold, zesty flavor.
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If you love meatloaf, be sure to try this Southern meatloaf recipe, this convenient Crockpot meatloaf, and a fun cheeseburger meatloaf as well!
Love this recipe, aways get compliments.
Try adding 1 table spoon of liquid smoke, gives extra depth to the flavor.– Mark
Meatloaf has stood the test of time! It’s a classic family dinner that everyone at the table can agree on, it’s made with affordable, hearty ingredients, and it’s ready with minimal effort.
A Juicy BBQ Meatloaf Recipe
There are a handful of tricks to creating a tender and juicy bbq meatloaf. No tough, dry loaves here! First, use ground beef with a little bit of fat. I like 85% – 93% lean. Any less fat (like ground turkey breast or ground chicken breast) will result in dry meatloaf. Too much fat, and the meatloaf will be greasy. The onion and bbq sauce contribute additional moisture and flavor.
Next, add day-old cornbread crumbs or other breadcrumbs, oatmeal, or cracker crumbs to the meatloaf mixture. The crumbs absorb (and therefore retain) moisture in the meatloaf. Finally, use a thermometer to know when your meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 155-160°F, since over-cooking the meatloaf can yield a dry finished product.
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- BBQ sauce and Worcestershire sauce create a sweet, zesty, savory glaze that adds flavor and moisture to the inside and outside of the meatloaf. Look for a thick bbq sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s.
- Use 85% lean beef (ground round) or sub with a combination of ground turkey, ground pork, or ground sausage. You can also use 2 lbs. of “meatloaf mix,” which is typically a blend of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal.
- Stale cornbread crumbs act as a flavorful binder that keeps the meatloaf moist. You can use other fresh bread crumbs, oatmeal, or cracker crumbs (like saltines) if you prefer.
- Since we eat cornbread or corn muffins almost weekly, this is a nice way to take advantage of any stale leftovers. Try this cast iron cornbread, jalapeno cheddar cornbread, corn muffins, or old-fashioned corn sticks. In a pinch, you can use a store-bought mix or purchase baked cornbread in the bakery.
- Eggs act as a binding agent to hold the meatloaf together. The cornbread crumbs combine with the wet ingredients (sometimes milk, but in this case bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce) to form a panade. The panade helps to keep the meatloaf moist, and also helps the meatloaf stay together.
How to Make Barbecue Meatloaf
This barbecue meatloaf recipe comes together quickly and easily with minimal prep time, and then the oven does the work! I’ve included the detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Stir together barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Combine beef, cornbread crumbs, onion, eggs, parsley, Dijon, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, and ½ cup of the barbecue sauce mixture in a large bowl. Use your hands or a fork to gently combine the meatloaf mixture. Be careful not to over-mix the meat, or it will be dense and mushy.
- Shape the mixture into a large rectangular loaf on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.
- Spoon or brush the remaining sauce mixture on top.
- Bake in a 375°F oven for about 1 hour. You’ll know the meatloaf is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F on an instant read meat thermometer and the juices run clear. Place a pan of warm water on the rack below the meatloaf in the oven. It’s not required, but this moist environment will prevent the meatloaf from cracking or drying out. You do not need to cover the meatloaf while it’s baking.
- Let the meatloaf rest for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or other herbs for a bright, colorful, and flavorful finishing touch.
What to Serve with Meatloaf with Barbecue Sauce
This classic comfort food deserves equally delicious, cozy sides! Serve the bbq meatloaf with party potatoes, Mom’s easy potato salad, Duke’s homemade mac and cheese, creamy baked mac and cheese, Crockpot mac and cheese, corn sticks, Jiffy corn casserole, Arkansas green beans or Southern-style green beans, Southern collard greens, this easy broccoli casserole, 3-ingredient sour cream muffins, pumpkin bread, flaky biscuits, 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits, 7UP biscuits, a house salad with candied pecans, or a green salad dressed in red wine vinegar salad dressing.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Prep Ahead! You can assemble the meatloaf up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it covered in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, allow the meatloaf to come to room temperature on the counter for at least 30 minutes while you preheat the oven.
- How to Freeze: You can freeze the meatloaf before or after cooking. Wrap cooked meatloaf tightly in aluminum foil and plastic wrap (or a freezer bag) and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrapped properly, the cooked meatloaf will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 days. Leftover meatloaf is great on a meatloaf sandwich!
- How to Reheat: Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the meatloaf in an oven-safe baking dish and add 1 tablespoon of beef broth or water. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the meatloaf is warm. You can also reheat individual slices in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
BBQ Meatloaf
Ingredients
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's brand)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 lbs. ground beef or meatloaf mix (a combination of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal)
- 1 cup day-old stale cornbread crumbs (or other breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs)
- 1 small onion, grated or very finely diced
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons total)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside (or grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan if you prefer). In a small bowl, stir together the bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use your hands or a fork to gently combine the ground beef, cornbread crumbs, onion, eggs, parsley, Dijon, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, and ½ cup of the bbq sauce mixture. Be careful not to mash or over-mix or the meatloaf will be dense or mushy.
- On the prepared baking sheet, shape the meat mixture into a rectangular loaf (or pat the meat into the greased loaf pan). Spread the remaining bbq sauce mixture on top.
- Bake the meatloaf for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature is 160°F and the meatloaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meatloaf, will prevent the top from cracking.) Remove from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Instead of using a rimmed baking sheet, bake the meatloaf in a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. At the end of baking, tilt the pan to drain off the grease.
- Stir some brown sugar and/or apple cider vinegar into the bbq glaze for a sweet and tangy twist.
- Substitute yellow mustard for the Dijon mustard, or use ketchup instead of bbq sauce.
- Try other herbs in addition to the parsley and oregano. Good options include rosemary, chives, parsley, and thyme. Additional barbecue seasonings would also be nice, such as paprika, chili powder, onion powder, or cumin. Try a little bit of liquid smoke to really amp up the bbq theme!
- Instead of fresh cloves of garlic, use about ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Add more veggies to the meatloaf mixture, such as diced green bell peppers, grated zucchini, celery, or grated carrots. If you don’t want crisp vegetables in your finished meatloaf, you can sauté them in a skillet with butter before adding them to the beef mixture.
- Add a handful of grated cheddar (or other good melting cheese).
More Meatloaf Recipes to Try
Muffin Tin Meatloaf
45 minutes mins
Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal
1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Healthy Turkey Meatloaf
1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Originally published in August, 2023, this post was updated in March, 2025.
Love this recipe, aways get compliments.
Try adding 1 table spoon of liquid smoke, gives extra depth to the flavor.
Thank you, Mark! We’ll have to try that.
Will make with minced lamb as we donot eat beef .Sounds like a great delicious recipe yum from NewZealand Thank you
Thanks, Kamla. I hope that you enjoy it!