BBQ Meatloaf

The ultimate comfort food recipe just got a smoky facelift, and smoldering, good looks aside, this BBQ Meatloaf is likely to conjure the whole family 'round the table by scent alone.

Juicy, tender meatloaf made extra flavorful thanks to a few savory spices, a little liquid smoke, and a sticky-sweet BBQ sauce glaze. It's easy to make and perfect for adding a little extra pizzazz to any weeknight dinner!

Bookmark this decked-out Italian Meatloaf recipe for some seriously delicious Dinnertime Inspiration!

HOW TO MAKE BBQ MEATLOAF

1. Make Breadcrumb Mixture - Mix together breadcrumbs, spices, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke in a large bowl.
2. Add Beef and Onion - Add the ground beef and onion to the breadcrumb mixture and mix with hands until everything is evenly combined.
3. Form Into a Loaf and Add the Glaze - Transfer to a rimmed pan lined with nonstick foil and form into a narrow-shaped loaf. Add about half of the BBQ sauce to the top of the meatloaf.
4. Bake - Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. Then, pour the remaining BBQ sauce across the top of the loaf and bake for 25 minutes more. Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before slicing into.

BYE-BYE, LOAF PAN.

Contrary to what the past might have you believe, meatloaf is better when you ditch the loaf pan altogether. Instead, allow those sides and edges to get a little love, and cook it on a rimmed sheet pan or even in a 9x13" casserole dish. As long as there is room for air to circulate around the loaf, you're good. Leaving the loaf pan in the past will also help it to cook more evenly!

One thing you do want to keep in mind is that the meatloaf is going to spread a little. Therefore, when you are shaping it, you'll want to make it a little more narrow than the width of your average loaf pan.

BBQ MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS

Every ingredient in this BBQ Meatloaf Recipe serves a purpose, whether it be in regard to texture, structure, or flavor. Read below for an in-depth look!

KEEP IT TENDER AND JUICY

Make sure to purchase 80/20 ground beef. The leaner the beef, the dryer and grainier the texture of your meatloaf will be. No, thanks.

You'd be hardpressed to find a more tender meatloaf recipe, and it has a whole lot to do with soaked breadcrumbs. All you need for this are standard, plain breadcrumbs and some milk -- 2 % or whole milk works just fine.

HOLD IT TOGETHER

An egg also goes into the breadcrumb mixture, and its purpose is to bind all of the ingredients. One egg will do the trick.

ALL ABOUT THAT SMOKY BBQ FLAVOR

Keep it classic with a little diced onion. And, by little, I mean lit-tle...as in finely diced. Fresh onion adds a phenomenal amount of flavor to meatloaf, but you'll need to make sure you dice it very small so that it has time to cook through. The larger the dice, the longer it takes for the onion to cook. Raw onion -- pungent. Cooked onion -- delicious.

The BBQ Sauce on top isn't the only thing adding big, smoky flavor to this BBQ Meatloaf! In addition to our standard TAK Seasoning lineup of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, this loaf gets an extra smoky boost thanks to the addition of chili powder, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.

Hop on over to our meatloaf seasoning post if you're looking for more of a traditional meatloaf flavor.

THE BBQ SAUCE GLAZE

Last, but certainly not least, the BBQ Sauce. 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 and viscous, and not watery or thin.

A thick, sticky-sweet BBQ sauce will stay put when poured atop your meatloaf, whereas a thin sauce would, sadly, run and escape down the sides.

Love all things BBQ? You'll want to bookmark these BBQ Crockpot Meatballs for your next party!

6 MORE COMFORT FOOD RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Frito Pie
• Doritos Casserole
• Cowboy Casserole
• Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• BBQ Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

Source: Today.com | Make Perfect Meatloaf Every Time With These Easy Tips