If you're looking for a quick and delicious meal that will please the entire family, this easy Meatloaf Recipe with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar is it. Not only is it filled with flavor, but it's also simple to make - with just 10 minutes of prep time required.
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I may be biased, but I think this is the best meatloaf recipe, and it's a family favorite. It is a regular in our monthly dinner rotation. My daughter loves this recipe so much she has even requested to have it for her birthday dinner!
It is simple to put together, using ingredients you probably already have on hand in your pantry. This meatloaf is the perfect meal for busy families. Ready in just 80 minutes, this savory dish requires minimal prep work and delivers big flavor!
Whether it's a weeknight dinner or your next potluck offering, this classic comfort food will surely be a hit. Serve it with Oven Roasted Potatoes and Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes for a complete meal!
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This is an easy recipe, requiring minimal prep work - perfect for busy families.
- Rich, savory flavor - you will love the tangly BBQ glaze.
- It is a classic meatloaf recipe that can be served with various side dishes for a complete meal.
- It's an economical dish perfect for a family dinner - it might just become your favorite meatloaf recipe!
- You can customize it by adding extra vegetables or your favorite seasonings.
- It is my favorite comfort food!
🐄 Ingredient Notes
You can easily find these simple ingredients at your local grocery store if you don't have them in your pantry already.
- Ground beef. I used lean ground beef, but you could use any kind of meat, such as regular ground beef, ground venison, or ground turkey.
- Onion. I used both red and yellow onions. Green onions would taste great too.
- Garlic. I used garlic cloves. You could substitute 2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead.
- Rolled oats. These are used as a binder to hold the meatloaf together. You could substitute bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, Panko bread crumbs, or chunks of bread.
- Eggs. Eggs help bind the meat together and add flavor, richness, and moisture. You could substitute an egg replacement or a flax egg.
- Brown sugar. I used light brown sugar, but you could use dark brown sugar for a richer flavor. You could substitute raw sugar, cane sugar, or white sugar.
- BBQ sauce. Mixed with brown sugar, it makes an amazing sauce. Use your favorite barbecue sauce or make homemade barbecue sauce.
- Dry mustard provides a tangy flavor. Use 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard or Dijon mustard if you don't have dry mustard powder.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
♨️ How to Make Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large mixing bowl, mix ground beef, onions, and garlic. Add the oatmeal, eggs, salt, and black pepper to the meat mixture.
Mix the ground beef mixture together really well, then shape the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape. Place in a cast iron pot or large baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. You could even use a rimmed baking sheet.
Cover and place in the oven for 1 hour.
After the meatloaf has been cooking for 45 minutes, place a medium-size saucepan on the stove. Add brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, dry mustard, and HOT water.
Using a whisk, mix all ingredients until smooth. Heat the brown sugar glaze on the stove over medium heat until hot and thickened slightly.
After the meatloaf has been cooking for 1 hour, use a turkey baster to suck out grease from around the meat.
Pour the BBQ sauce glaze on top of the meatloaf and place it back in the oven, covered, for an additional 20 minutes. The sauce will carmelize as it cooks, which turns out SO good.
The meatloaf is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and spoon extra sauce over the meat to serve.
💭 Expert Tips
- Give the meatloaf space to cook. I know you traditionally baked meatloaf in a bread pan, but that can result in a brick of meat. So instead, using a cast-iron pot or larger baking dish will leave room for the outside to cook nicely and for the sauce to caramelize around the entire meatloaf perfectly.
- Line the pot with aluminum foil for easy clean-up.
- Check the internal temperature of the meat with a meat thermometer - you want it to reach 165 degrees F.
Related Recipe: Smoked Meatloaf on Pit Boss Pellet Grill
🥗 Side Dishes
❓ Recipe FAQs
Leftover meatloaf can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to two months. To reheat frozen meatloaf, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated.
The breadcrumbs and eggs act as a binder and help hold the meatloaf ingredients together.
After removing the meatloaf from the oven, let it sit for about 10 minutes before cutting into it. This will give the juices time to settle and ensure that your meatloaf holds its shape when you cut into it. However, if you are starving or are in a hurry, 5 minutes should be sufficient.
🥪 What to do with leftovers?
- Meatloaf sandwich.
- Leftover meatloaf spaghetti (add tomato sauce to broken-up meatloaf).
- Meatloaf tacos using 3 Ingredient Flatbread.
- Fried rice with meatloaf.
👩🏻🍳 More dinner recipes you'll love
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- Jeri
Recipe
Easy Meatloaf Recipe with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar
Equipment
- Baking dish
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
For The Easy Classic Meatloaf
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
- ½ medium red onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For The BBQ Glaze
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix ground beef, onions, garlic, oatmeal, eggs, salt, and black pepper. Mix the ground beef mixture together really well, then shape it into a loaf shape.
- Place the meatloaf in a greased cast iron pot or large baking dish. Cover and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
- After the meatloaf has been cooking for 45 minutes, make the glaze by combining brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, dry mustard, and water in a medium saucepan. Using a whisk, mix all ingredients until smooth. Heat the brown sugar glaze on the stove over medium heat until hot and thickened slightly.
- After the meatloaf has been cooking for 1 hour, use a turkey baster to suck out grease from around the meat. Pour the bbq sauce glaze on top of the meatloaf and place it back in the oven, covered, for an additional 20 minutes. The sauce will carmelize as it cooks, which turns out SO good.
- The meatloaf will be cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and spoon extra sauce over the meatloaf to serve.
Video
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Recipe Notes:
- Give the meatloaf space to cook. I know that traditionally you baked meatloaf in a bread pan, but that can result in a brick of meat. So instead, using a cast-iron pot or larger baking dish will leave room for the outside to cook nicely and for the sauce to caramelize around the entire meatloaf perfectly.
- Line the pot with aluminum foil to make for easy clean up.
- Check the internal temperature of the meat with a meat thermometer - you want it to reach 165 degrees F.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
About Jeri Walker
Jeri Walker is the founder and CEO of Winding Creek Ranch. She is a self-taught home cook who specializes in easy family-friendly recipes. Jeri is also a food writer who regularly writes articles for MSN. Read about Jeri's journey and connect with her on your favorite social media channels!
Hutch says
Sure would be nice if the recipe contained an amount of each item you put in your meatloaf. Being a senior citizen male widower I really need alot of help when it comes to cooking. I've lost 67 pounds since my wife died and could spend a millennium trying to figure out the correct proportions.
Jeri Walker says
Hi Hutch. I'm really glad that you are wanting to cook healthy meals for yourself. I understand how hard it can be as a senior citizen and a widower. The ingredients and the correct amounts for all my recipes are listed in the recipe card. If you click the 'Jump To Recipe' button at the top of the page, it will take you to the recipe with all of the ingredients and their amounts listed. I hope this helps. 🙂 Also, to make cooking easier, you might want to check out some of my air fryer recipes. An air fryer helps make cooking small meals a lot quicker and easier. My dad loves using his air fryer to cook for himself. Take good care. Jeri
Erin Gierhart says
This tastes just like the meatloaf my mom used to make! Brings me back to childhood.