Easy Meatloaf Recipe with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar

Homemade meatloaf, covered in sauce, sliced into servings on a white plate.

4.84 from 25 votes

Easy Meatloaf Recipe with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar

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.

Prep Time10

Cook Time1 20

Total Time1 30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 370kcal

Author: Jeri Walker

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

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