BBQ Meatloaf with a Bacon Weave
On May 03, 2021 (Updated October 24, 2023)
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If you’re looking for the ultimate meatloaf recipe, look no further than this recipe for BBQ Meatloaf. It’s everything you ever wanted from meatloaf with the most amazing grilled/smoked flavor.
BBQ Meatloaf
Let’s just acknowledge that meatloaf kind of gets a bad rap these days. Nobody is clamoring for a big ol’ slice of Granny’s dry, gray meatloaf with ketchup slathered on top. This meatloaf though, oh this BBQ meatloaf! This meatloaf is truly a work of BBQ art.
Tender ground beef is supremely seasoned with peppers, onions, and garlic, then wrapped in a heavenly bacon weave. Luscious, I tell you. The whole thing is roasted to beautiful golden perfection on the grill and lovingly glazed in BBQ sauce for a color and flavor that will blow everybody’s mind.
BBQ Bacon Meatloaf
The two elements of this meatloaf that set it apart from the rest are the bacon weave and the BBQ sauce. While you can always cover the meatloaf in a few slices of bacon, this method often results in the bacon sliding off while cooking, or not getting enough bacon goodness with each slice for your guests. By wrapping the meatloaf in a bacon weave, you get lots of good bacon flavor covering the entire meatloaf.
Next up is the BBQ sauce. Adding BBQ sauce to the meatloaf instead of the standard ketchup results in a richer flavor overall. I highly recommend my Everything BBQ Sauce (available for purchase from my store) or my Kansas City BBQ Sauce (recipe link) for this meatloaf.
Whatever sauce you choose, make sure it is a ketchup-based sauce so you still get that tomato flavor.
How to Cook Meatloaf on the BBQ
Let’s get to making this meatloaf, shall we? While this may seem like a complicated process, you’ll find it simply has a few extra steps that help make it the best of the best. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a full, printable recipe card with ingredient amounts and more detailed steps.
- Make the meatloaf. This meatloaf combines lots of tasty ingredients, including sautéed onions and peppers, Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, and BBQ sauce.
- Wrap in a bacon weave. Using 10 pieces of bacon (regular thickness works best here), make a bacon weave and wrap it over the meatloaf to make a log. Not sure how to make a bacon weave? Check out my tutorial for How to Make a Bacon Weave.
- Cook the BBQ meatloaf. You can cook this meatloaf in a variety of ways. I cooked it on my Camp Chef pellet grill, but feel free to use whatever you have available. With your grill preheated for indirect cooking to 375 degrees F, cook the meatloaf for 45 minutes. Brush with BBQ sauce, and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
- Serve. Once your meatloaf has reached the proper temperature, remove it from the grill and allow it to cool slightly. When ready to serve, slice and serve with additional BBQ sauce on the side.
It doesn’t get much easier than meatloaf, I tell ya. And it’s a delicious and comforting meal for any day of the week!
Tips for Making BBQ Meatloaf
Here are some tips to making this BBQ meatloaf the best of the best:
- Choose your bacon adventure. The bacon in this recipe is soft, not crunchy. If you want crunchy bacon, skip the BBQ sauce glaze and broil the meatloaf for a few minutes before serving. Serve the BBQ sauce on the side.
- Double up! You can double the meat recipe without doubling the bacon weave if you want heartier slices. The bacon weave will not wrap all of the way around the doubled meatloaf, but it will still create a nice bacon blanket and give you loads of flavor.
- Make it spicy. Swap the bell peppers for diced jalapenos and level up your heat levels!
Well, my friends. You’re ready to make yourself some awesome meatloaf. Check out the next section of this post for some suggestions on what to serve on the side with meatloaf to make it a complete meal!
Meatloaf Side Dishes
Now that you have a delicious meatloaf prepped for dinner, let’s talk sides! There are plenty of delicious sides you can serve with meatloaf, but I find these are the most classic and make for a filling meal:
BBQ Meatloaf Recipe
BBQ Meatloaf with a Bacon Weave
Ingredients
- 10 slices bacon
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 eggs beaten
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 Tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce like Cholula
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 3 Tablespoons Everything BBQ Sauce or your favorite ketchup-based BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the grill. Preheat your grill (I cooked this on my pellet smoker, but you can use whatever grill you have available) for indirect heat to 375 degrees F.
- Saute the onions and peppers. In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil. Stir in the onions and peppers and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.
- Make the meatloaf. In a large mixing bowl add the ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, ½ cup BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Add in the cooled pepper and onions and gently combine with your hands.
- Make a bacon weave. Use the 10 pieces of bacon to create a bacon weave on a piece of parchment paper. Place the meatloaf on the middle of the weave and shape into a log. Roll the bacon weave over the meatloaf mixture and secure the ends with toothpicks.
- Cook the meatloaf. Carefully transfer your meatloaf to the grill grates, close the lid, and cook for 45 minutes. Glaze with the BBQ sauce and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees F.
- Rest, slice, and serve. Allow the meatloaf to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
**This post was originally published in January 2016. We recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. The recipe remains the same.
I followed this recipe with the exception of doubling all the ingredients. It was the best meat loaf I’ve ever had. I thought the consistency before it was cooked was perfect. Thanks for the great recipes!
I just made this meatloaf except I doubled the ingredients. Without a doubts the best meatloaf I’ve ever had. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Hey guys for everyone that thinks its funny try replacing the bbq sauce in the meatloaf mix with bbq rub instead.. and top it with bbq for that last 10 min bake… makes a huge difference for the better!
What kind of wood do you recommend?
Any good hardwood would do! Hickory, Oak, Mesquite etc.
Love the meatloaf, my only issue/ question is everytime I do a bacon weave the outside of the bacon looks nice and done but the underside of the bacon comes out soggy and looks almost raw.
What about being runny? I just mixed it up for a cook tomorrow and I agree it is runny. I’ll try it like this and see what happens.
It seems pretty loose, but once it is wrapped up in bacon and smoked it comes together great and is super moist!
You can always put it in a loaf pan and then into the freezer to firm it up. When it feels plenty firm, pop it out of the pan and head for the smoker.
Oops, found the search button,,stupid me lol
Wow, best meatloaf I have ever eaten!! I smoked it and was great..Only complaint seemed like 2 eggs was too much, made the hamburger very runny, ended up having to add way more bread crumbs.,,Will compensate next time.
BTW your website could really use a search function.
Thanks
Thanks Barry! I was going to direct you to the search bar, but looks like you found it. Glad you liked the meatloaf!
Wow just the ticket to shake up an ordinary meatloaf. Going to put both this and the Jack’s up meatloaf on the smoker today. Gotta do the comparison test ya konw
Oh my word this looks amazing. I don’t know why meatloaf gets such a bad rap! It’s awesome! I love your site and I’m excited to follow you and will *definitely* be making this!! I took a grilling hiatus because, you know, it’s winter. But the past two nights I decided to grill dinner…outside….take that snow and cold. 😉
Oh Laura! Thanks for the sweet comment! I love that you are sticking it to winter and busting out the grill. I think grilled food tastes even better in winter. Grill on, girl!
I’ve always been a fan of meatloaf but have never managed to convert my husband…the bacon weave just might do it!
Erin, my husband is the same way! I tried so many recipes over the years and he didn’t love any of them. This was the winner that finally converted him. The bacon weave didn’t hurt, for sure! Haha.