This Barbecue Meatloaf comes together in about 5 minutes. My BBQ Meatloaf Recipe has so much flavor from the barbecue sauce, bacon, and cheddar you won't be able to resist having seconds. This easy recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
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I have made this delicious meatloaf with barbecue sauce for years. It is actually on my blog already with a few tweaks in the form of mini meatloaves but making one big bbq meatloaf is always easier. The combination of barbecue sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese go well on just about anything.
Whenever my kids ask what we are having for dinner and I say meatloaf they reply with "the meatloaf with bacon and barbecue sauce?" And more often than not this is the one. It is just as good the next day and they've been known to take leftovers to school in a thermos.
How to Make BBQ Meatloaf
It is so easy to make this family-friendly recipe! Check out these simple steps (ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom):
First Step: Mix the ground meat of your choice (ground turkey or ground beef both work well) with the seasonings.
Second Step: Put the seasoned meat into a large casserole dish and drizzle on some sugar-free barbecue sauce.
Third Step: Top with shredded cheddar cheese and cooked bacon.
Fourth Step: Bake the meatloaf until it reaches 160 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer.
Expert Tip: Want to really kick up the smoky barbecue flavor? You can smoke meatloaf! Check out our post on Smoked Meatloaf for all the info.
What to serve with bbq meatloaf:
We normally serve this bbq meatloaf with roasted vegetables like these Oven-Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Another great alternative is serving keto barbecue meatloaf with my Keto Broccoli Salad, Keto Mashed Cauliflower, Keto Coleslaw, or Caesar Salad with Bacon.
How do you make meatloaf without using bread crumbs
It is very easy to make meatloaf without bread crumbs or bread cubes. I do add an egg as a binder and then just drain the cooking liquid before serving. The breadcrumbs absorb that liquid but it is absolutely not necessary to use them for a gluten-free meatloaf.
Where can I find sugar-free BBQ sauce?
You can find sugar-free barbecue sauce in most grocery stores but it is normally sweetened with sucralose. If you want a bbq sauce without sucralose you can make your own low carb barbecue sauce or order online.
Any of my 3 flavors of keto bbq sauce will work well in this meatloaf with barbecue sauce! And then you can use the extra to top my grilled Keto Barbecue Chicken or Crockpot BBQ Chicken.
And make sure to check out my video demonstrating how easy this family-friendly meal really is!
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📖 Recipe
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients:
- 2 lb ground meat (I used turkey)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 oz sugar-free BBQ sauce
- 1 egg
Topping Ingredients:
- 2 oz sugar-free BBQ sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup cooked chopped bacon (about 5 slices)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Combine all the ingredients for the meat and press into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Brush the barbecue sauce on top and sprinkle on the cheese and bacon.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until 160 on a meat thermometer.
Rhonda bargery says
Best meatloaf ever! This is my new standard for meatloaf! Thank you for such a great recipe!
Jo Ann says
We love this recipe, great comfort food, easy to put together, loaded with flavor! This is one of our favorite keto recipes! Making it again for dinner tonight.
Karen says
My favorite meatloaf recipe: flavorful, fast and enough for leftovers… and NO almond flour or pork rinds! Using a 9”13” dish makes draining excess juice much easier than iin the usual 9x5 pan (which often takes a whole hour to bake).
Kitclark says
This was absolutly awesome. Great meal, very tasty.
Juanita says
PLEASE share your SF BBQ Sauce recipe that you use with this meatloaf.
Taryn says
I usually use Primal Kitchen's unsweetened barbecue sauce. If you want it sweeter just add a sweetener to your preference.
Laura J Gay says
Why can't this be saved to Pintrist?
Taryn says
I've been having problems with my sharing plugin. What happens when you click the pin button? Does it just go to a white screen?
Judy Contois says
SUPERB!!! I will definitely make this again!!!
Excellent! It has a strong garlic aroma when in the oven---making one wonder if the garlic will overwhelm the dish---but upon eating, the taste/flavor is right on, using the quantity of garlic that the recipe instructs!!
This was a HIT!!
Bravo and thank you!!
Jack says
This was a hit for the whole family of 6. After 35 mins I turned the broiler on high and let the bacon crisp up for about 4 minutes. Had to watch it very closely but the result was worth it. Fantastic family friendly comfort food that satisfies the adults on keto and the kids who are not. Thanks!!
KELLY says
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD & I CAN NOT WAIT TO MAKE THIS.
Tracey says
Can this be made in a traditional meatloaf pan?
Taryn says
Yes, you will need to increase the baking time. I have not tested it so I'm not sure how much longer it will take.
Sonia Kunze says
I put this recipe into MyFitnessPal and I realize it's a free app so it's going to have mistakes, but it says there are 32 carbs PER SERVING! Any suggestions? I loved this, as did my husband, and I would love to make it a couple times a month but the carb count is really confusing me.
Taryn says
MFP is using a sugary bbq sauce. You need to use a sugar free one.
Rachel says
I was wondering if you ever had a problem with yours shrinking? I made mine with beef (94% lean, 4% fat) and it got quite a bit smaller
Taryn says
As the meat cooks and releases juices, it does shrink. This happens with most types and cuts of meat but can be more noticeable in a meatloaf.
Sara Miller says
What brand of BBQ sauce do you use? I'm having trouble finding one with low carbs/sugar.
Thanks!
Taryn says
I make my own when I can. There are a lot of recipes for sugar-free barbecue sauce online. Otherwise, Walmart does sell one that is sweetened with sucralose.
Norm says
I made this last night. So easy, and so tasty. I love meatloaf, and I am glad to have a recipe for a low carb version.
Christ says
Delicious, a hit in my house!