BBQ Meatloaf Recipe
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.
I have made this delicious meatloaf with barbecue sauce for years. It is the ultimate comfort food on a cold winter day. 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 simple to make this easy recipe! Check out these simple steps (ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom):
1️⃣ Make the Mix
Mix the ground meat of your choice (ground turkey or lean ground beef both work well) with the cheddar cheese, minced onion (or onion powder), garlic powder, minced garlic, ground mustard, salt, black pepper, chili powder, your favorite bbq sauce, and egg in a large bowl.
👉 Tip: When I try a new meatloaf recipe, I will fry up a tiny bit of the meatloaf mixture in a skillet to taste and check the seasonings before moving on with the recipe.
2️⃣ Add to the Baking Dish.
Grease a 9×13 baking dish and preheat the oven. Put the seasoned meat mixture into a large casserole dish.
👉 Tip: You can also half this recipe and bake in a loaf pan to feed 4 people (or 2 with leftovers). Line your pan with parchment paper for easy clean up.
3️⃣ Add the Toppings
Drizzle on some barbecue sauce. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and cooked bacon.
4️⃣Bake the Meatloaf
Bake the homemade meatloaf until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees when checked with an instant-read thermometer. For tender meatloaf, do not overcook it.
👉Tip: Since BBQ sauce is sweet is replacing the traditional ketchup and brown sugar that can be normally found in meatloaf or as a topping.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the fridge for 3-4 days.
You can freeze this for 2-3 months. Make sure to wrap it tightly.
Variations
- Smoked – Want to really kick up the smoky barbecue flavor? You can smoke meatloaf! Check out our post on Smoked Meatloaf for all the info.
- Seasonings – Try using finely minced fresh garlic or yellow onion in place of the spices. Or add roasted garlic or sauteed onion to kick up the flavor.
- Mini Meatloaves – Want to make minis? Check out my Keto Mini Meatloaf recipe.
- BBQ Sauce – Vary this recipe easily with different sauces. Try Hot Honey BBQ Sauce for some heat. To keep it low carb, you can make your own Keto BBQ Sauce or order online.
Love barbecue? Try my Keto Barbecue Chicken or Crockpot BBQ Chicken next.
Common Questions
What is the secret to a great meat loaf?
Season it well. You can make meatloaf in any flavor combination you like, but if you are being adventurous, I highly recommend making a small patty, cooking it, and tasting it before baking a large meatloaf.
What is the best binder for a meatloaf?
It is very easy to make meatloaf without bread crumbs, cracker 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.
What to serve with BBQ meatloaf?
We normally serve this family favorite BBQ meatloaf with roasted vegetables like these Oven-Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Serve with my Keto Mashed Cauliflower and the green vegetable of your choice for a hearty meal.
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Video
BBQ Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients:
- 2 lb ground meat (I used turkey)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 tsp dried minced garlic
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 oz sugar-free BBQ sauce
- 1 egg
Topping Ingredients:
- 2 oz sugar-free BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 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.
Nutrition
Originally Published March 10, 2020. Revised and Republished October 30, 2025.
This was delish and the new meatloaf recipe I’m using here on out! Entire family loved it, including my picky son with Autism! So that’s a HUGE win!
G. Hughes’ Sugar Free condiments are my go to and the Mesquite BBQ was perfect with this! I incorporate just a tiny bit (1/4 cup or so) of almond flour as I’ve found this makes meatloaf in general more tender.
Best meatloaf ever! This is my new standard for meatloaf! Thank you for such a great recipe!
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.
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 9×5 pan (which often takes a whole hour to bake).
This was absolutly awesome. Great meal, very tasty.
PLEASE share your SF BBQ Sauce recipe that you use with this meatloaf.
I usually use Primal Kitchen’s unsweetened barbecue sauce. If you want it sweeter just add a sweetener to your preference.
Why can’t this be saved to Pintrist?
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?
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!!
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!!
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD & I CAN NOT WAIT TO MAKE THIS.
Can this be made in a traditional meatloaf pan?
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.
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.
MFP is using a sugary bbq sauce. You need to use a sugar free one.
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
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.
What brand of BBQ sauce do you use? I’m having trouble finding one with low carbs/sugar.
Thanks!
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.
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.
Delicious, a hit in my house!