Barbecue Meat Loaf

A simple meat loaf of ground beef, onion, bread crumbs and egg, topped and basted with Open Pit barbecue sauce and baked at 350°F for 1 hour.

Gluten-free with swapsVegetarian with swapsDairy-freeFreezer-friendly

Contains: egg, wheat. Based on the ingredients as written; check package labels, which can change.

From the recipe book of Sandra Mills, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook in our family.

Barbecue meat loaf with a glossy barbecue sauce glaze, sliced on a platter
  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 1 hr
  • Total 1 hr 10 min

Updated

Jump to: Ingredients | Instructions | Tips | Print recipe

Sandra Mills's basic meat loaf has just four ingredients in the loaf, ground beef, minced onion, bread crumbs and an egg, and gets its flavor from Open Pit barbecue sauce poured over the top and basted on as it bakes.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of hamburg
  • 1 tablespoon minced onion
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup Open Pit Bar-b-que Sauce, for the topping

To make it gluten-free

  • For the bread or cracker crumbs, use gluten-free bread crumbs or panko.

See all our gluten-free recipes.

To make it vegetarian

  • For the ground meat, use a plant-based ground meat, or cooked lentils mixed with finely chopped mushrooms.

Meat substitutes change the flavor, texture and cooking time: cook plant-based meats to the package directions, and tofu and mushrooms only need to brown and heat through. See all our vegetarian recipes.

Instructions

  1. Shape. Mix together the beef, onion, crumbs and egg and form a loaf.
  2. Sauce. Pour 1/4 cup of the sauce over the meat loaf.
  3. Bake. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour, basting with the remaining sauce.

Dairy-freeBudget-friendlyGluten-free with swapsVegetarian with swaps

Tips

  • To freeze: cool it quickly, pack it in airtight containers or freezer bags, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat to 165°F.
  • Ground beef should reach 160°F in the center.
  • Let the loaf rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Printable: safe cooking temperatures chart (PDF).

Serve it with

Build the whole dinner: sides, sauce and dessert ›

Pairs with: Zinfandel or Syrah, or an amber ale. Wine pairing guide

More beef and steak recipes

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