The Best Cheesy Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce
The Best Cheesy Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce creates a comforting twist on a classic dish that will soon become a family favorite!
The combination of tender, flavorful ground beef blended with pepper jack cheese, oats, a variety of spices, crispy bacon, and onion, all topped with the zesty punch of BBQ sauce, creates a delicious and satisfying dish.
Growing up, my grandmother made the absolute best old-fashioned meatloaf. She didn’t have a recipe written down, so in my twenties, she often had to walk me through making the recipe over the phone.
Although this recipe is a different type of meatloaf, it still brings back memories of the time I spent with someone I loved so very much.
Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this meatloaf are mashed potatoes, cheesy hashbrown casserole, drop biscuits, and glazed carrots. Or, make the dinner feel extra special with this homemade green bean casserole.
Why you’ll love this easy recipe
- Classic comfort food with a twist: This is not your average meatloaf. It is loaded with cheese, topped with tangy BBQ sauce, and baked until tender and juicy.
- The perfect mix of textures: Every slice is hearty and flavorful with melted cheese inside and a saucy, sticky BBQ glaze on top.
- Easy to make: You only need one bowl and a loaf pan, making this an easy meatloaf recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners or Sunday family meals.
Simple Ingredients
Recipe Notes
You can find a complete list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef – 80/20 is recommended for the perfect balance of flavor.
- Oats – You can substitute bread crumbs for the oats, but I love the texture of oatmeal.
- Onion – If you have picky eaters, grate the onion, and they won’t even know it’s there. You could also substitute 1 teaspoon of onion powder to get the onion flavor.
- Bacon – Use crispy cooked chopped bacon.
- Pepper Jack Cheese – Cheddar cheese is a good substitution.
- Milk – Helps to create a delicious texture and adds moisture to the meatloaf.
- BBQ Sauce – I used Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce from the grocery store, but you could try this homemade BBQ sauce if you have the ingredients on hand.
How to make the best meatloaf recipe
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Step 2: Mix the base.
Step 3: Add the beef and gently mix.
Jill’s Top Tip ✨
Don’t overmix the meatloaf. Too much mixing makes meatloaf dense and dry. Gently fold in the beef just until combined for the juiciest results.
Step 4: Add the mixture to a loaf pan. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
Step 5: While the meatloaf is baking, mix up the sauce. Add it to the top and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
What To Serve With
This cheesy BBQ meatloaf practically begs for a scoop of creamy mashed potatoes on the side, but baked potatoes or crispy baked potato bites work just as well if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
Since this version has a BBQ twist, a slice of cheesy garlic toast is the perfect bread to round out the meal.
And if you like to balance things out with something green, go for roasted Brussels sprouts or cabbage steaks.
FAQ
The secret to juicy meatloaf is the fat content in your ground beef. It’s recommended to use 80/20. Adding milk also adds moisture to the meatloaf, which helps the meatloaf to be juicy.
There are two reasons why your meatloaf turned out tough. Either it was cooked too long, causing it to dry out, or the meat mixture was over mixed. Over mixing can ruin the texture of the meatloaf.
Meatloaf can be baked uncovered.
Did you make the recipe? Let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook! Thanks so much!
Recipe
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Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- ½ cup Oats
- ½ cup Onion
- ¼ cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese Grated
- ½ cup Bacon Cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 ½ pounds Ground Beef
BBQ Glaze
- 2/3 cup BBQ Sauce
- 2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a loaf pan or line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, onion (finely diced or grated), red bell pepper, egg, cheese, bacon, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.½ cup Oats, ½ cup Onion, ¼ cup Diced Red Bell Pepper, 1 Egg, 1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese, ½ cup Bacon, ½ cup Milk, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Chili Powder, ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Pepper
- Gently mix in the ground beef until just combined. Avoid overmixing, which can make the meatloaf dense. Shape into a loaf and place in the prepared pan or on the baking sheet.1 ½ pounds Ground Beef
- Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
- While the meatloaf bakes, stir together BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl.2/3 cup BBQ Sauce, 2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar, 2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- Glaze and finish: Remove the meatloaf from the oven, spread the glaze over the top, and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Notes
- If you do not have a loaf pan, just grab a rimmed baking sheet, line it with foil for easy cleanup, and shape the meat mixture into a loaf.
- Want a lighter version? Skip the cheese or swap in lean ground turkey.
- An instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to know when your meatloaf is ready. You are looking for 160°F in the center.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. It helps everything stay together instead of falling apart.
- Lining your loaf pan with parchment paper or foil makes cleanup a whole lot easier.
- Save a few slices for tomorrow. Meatloaf sandwiches are one of the best leftovers you can have.
Make Ahead & Freeze
- Assemble up to 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- To freeze before baking: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake as directed.
- To freeze after baking: Cool, slice, wrap, and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
Best meatloaf!! My kids normally moan and groan when I say meatloaf for dinner, but not with this recipe. They loved it. The flavor is so good!
I’m so glad your kids enjoyed the meatloaf. Thanks you for commenting!
Another yummy one!
Thank you!
I love all the ingredients that you’ve included in the meatloaf itself and then of course the BBQ glaze looks divine! Yuuuum!
Wow-great meatloaf recipe! The cheese made it extra yummy!!
Thank you!
Really good !!
We make your meatloaf recipe at least 2-3 times a month.
We love it!!
One thing that you do, that I really appreciate, is the inclusion of the measurement amounts below in the instructions!!
Thanks.
Wow, I’m so happy to hear that my meatloaf recipe has become a regular in your kitchen! That truly makes my day! Thank you so much for your kind words and for making the recipe a part of your routine!