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View Full Version : First BBQ Meatloaf (with pics)


voidecho
08-01-2014, 07:50 PM
So, I've recently had my eyes opened (mostly due to this site) to the numerous other meals I can smoke besides my typical ribs and pork shoulders.

BBQ meatloaf has been on my radar for a few weeks now and tonight's the night I give it a go. I picked up some ground beef and ground pork. Sauted some onions and garlic in butter and then let it cool. Mix the meat and veggies with bread crumbs, eggs, worcechester sauce and some of my basic bbq rub. Tried not to overwork the mixture. Thought I'd need some milk, but everything was pretty wet without it.

Formed it into shape and stuck it in the fridge for a bit to set. About an hour later I made a bacon weave (my first ever), put some rub on the meatloaf and put the weave on the loaf. Back in the fridge for another hour. Just stuck it on the smoker about 30 minutes ago.

Here's some pics...(disregard the McKormics...that's for something else)

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner1_zpsd694029b.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner3_zpsd6c13be8.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner2_zps308759ee.jpg

More pics to come...

voidecho
08-01-2014, 08:14 PM
Making some Mac 'n Cheese on the side too. I make this all of the time, but I think I'm going to cook it in the smoker a bit to get some smoke flavor. Plan to add some panko to the top and broil it for a few minutes to finish it off.

Ready to go in the smoker...

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/mac_zps862a9dce.jpg

Ron_L
08-01-2014, 08:19 PM
Is it done yet? :-D

AClarke44
08-01-2014, 08:21 PM
Looks good so far! I'm diggin the bottle labeled "rub". Lol :-P

smokinoak
08-01-2014, 08:35 PM
that stuff be lookin good

Ruger410
08-01-2014, 08:46 PM
Love me some meatloaf

DjPorkchop
08-01-2014, 08:53 PM
BBQ Meatloaf is awesome! Since I cooked one on the UDS my wife won't cook them in the oven anymore.

food4thot
08-01-2014, 09:03 PM
Did meatloaf once using my usual oven recipe. It was good but needed a little edge to enhance the smoke. Next time I'll add some sauteed jalapeno and/or serrano to the mix.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38580489@N02/14806068865/in/photostream/lightbox/

voidecho
08-01-2014, 09:11 PM
Here they are on the smoker.

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner5_zps682651d5.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner6_zps41cfbe73.jpg

voidecho
08-01-2014, 09:12 PM
I'm getting a ton of drippings in the pan. I'm going to leave it cooking in the juices, but I'm tempted to take it off the pan gentle and put it straight on the smoker grates. Hmmmm.....

It's sitting at 130 right now. Usually take them off at 165 or so, right??

caseydog
08-01-2014, 09:25 PM
I'm getting a ton of drippings in the pan. I'm going to leave it cooking in the juices, but I'm tempted to take it off the pan gentle and put it straight on the smoker grates. Hmmmm.....

It's sitting at 130 right now. Usually take them off at 165 or so, right??

I always smoke my ML on the grate, with a drip pan below. But, I have never done a bacon wrap on mine. I'm thinking your idea to move the ML to the grate is probably a good idea.

CD

food4thot
08-01-2014, 09:29 PM
I'm getting a ton of drippings in the pan. I'm going to leave it cooking in the juices, but I'm tempted to take it off the pan gentle and put it straight on the smoker grates. Hmmmm.....

It's sitting at 130 right now. Usually take them off at 165 or so, right??155. Tent and let it rest.

As a frame of reference, the two I pictured took slightly less than two and half hours at 225-250. Did them on foil the entire time

voidecho
08-01-2014, 09:55 PM
I got my smoker up in temp a bit to try to crisp up the bacon and it shot from 130 to 160 pretty quick. I pulled it off, glazed with some hot bbq sauce and cooked it a bit more to set the sauce.

In the meantime, here's the final Mac 'n Cheese. Covered the top with panko, sprayed with Pam to get a little fat on the panko and put it in the oven at 500 degrees for about three minutes.

Looks good to me. Bacon, rosemary, gruyere, extra sharp cheddar and parmigiano.

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/mac2_zpsaa393184.jpg

voidecho
08-01-2014, 10:20 PM
Turned out really good. Maybe slightly over-cooked, but still pretty juicy. Here's the final results...

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner7_zpsc3a2719d.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner8_zps13199bf0.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner9_zps66cba8d6.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner91_zpsf111692a.jpg

voidecho
08-01-2014, 10:27 PM
Plated up. I'm not the best at presentation. Definitely should have made some asparagus to go with this. Something green.

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner92_zpse757a981.jpg

http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t540/voidecho/dinner93_zps90d9b6bd.jpg

Ron_L
08-01-2014, 10:27 PM
That all looks great! Nice job!

Richard_
08-01-2014, 10:37 PM
That looks nice , I need to do the bacon weave , try using a broiler pan , it works great

food4thot
08-01-2014, 10:57 PM
That looks nice , I need to do the bacon weave , try using a broiler pan , it works greatThe weave is dead to me. I prefer broken kabob skewers.

Brined, bacon-wrapped, smoked pork loin roast

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38580489@N02/8018075713/in/photostream/

WineMaster
08-01-2014, 10:59 PM
Meatloaf looks good, But the Mac n Cheese. You nailed that one. Would love the full recipe !!!!

voidecho
08-01-2014, 11:00 PM
The weave was actually pretty easy and worked great.

Thanks for all of the tips guys.

caseydog
08-01-2014, 11:03 PM
Nice meatloaf. Nice mac-n-cheese.

Personally, I would have skipped the bacon wrap. Your loaf would have been done in less time, and you could focus on the right doneness of the loaf, instead of being distracted by the browning of the bacon.

IMO, bacon weaves are over-rated. Do that same meatloaf without the bacon weave, and I think you will have a winner, winner meatloaf dinner.

CD

Blythewood BBQ'er
08-01-2014, 11:06 PM
Looks great! I used to do the weave but got lazy and stopped. I actually prefer it without. Yours looks great especially place by that beautiful mac n cheese.

1buckie
08-01-2014, 11:13 PM
Killer Loaf !!!!

thought it might get lost in the goo for a minute there, but it came out just peachy !!!

Nice job on the mac too !!!!

food4thot
08-01-2014, 11:32 PM
Nice meatloaf. Nice mac-n-cheese.

Personally, I would have skipped the bacon wrap. Your loaf would have been done in less time, and you could focus on the right doneness of the loaf, instead of being distracted by the browning of the bacon.

IMO, bacon weaves are over-rated. Do that same meatloaf without the bacon weave, and I think you will have a winner, winner meatloaf dinner.

CDMeatloaf cooks surprising quick in a smoker. Made two loaves intending to glaze one and leave the other alone. At the point I decided it was time to plug the bigger one in, it was already done. Skipped the glaze.

Bacon probably needs more time than meatloaf will allow it

voidecho
08-01-2014, 11:33 PM
Thanks guys, the mac 'n cheese is killer. I'm going to have a hard time not eating too much of it.

I'll probably try the meatloaf again without the bacon, but I've got to tell you, the bacon is delicious.

voidecho
08-01-2014, 11:36 PM
I may try the bacon again, but cook the whole thing slower in the smoker to about 145-150 or so. Then pop it in the oven at 500 degrees to crisp up the bacon and get it up to temp. Basically a reverse sear.

1buckie
08-02-2014, 04:01 AM
I may try the bacon again, but cook the whole thing slower in the smoker to about 145-150 or so. Then pop it in the oven at 500 degrees to crisp up the bacon and get it up to temp. Basically a reverse sear.

Maybe do what Jeannie (cowgirl) did.....use a torch to finish the bacon.....

I don't know how to find the thread, but somebody may knows.....

Rob96
08-02-2014, 04:37 AM
That looks very tasty!

Stingerhook
08-02-2014, 04:41 AM
I'm thinking I could go for some meatloaf and mac n cheese about now.

Piggysquealers
08-02-2014, 09:22 AM
That. Looks. Amazing.

Brian in Maine
08-02-2014, 11:22 AM
I put my meat loaf on parchment paper trimmed close on the sides so the drippings can fall to a drip pan below. I s that chopped bacon in the mac and cheese? It all looks awesome!

voidecho
08-03-2014, 02:04 AM
Yep...plenty of bacon. I'm actually kicking myself a bit because I have some leftover pulled pork I could have added to the Mac.

jeffreywp1
08-03-2014, 07:09 AM
Looks great! What kind of sauce did you put on the meatloaf? Whats your recipe for the mac n cheese? Im thinking of making some today in the smoker!

Casey
08-03-2014, 11:56 AM
Great pictures and beautiful bacon weave. I placed my meatloaf on a cedar plank and it came out perfect

voidecho
08-03-2014, 12:12 PM
Looks great! What kind of sauce did you put on the meatloaf? Whats your recipe for the mac n cheese? Im thinking of making some today in the smoker!

I used a local store bought bbq sauce...Kinders Hot. I made some homemade bbq sauce the other day, but like an idiot left it sitting out on the stove overnight a day or so ago.

I'll PM the Mac recipe.