Traeger Meatloaf

Traeger Meatloaf is a great way to put a spin on a traditional meatloaf recipe and add some pellet smoker flavor. This is perfect for a summer BBQ or a great way to feed the whole family for a weeknight meal.

Simple meatloaf ingredients make perfect comfort food. The meat flavor has a nice smoky flavor because of the time spent in the smoker, and the meat mixture used creates a better way to have a moist and delicious dinner. This recipe offers loads of flavor and can be created in just a couple of hours. It's a great option for a delicious dinner.

The hardest part of this recipe is being patient and letting the Traeger meatloaf rest. You do need to give it a little bit of time before cutting into it, and it proves to be difficult with the smell of the best smoked meatloaf tempting you with every second passing.

When it comes to making meatloaf, be sure to add a delicious side dish like this Air Fryer Cornbread! 

Ingredients 

Beef, pork, and veal meatloaf mix - This great mixture helps this smoked meatloaf recipe stay moist and tender.

Cloves of garlic - Garlic powder could be used as well.

Bread slices, cubed - We prefer to use bread cubes from fresh bread but bread crumbs can work in a pinch.

Small onion - Diced thin and small.

Barbecue sauce - You can use your favorite BBQ sauce here.

Egg - We use large eggs which act as the binding agent for all the ingredients.

Worcestershire sauce - This really enhances the flavor of the meatloaf.

Salt and black pepper - For taste.

How to make Traeger Meatloaf

Step One: Preheat the Traeger grill smoker to 225 degrees.

Step Two: Mix the ground beef, ground pork, ground veal, and all the other ingredients in a medium to large bowl.

Step Three: Make the mixture into a loaf shape, and then add to the smoker.

Step Four: Cook until there is an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Use a meat thermometer to verify.

Step Five: Remove from the smoker and add BBQ sauce to the top of the Traeger meatloaf.

Variations 

Add cheese - If you want to add cheese to the mixture, do so. Adding pepper jack cheese or cheddar cheese would be a great way to change the flavor.

Make smaller loaves - You can turn this big loaf into small loaves by making them into smaller sizes.

Change the topping - I like a good spicy BBQ sauce, but you can also add ketchup or anything else to the top that you want. You can even add nothing.

Add brown sugar - One way to change the taste easily is to add a bit of brown sugar for sweetness. Add right to the large mixing bowl and mix into the large loaf.

Common Questions 

How do I store leftover meatloaf?

This delicious recipe is easy to store! Let the meatloaf cool, and then add the leftovers to an airtight container. You can add it as a whole loaf, or you can slice it and save it for later.

The next day, you can reheat in the oven or use the microwave for a fast reheat option. You do want to reheat the meatloaf so that the internal temperature of the meatloaf is 160 degrees.

Can I use a loaf pan in the smoker?

You can, but you don't need to. This recipe makes loaf pans a thing of the past. You need to shape this Traeger meatloaf recipe into a loaf, and it will hold the shape while it is cooking. Easy recipes like this can be done without a lot of needed tools or cookware.

Can I use panko breadcrumbs instead of regular bread?

You can. All you really are looking for is a texture that will help to soak up some of the excess grease from the middle of the meatloaf and hold the ingredients together. Bread crumbs and panko work really well for this.

You can also use pork rind crumbs and crumbles if you are trying to avoid carbs and gluten.

What are the most popular toppings for meatloaf?

Most people will add BBQ sauce or ketchup to the top of their cooked meatloaf, but there is no hard rule saying that is what has to be done. You can add mustard, a blend of options, or leave it plain.

You can also top it with cheese slices so that the cheese melts down over the top and is gooey and delicious. 

If you are serving in slices, this can be a fun way to let everyone decide what they want to top their own portions with!