Smoked Beef Meatloaf Recipe: [STEP BY STEP GUIDE]

Although smoked meatloaf has simple ingredients, it offers an incredible flavor. It is a delicious and easy meal to prepare with no possibility of any leftovers. But how do you make a savory and flavorful smoked meatloaf?

The best way to make a savory smoked beef meatloaf is to follow these simple steps;

• Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
• Prepare the veggies and mix the meatloaf
• Shape the meatloaf and smoke it for two hours until it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit
• Let the meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes before serving

Using enough binders is one of the essential steps you should not ignore if you are looking forward to a mouthwatering feast. The best binders for a savory and flavorful meatloaf are oatmeal and eggs. Read on for more information on what it takes to prepare a delicious meatloaf.

Ingredients

Before preparing the smoked meatloaf, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients. Here is a list of the ingredients that you will need;

• Lean ground beef
• Minced or grated onions
• Eggs
• Minced garlic
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili powder
• Salt and pepper

Smoked Meatloaf Recipe

Smoking the meatloaf is always enjoyable as long as you know how to handle the entire process properly.

   1.Preheat The Smoker

The process of cooking a flavorsome meatloaf begins with preheating the smoker. Load the smoker with your favorite wood pellets and chips and set it to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. While preparing your smoker, ensure that you adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  2. Prepare The Veggies

The preparation of veggies entails mincing or grating the onions and enough garlic.

  3. Mix The Meatloaf

The next step is to mix the meatloaf. Take a large bowel to hold the whole meatloaf and combine 2 lbs of ground beef, ½ cup of onion, one tablespoon of grounded/minced garlic, 1/3 cup of BBQ sauce, two eggs, ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs, and enough pepper to taste. Mix all these ingredients well with the help of your clean hands.

  4. Shape The Meatloaf

Once you are convinced that you have mixed the meatloaf well, the next step is to shape it. The mixing process is simple because all you need is to mold it to take the shape of a loaf. After that, place it on a wire rack and set the rack on a large cast iron pan or a baking sheet ready for the smoking process.

  5. Smoke The Meatloaf

Place the meatloaf in the smoke and smoke it for 2 hours at 275 degrees Fahrenheit. After 2 hours of smoking, apply a generous amount of BBQ sauce all over the meatloaf and continue to smoke for about an hour until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

  6. Serve

The last step is to remove the meatloaf from the smoker and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes before serving. Ensure that you serve it warm for a savory delicacy.

How To Make Smoked Meatloaf

Making an incredibly flavorful meatloaf is an easy step that involves five simple steps. Even if you have never made meatloaf before, you have no reason to panic as long as you have the right ingredients. The essential steps that you must follow include.

The Preparation

Carrying out the proper preparation is key to ensuring you get it right. The magic of this recipe happens during the preparation. You should blend the right ingredients in the correct order.

The Mix

Besides adequate preparation, you must also ensure that you mix all the ingredients well. The breadcrumbs should come last to ensure that they do not soak up all the sauces before they can do what they are supposed to do.

The Smoking

If you put the mixture into the freezer overnight, you need to get it to room temperature before you start smoking. This means you should get it out of the freezer/fridge one hour before cooking. Smoke the well-shaped meatloaf until it attains an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Get it out of the smoker and let it rest before serving.

What Temp Is Smoked Meatloaf Done?

When smoking meatloaf, you should target an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the meatloaf is not only safe but also delicious. Since the temperature continues rising even after pulling the meatloaf out of the smoker, you should remove it from the smoker when it reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures will rise when resting the meatloaf in a process known as “carry-over cooking” by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Experts Tips To Remember

When researching how to make smoked meatloaf, you will likely come across varying information sources. Nonetheless, they will all give similar instructions, and if you execute them correctly, you will not likely be disappointed. Here are the two crucial expert tips to remember when cooking meatloaf.

Using Enough Binder

The binder is a vital ingredient in this recipe, and you do not want to make a mistake. Oatmeal and eggs are the best binders for sufficient binding of all the ingredients. If you experience problems with the meatloaf falling apart as you struggle to cook, that indicates that you need to add oatmeal or eggs or both to solve the problem.

Use A Grill Pan

Another trick to consider is the use of a grill pan. The grill pan has smaller holes that prevent the meatloaf from falling apart while allowing smoke and heat to cook it perfectly. Using grill grates may give you a hard time due to the falling apart of the meatloaf. If you do not have a grill pan and do not intend to get one soon, you can consider using a cast iron skillet.

How To Store Smoked Meatloaf Leftovers

Although the smoked meatloaf is highly delicious, some instances will see you have leftovers. You should be able to store your meatloaf for consumption at a later time. Here is the storage information you need to store your meatloaf well.

Refrigerating

You can store your smoked meatloaf in a refrigerator for up to four days if you store it properly. To store your meatloaf in the refrigerator, wrap it in a plastic bag or seal it in an airtight container before putting it in the fridge.

Freezing

Another reliable method that can help you keep your meatloaf for later use is freezing. When freezing your meatloaf, you need to ensure that you use an airtight container and wrap it in freezer paper before putting it in the freezer. Further, ensure that the freezer is at zero degrees Fahrenheit or below. A meatloaf stored in a freezer can last up to six months.

Room Temperature

Storing a meatloaf at room temperature is not ideal because it can go bad quickly. You should not keep your meatloaf at room temperature for more than 2 hours. In other words, if you do not have a freezer or a fridge, you should not have meatloaf leftovers.

How To Reheat Meatloaf Leftovers

If you store your meatloaf leftovers in a fridge or freezer, you are not likely to consume the leftovers in the condition that you find them. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can embrace reheating your meatloaf.

However, the ideal method will be to reheat in the oven. To use the oven to reheat your meatloaf, you should put it in a casserole dish and use aluminum foil to cover it. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and warm the meatloaf until it is all done. The reheating should take about 25 minutes.

Conclusion

Smoking a scrumptious meatloaf is enjoyable as long as you have all the ingredients and are willing to follow the instructions highlighted in this article. When cooking the meatloaf, remember to follow the expert tips, including using enough binder and a grill pan.