Honey Barbecue Meatloaf: Make Ahead & Freeze For Later
Meatloaf made right is a good thing. It is inexpensive, easy to make, freezes well, and is absolutely delicious. Since I often make meatloaf for Sunday lunch, I’ll share my do ahead tips and techniques. I just love coming home after church to a comfort food, and this meatloaf is one of our favorites.
On Tuesdays at The Fresh Market (where ground chuck is often on sale for $2.99 per pound), I buy 2 1/4 pounds of freshly ground chuck (the 1/4 is to compensate for shrinkage). I assemble the meatloaf recipe below, wrap the meatloaf well (uncooked), and freeze it.
Thaw the meatloaf a day or two ahead of time, wrapped and in the fridge. The day of cooking/serving, all you’ll need to do is mix the glaze, spread on the meatloaf, and bake.
This meatloaf is wonderful served with easy and delicious 4-Cheese Potato Casserole With Chives and homemade green beans. It is comfort food at its best!
Honey Barbecue Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 lbs ground chuck
- 1 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
 (or 2 slices white bread made into crumbs with food processor)
- 4 TB Worcestershire sauce, divided in half
- 
2 TB spicy brown mustard
- 1 cup smoky barbecue sauce, divided into 1/2 cups
- 4 TB honey, divided, divided into 2 TBS
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- For the meatloaf:
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, crumbs, 2 TB Worcestershire sauce, mustard, 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce, 2 TB honey, salt, and black pepper.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf, being careful not to over handle meat (it will make it tough).
- Set aside while making glaze.
- For the glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, 2 TB honey, and 2 TB Worcestershire sauce.
- Spread half of this mixture evenly all over the meatloaf. Reserve the other half for serving.
- Place loaf atop a slotted roasting pan sprayed with Pam (with foil underneath for easier cleanup).
- Bake for 45 minutes. Slice and drizzle with reserved honey barbecue sauce.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 2361Total Fat 49gSaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 540mgSodium 9820mgCarbohydrates 275gSugar 164gProtein 211g
This makes me so happy to know your “boys” are eating so well!!!
I made this ahead, didvided it into two batches and froze them. We had it the other night for dinner and my husband and 19 month old loved it!!! My toddler ate it two nights in a row and he isn’t very adventurous when it comes to meat. Great recipe and doesn’t require a lot of time in the kitchen!