Why We Love this Traeger Smoker Recipe
My friend Michelle of The Wooden Spoon Effect has many amazing meatloaf recipes on her site. Make sure to check them out! But we were especially inspired by her smoked version and wanted to create our own rendition of the Best Smoked Meatloaf recipe. This classic meatloaf recipe is loaded with puréed veggies to give it extra flavor and moisture, then I’ve added Southwest spices, and topped it with barbecue sauce instead of the traditional ketchup glaze. The spices and barbecue sauce, along with the smoke flavor created by the cooking method, create an irresistible flavor. I especially like that this Traeger smoked meatloaf recipe makes two meat loaves that are about 1 ½ pounds each. That means you can feed a large family, or make one to serve for dinner tonight and wrap and freeze one for later.
Ingredients You Need
Ground beef – I suggest 80/20 fat for the most moist meatloaf Veggies – bell pepper, carrots, onion, celery Garlic – peeled Jalapeño – feel free to omit Breadcrumbs – regular unseasoned bread crumbs, or panko Milk – whole or 2% Eggs – room temperature Spices – chili powder, salt, cumin, dried oregano BBQ sauce – your favorite brand
How to Smoke a Meatloaf
Roughly chop the fresh produce. It does not need to be chopped well because it’s going in the food processor. Add the chopped bell peppers, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and jalapeno to the food processor. Pulse until the vegetables are ground into a fine mince. Next, preheat an electric smoker (or pellet grill) to 200°F, and add your favorite wood pellets. (Hickory, apple, cherry, or mesquite are good options.) Set out a large mixing bowl. Add the ground beef, pureed veggies, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, and all spices to the bowl. Mix by hand until very smooth. Divide the meat mixture into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a loaf about 10 X 4 inches, and place both loaves on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the tops and sides of the meatloaves with barbecue sauce. Smoke the meatloaves for 30 minutes. Leave the loaves in the smoker, and raise the temperature to 350°F. Once the temperature reaches 350, set a timer for 1 hour. Continue to cook the meatloaves until the timer goes off. The internal temperature reads 165°F on a meat thermometer. Let the loaves rest for 5 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Slice the meatloaf and serve warm with comfort food side dishes. Traeger smoked meatloaf is delicious to pair with classic potato recipes! Here are a few of our faves for you to try:
Classic Mashed Potatoes Mashed Sweet Potatoes Haricot Vert (Green Beans) and Baby Potatoes Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (Potatoes au Gratin) Baked Potato (in a microwave!) Spicy Mesquite Twice-Baked Potatoes Duchess Potatoes
We also love bringing some green veggies to the table… But there’s no reason to make things complicated! Whip up simple steamed or roasted broccoli, air fryer asparagus, or green beans, or Brussels sprouts, or cook some frozen veggies on the stovetop. If you have leftovers I highly suggest using slices of meatloaf to make sandwiches! Enjoy cold or hot and loaded with your favorite sandwich fixings. They are super yummy with a scoop of leftover mashed potatoes included!
Looking for More Traeger Smoker Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
Prime Rib au Jus Smoked Pork Loin (+ Tenderloin) Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends Chicken Breast and Thighs Easy Smoked Pork Chops (with Brine)
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