Whether you call it barbeque, cooking out, or grilling, cooking food over an open flame adds a different level of flavor that you don’t find when you broil, bake, or pan fry foods. As summer approaches, it’s a nice way to cook dinner without heating up the kitchen — and if the weather’s nice, then it’s a great excuse to get out of doors.
Hot off the grill at our house is Meatloaf. Yes, really. I had meatloaf on my freezer cooking list for this week and wondered what it would be like if I grilled it, instead of baking it in the oven. Our grill, a Holland Heritage Grill is an odd bird. It cooks like an oven, so I knew it would probably work.
I made two one-pound meatloaves and wrapped them in foil. (This is the great make-ahead part of this meal.)
Then near dinnertime, I threw them both on the grill, wrapped. Since this was an experiment, I left one wrapped longer than the other. I recommend unwrapping the foil after about 15 or 20 minutes. Then the covered heat of the grill should brown the top of the meat. The foil-wrapped meatloaf looked a little boiled, while the uncovered one developed a nice brown crust.
At this point you could baste the meatloaf with a sauce, but we like it plain. Once I knew it was done, I took it off the foil and let the grill brown it. I don’t think that really had much of an effect.
I also am not sure that this is a super-economical way to cook your dinner. Propane can be expensive and your oven may be more efficient than your grill.
This method does grant you a few things:
- an easy make ahead meal, dare I say, Freezer Meal?
- an option out of a hot kitchen
- a hearty meal to take camping
Meatloaf on the Grill
Ingredients
- 32 oz ground beef
- 1 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 3 egg beaten
- 1/2 onion (chopped, 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp dry parsley flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Don’t mix it too much, just enough to distribute ingredients throughout the mixture.
- Lay out two large sheets of aluminum foil. Spray each sheet with nonstick spray.
- Divide the meat mixture into two equal parts, placing one part on each sheet of foil. Form each portions into a loaf. Wrap well with the aluminum foil.
- Cook the wrapped loaves on a hot grill for 15 to 20 minutes. Unwrap the loaves and allow the meatloaf to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until cooked through.
