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
2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 Tablespoon garlic
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 Tablespoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
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.
Alternatively, you can bake this in a 375 oven for 45 minutes to an hour.
Freezer Meal Gifts How-to
Garlic Brie Bread
I do meatloaf patties on the grill. Like meatloaf but made into burger patties. Fab! I shared my grilled pizza recipe, don’t fear the dough!
I love grilling. It’s my favorite way to cook. Tonight I grilled cabbage for the first time. It was easy and great. Just olive oil, salt and pepper. I have thoughts of making fish tacos with a grilled cabbage slaw. Oh yum!
I too have grilled pizza and Jenny’s right don’t let the dough scare you. I made appetizers with small dough. It’s a great way to get your confidence.
That is so interesting! It doesn’t look as greasy as oven baked gets either.
I am sharing some grilled pork chops we did the other night, one recipe we love grilled!
Yummy, I never thought about grilling meatloaf! thanks for sharing!
Oops – I hit the ENTER key too early up there so one of my entries does nothing.
Thanks for sharing! I am leaving one of my family’s favorites – Bean Fudge! You really won’t believe it! :-).
So glad you had the grill theme today! I still haven’t decided what we’re going to eat on Memorial Day.
I wonder if this would work to throw them in the smoker and give them that flavor!
Love grilling season. Thanks for having us all link up our favorites!
hubby wraps corn on the cob in foil and puts on tobasco sauce. the kids, obviously, are not fans, so we make theirs plain. i love your moxie … trying to grill meatloaf! awesome!
The extra flavor of a barbecue must make these extra special.
Totally {heart} my grill! Can’t wait to give all these a look! Yum!
The meatloaf looks great. I never thought about grilling it. The broccolli side looks good, could you share the recipe?
I am all for trying to cook whatever I can on the grill. I have been doing that a lot lately because clean up is so much easier. I will have to put this into our grill rotation. Thanks for hosting as well!
We made this last night and it came out great!