Venison Meatloaf
Grilled Venison Meatloaf is a comforting meal and the perfect dinner to enjoy ground venison from your freezer. Smoky grilled meatloaf topped with homemade bbq sauce is a surefire winner!
If you haven’t tried grilling meatloaf, you are missing out. The flavor and texture is far superior than traditional baked meatloaf.
Since deer meat is very lean meat, we are using a combination of ground venison along with ground beef to add in some fat that will keep the meatloaf from being dry.
We are using a combination of ground venison along with ground beef to add in some fat that will keep the meatloaf from being dry.
Why Make Grilled Venison Meatloaf?
- Hearty, flavorful comfort food that the whole family will love.
- A tasty meal to use ground venison from the freezer.
- Once you try grilled meatloaf, you won’t make it any other way.
Ingredients for Venison Meatloaf
- Ground Venison
- Ground Beef 70/30 or 80/20
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Bell Peppers
- Large Eggs
- Granulated Garlic
- Dried Oregano
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Barbecue Sauce ~ We used our peach bbq sauce for this recipe, use your favorite.
How to Grill Meatloaf on a Traeger Grill
- Dice onions and bell peppers.
- Add olive oil, peppers and onions to a skillet and place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened.
- Add ground venison and ground beef to a large bowl.
- Add the sautéed vegetables and seasonings.
- Mix just until combined with a wooden spoon or with your hands.
- Form into a loaf shape and place on a grill pan.
- Cook over indirect fire with the grill closed for 1 hour.
- Brush with BBQ sauce and continue to cook with the grill closed another 15- 30 minutes.
- Use a digital meat thermometer and cook until internal temperature of meatloaf reaches 165°.
- Remove from grill and rest 15 minutes before slicing.
Serve venison meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and ranch zucchini or bacon green beans for a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.
Have Leftovers?
- Store leftover meatloaf wrapped in plastic wrap, aluminum foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Make cold meatloaf sandwiches the next day or reheat in a skillet lightly coated with olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes per side.
Best Meatloaf Glaze
Ketchup and brown sugar is the traditional glaze for many meatloaf recipes but using bbq sauce takes the meatloaf to another level of deliciousness. We had Peach BBQ Sauce on hand and it was amazing. Our Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce would also be delicious.
Variations for the Best Venison Meatloaf Recipe
- Bread crumbs or crushed crackers can be mixed in with the meat mixture.
- Worcestershire Sauce, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar and hot sauce can be added to the ground venison meatloaf.
- Add bacon to the top of the meatloaf if desired. I like to cook it about 1/2 done before adding it to the meatloaf so that it gets crispier.
- Spoon caramelized onions over the top of the meatloaf after adding a tangy glaze.
- Meatloaf can be baked in a loaf pan or muffin tins if desired. Adjust cooking time accordingly if using either of these pans.
- These meatloaf ingredients also make the best venison meatballs.
More Grilled Meatloaf Recipes to Try
- Grilled Meatloaf is a great recipe for busy families. Serve it up for Sunday dinner or any night of the week.
- Grilled BBQ Meatloaf
- Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf has Italian seasoning and a gooey cheese center that is one of the best meat loaf recipes we’ve ever made.
- Cheddar Stuffed Meatloaf has bold flavors and is a great way to change up the weekly dinner menu.
- Meatloaf Shots are a great appetizer that you should try the next time you are having a cookout or family get together. They are potatoes stuffed with meatloaf for a hearty bite that will impress your guests.
Change up the dinner routine with Grilled Venison Meatloaf for a family favorite dinner that will have everyone coming back for more.
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Venison Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground venison
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 cup diced bell peppers
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup peach bbq sauce
Instructions
- Prepare a grill fire to 300°.
- Add olive oil, peppers and onions to a skillet and place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened.
- Add ground venison and ground beef to a large bowl.
- Add the sautéed vegetables and seasonings.
- Mix just until combined with a wooden spoon or with your hands.
- Form into a loaf and place on a grill pan.
- Cook over indirect fire with the grill closed for 1 hour.
- Brush with BBQ sauce and continue to cook with the grill closed another 15- 30 minutes.
- Use a digital thermometer and cook until meatloaf reaches 165°.
- Remove to a serving platter and rest 15 minutes before slicing.
