Mini Habanero Meatloaves on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Since getting my Char-Broil Big Easy I have been going back and remaking some of my favorite dishes that I usually make on my smoker. The Big Easy cooks at a high temperature. Much higher than you would normally run a smoker so you have to adjust the cooking times. Of course, but the rest is pretty straightforward and worry-free.

Mini Habanero Meatloaves on the Char-Broil Big Easy

These crazy-good mini habanero meatloaves cooked on the Char-Broil Big Easy cook in almost no time at all, which is a good thing because you’ll want to get to eating them as soon as possible. So there’s no waiting 2-3 hours for them to cook on a smoker for these little beauties. Tender, juicy meat that packs a punch. No, they are not your grandma’s meatloaves. Well, I guess they could be if your grandma likes the heat of habanero peppers.

The key to these great mini habanero meatloaves is the onion, celery and bell pepper mixture. You must make sure you get all the liquid out of the vegetables after they have been blended. Your efforts will be well rewarded with a fantastic tasting meatloaf that you’ll want to make again and again.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

Mini Habanero Meatloaves on the Char-Broil Big Easy
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5 from 1 vote

Mini Habanero Meatloaves on the Char-Broil Big Easy

These crazy-good mini habanero meatloaves cooked on the Char-Broil Big Easy cook in almost no time at all, which is a good thing because you’ll want to get to eating them as soon as possible. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, meatloaf, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
Calories 445kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Place the onion, celery and green pepper into a blender. Pulse until chopped, but not quite pureed. Squeeze out any excess moisture. It is important to get as much moisture out as you can. I've found that the easiest way to do this is to place the vegetable mixture in a cheesecloth, wrap it up, then wring it like a wet towel. You'll be amazed at how much liquid will be released.
  • Place beef and pork into a large bowl. Add onion mixture.
  • Whisk egg with milk and add to beef mixture, along with the bread crumbs and steak seasoning.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, salsa, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour half of the sauce onto the meat mixture and combine all ingredients well. Reserve the remaining sauce.
  • Divide beef mixture into 4 pans. Spoon remaining sauce over top.
  • Place pans in the Big Easy basket and lower into the cooker. Cook for about 45 minutes or until the center of the loaves reaches 165 F.
  • Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes then serve.

Notes

You’ll need a Big Easy Bunk Bed basket if cooking all 4 pans at once, otherwise you can only cook two at a time. For the pans, I used disposable mini loaf pans, which measure 6.1″ long x 3.8″ wide, and are 2″ tall.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fire-Eater Habanero Wings

Visit my other site, For The Wing, for all things chicken-wing!

I don’t normally like to eat chicken wings that are so blazingly hot that you fall to the floor and curl up into a fetal position. I like great flavor with a bit of heat. These fire-eater habanero wings can satisfy your craving for serious heat, or if you’re like me, satisfy your craving for tasty, slightly hot, wings. It’s all in the amount of habanero sauce you add. For me, that means just enough to make my lips tingle and my eyes water. These wings came out fantastic, and are by far my favorite hot-and-spicy wings.

Fire-Eater Habanero Wings

I cooked these Fire-Eater habanero wings using the Vortex insert on my Weber Performer grill. The end result are perfectly cooked wings, with nice crunchy skin, and great cooked-over-fire flavor

I store my leftover homemade sauces in squeeze bottles. If refrigerated, I set them out an hour before using so they come to room temperature. You don’t want to put cold sauce on hot wings!

I absolutely love chicken wings, cooked any way, with any sauce (or without). I love them so much that I created a free eCookbook that is full of my favorite wing recipes.

Fire-Eater Habanero Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Fire-Eater Habanero Wings

These fire-eater habanero wings can satisfy your craving for serious heat, or if you’re like me, satisfy your craving for tasty, slightly hot, wings. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword spicy, wings
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 506kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the wings

For the sauce

Instructions

For the wings

For the sauce

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Warm slightly then transfer to a large bowl when ready to use.
  • When wings are done, add to the bowl of sauce and toss to coat.
  • Serve with Ranch dressing and lots of paper towels.

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 2939mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 890IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Habanero Sauce

My wife and I tried planting a garden a few years ago. We had all the usual things, like lettuce, and corn, and tomatoes. Well, even with a fence around it, the deer, rabbit, raccoon and possum had an absolute field day eating all of our produce. We ended up with maybe half a head of lettuce and a small head of cabbage in the end. It was a total loss.

We still plant a garden, but it’s now in pots, and it consists solely of peppers. Pimento, jalapeno, Cajun, and habaneros. No animals bother them at all. Victory!

Habanero Sauce

I decided to make a simple sauce of the habaneros this year. This makes for a perfect hot sauce by itself, and it also is a great way to add flavor to other sauces.

I keep my sauce in these squeeze bottles. It’s fun squirting sauce out. I can get artsy with in. No one needs to know that.

This habanero sauce has a great fruity flavor to it. I added mango, but you could use just about any fruit, such as papaya or even pineapple. I found it to be not overly hot at all, but it’ll still wake you up and tingle your lips and tongue.

Also try my Yum Yum sauce.

Habanero Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Habanero Sauce

I decided to make a simple sauce of the habaneros this year. This makes for a perfect hot sauce by itself, and it also is a great way to add flavor to other sauces.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword sauce, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 184kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 cup carrot chopped
  • 1 sweet onion chopped
  • 2 cups water
  • 10 habanero peppers more or less depending on how much heat you want, seeded and chopped. Optional: Roast or smoke the peppers before seeding and chopping
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 mango skinned, chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
  • Add the carrot, onion, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering until the carrots are soft.
  • Remove from heat and add the habaneros, lime juice, vinegar, salt, and mango.
  • Let cool slightly then transfer to a blender (or blend in the pan using an immersion blender).
  • Puree until the sauce reaches the desired texture.
  • Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1239mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 12301IU | Vitamin C: 129mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf Version 2.0

This smoked habanero meatloaf is by far my favorite version of any smoked meatloaf that I’ve made. The meat comes out unbelievably tender, with a nice smoky flavor. And of course, there’s a kick – a big kick from spicy BBQ sauce mixed with habanero salsa and mixed into the meat and used as a glaze.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf Version 2.0

The leftover smoked habanero meatloaf (if you have any) is just as good as the day you made it. Perfect for sandwiches. For sandwiches we just topped crisped French bread with a slab of warmed meatloaf followed by mayonnaise and red onion. The onion adds a nice crunch to the tender meatloaf.

You can make this dish in the oven and still have a fantastic dish, too.

I prefer to use fruit or nut woods when I smoke unless I want a heavier smoke flavor. Pecan, apple or cherry are my favorites. I used apple for this meatloaf.

If you prefer a more savory meatloaf try my smoked Italian meatloaf. It’s a bit more work, but worth it.

I smoked the meatloaf on my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker. You can also make it in the oven, or over indirect heat on a gas or charcoal grill.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf Version 2.0
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf Version 2.0

This smoked habanero meatloaf is by far my favorite. The meat comes out tender, with a nice smokey flavor (though you can make it in the oven and still have a fantastic dish). And of course, there’s a kick.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword meatloaf, smoked, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 445kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

For the smoker

  • Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225 – 250 F with a light wood, such as apple.

For the oven

  • Preheat oven to 450 F.

Assembly

  • Place the onion, celery and green pepper into a blender. Pulse until chopped, but not quite pureed. Squeeze out any excess moisture. It is important to get as much moisture out as you can. I put the vegetable mixture in a cheesecloth and wrung them like a wet towel.
  • Place beef and pork into a large bowl. Add onion mixture.
  • Whisk egg with milk and add to beef mixture, along with the bread crumbs and steak seasoning.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, salsa, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour half of the sauce onto the meat mixture and combine all ingredients well. Reserve the remaining sauce.
  • Spray a 9×13 aluminum (or glass if using the oven) pan with non-stick spray.
  • Add the beef/pork mixture and form into a roll. Spoon remaining sauce over top.
  • If cooking in the oven, bake 45-60 minutes or until center is done. You may want to drain some of the accumulating fat before serving.
  • If cooking in the smoker, poke a few holes along the edges of the aluminum pan so that any accumulating fat drips out. Smoke 2-3 hours at 250 F or until the center is done.
  • Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes and then slice into thick pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf

This smoked habanero meatloaf is by far my favorite. The meat comes out tender, with a nice smoky flavor (though you can make it in the oven and still have a fantastic dish). And of course, there’s a kick – a big kick from BBQ sauce mixed with habanero salsa and mixed into the meat and used as a glaze.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf

The leftovers (if you have any) of this smoked habanero meatloaf are just as good as the day you made this meatloaf. Maybe even a little bit better. It is perfect for sandwiches, which we made the next day. We just topped toasted French bread with a slab of warmed meatloaf followed by mayonnaise and red onion. The onion and bread add a nice crunch to the tender meatloaf. I can’t have a sandwich without mayonnaise, so mine definitely got an extra helping of it on top.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf Sandwiches

I prefer to use fruit or nut woods when I smoke unless I want a heavier smoke flavor. Pecan, apple or cherry are my favorites. I used apple wood chunks for this meatloaf.

I smoked the meatloaf on my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker. For a great side dish I made my crispy smoked smashed potatoes.

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Smoked Habanero Meatloaf

This smoked habanero meatloaf is by far my favorite. The meat comes out tender, with a nice smokey flavor (though you can make it in the oven and still have a fantastic dish).
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword meatloaf, smoked, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 445kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

For the smoker

  • Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225 – 250 F with a light wood, such as apple.

For the oven

  • Preheat oven to 450 F.

Assembly

  • Place the onion, celery and green pepper into a blender. Pulse until chopped, but not quite pureed. Squeeze out any excess moisture. It is important to get as much moisture out as you can.
  • Place beef and pork into a large bowl. Add onion mixture.
  • Whisk egg with milk and add to beef mixture, along with the bread crumbs and steak seasoning.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, salsa, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour half of the sauce onto the meat mixture and combine all ingredients well. Reserve the remaining sauce.
  • Spray a 9×13 aluminum (or glass if using the oven) pan with non-stick spray.
  • Add the beef/pork mixture and form into a roll. Spoon remaining sauce over top.
  • If cooking in the oven, bake 45-60 minutes or until center is done. You may want to drain some of the accumulating fat before serving.
  • If cooking in the smoker, poke a few holes along the edges of the aluminum pan so that any accumulating fat drips out. Smoke 2-3 hours or until the center is done.
  • Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes and then slice into thick pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.