The present disclosure is directed to a leadframe package having solder wettable sidewalls that is formed using a pre-molded leadframe and methods of manufacturing the same. A metal plated leadframe with a plurality of recesses and a plurality of apertures is placed into a top and bottom mold tool. A molding compound is then formed in the plurality of recesses and apertures in the leadframe to form a pre-molded leadframe. A plurality of die and wires are coupled to the pre-molded leadframe and the resulting combination is covered in an encapsulant. Alternatively, a bare leadframe can be processed and the metal layer can be applied after encapsulation. A saw or other cutting means is used for singulation to form leadframe packages. Each resulting leadframe package has a solder wettable sidewall for improving the strength of solder joints between the package and a circuit board.