Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe
Meatloaf like the country store makes — Marriage worthy Meatloaf, Rachel's Meatloaf, Classic Meatloaf with Glaze — for a plain, filling weeknight supper.
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Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Copycat Recipe
A classic, moist, and flavorful meatloaf inspired by the famous restaurant dish, topped with a tangy ketchup glaze.
Debbie BoyerIngredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (80/20)
- 1 ¼ cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- ½ cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- ½ cup half and half (or whole milk)
- 2 extra large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- 2In a large bowl, combine ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, shredded cheddar, chopped bell pepper, diced onion, half and half, beaten eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix until well incorporated, using hands or a spoon.
- 3Shape the mixture into a rectangle about 10 inches long and 6 inches wide on the prepared baking sheet.
- 4Bake for 30 minutes.
- 5While baking, prepare the glaze by whisking together ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.
- 6After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze evenly over the top.
- 7Return to the oven and bake for an additional 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- 8Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
- 9Slice into ½ inch pieces and serve hot.
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Open in Pepper →Meatloaf That Tastes Like Sunday Supper
Meatloaf is the dinner you can make half asleep and still have everybody come back for seconds. A pound or two of ground beef, an onion, something to hold it together, and a sweet glaze on top — that's the whole story.
Cooks on Pepper reach for this collection on the nights they want something warm and filling without a trip to the store, and especially when they're chasing that country-store version with crackers and cheddar in the mix.
Every recipe here is a real meatloaf: the Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Copycat Recipe with crushed Ritz and sharp cheddar, Marriage worthy Meatloaf, Not Your Average Meatloaf, Rachel's Meatloaf, Classic Meatloaf with Glaze, and Juicy Glazed Meatloaf With Onion Gravy.
Quick Tips
- 1
Cook the onion first
Soften diced onion in a tablespoon of olive oil or butter for 5 to 6 minutes before mixing it in, so it isn't crunchy in the finished loaf.
- 2
Use 80/20 ground beef
Lean beef dries out. An 80/20 or 85/15 blend keeps a 2-pound loaf juicy through a full hour in the oven.
- 3
Mix with your hands
Stir just until the crackers or breadcrumbs disappear, about 30 seconds. Overworking packs the meat tight and makes it rubbery.
- 4
Glaze in two coats
Brush half the ketchup glaze on before baking, then add the rest during the last 15 minutes so it sets sticky instead of burning.
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