Description
Comfort meets classic American cuisine in this Cracker Barrel Meatloaf, a hearty dish packed with savory ground beef and rich, tangy flavors. Home cooks will savor each bite of this nostalgic recipe that brings warmth and satisfaction to family dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatloaf Base:
Proteins:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) lean ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 2 extra-large eggs, beaten
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese (produced using microbial rennet)
Vegetables and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup finely diced sweet yellow onion
- 1/2 cup half-and-half or whole milk
Seasonings:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Ketchup Glaze:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 1/2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper to simplify cleanup.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef, crumbled crackers, shredded cheese, diced bell pepper, minced onion, milk, eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix carefully to maintain a light texture without compressing the meat.
- Mold the meat mixture into a rectangular shape approximately 10 inches long and 6 inches wide, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent cooking.
- Place the formed meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, create the glaze by whisking together ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small mixing bowl.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven after 30 minutes and generously coat the surface with the prepared glaze, covering every inch for maximum flavor.
- Return the glazed meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for an additional 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps redistribute the internal juices and ensures a moist, tender result.
- Slice and serve the meatloaf, enjoying the harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Notes
- Gentle mixing prevents tough, dense meatloaf by maintaining meat’s delicate texture and preventing protein overworking.
- Choose lean ground beef (80/20 or 85/15) to keep meatloaf moist without excessive greasiness while ensuring rich flavor.
- Customize glaze intensity by adjusting mustard and Worcestershire sauce ratios, creating personalized sweet-tangy balance.
- Transform recipe into gluten-free version by substituting crushed crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice crackers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg