Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe
Enjoy the taste of Cracker Barrel without ever leaving home! This copycat Cracker Barrel Meatloaf is even better than the original. Made with ground beef, onions, bell pepper, cheddar cheese, Ritz crackers and a sweet, savory glaze on top!
Prep: 15min
Total: 1h25min
Yield: 8
Nutrition Facts: calories 378 cal
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 small finely diced onion
- 1/2 cup finely diced bell pepper (optional)
- 1 1/2 sleeves of crushed Ritz crackers (48 crackers total)
- 4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar or Colby cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. mustard
Instruction:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Place to the side. This will be used later as the topping.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, crushed Ritz crackers, cheese, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix well.
- Add in the ground beef. Mix well just to combine. Do not over mix.
- Form into a loaf and place inside a baking pan or baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and spread the topping over the meatloaf.
- Bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes or until the center is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf (Copycat)
Make Cracker Barrel’s super popular meatloaf recipe right at home! This is a perfect replica of the original, with a tender meat mixture and flavorful topping the family will love!
Prep: 15min
Total: 90min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 445 kcal, Carbohydrate 15 g, Protein 25 g, Fat 31 g, Saturated Fat 13 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 117 mg, Sodium 628 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 9 g, unSaturated Fat 15 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1/2 cup bell pepper (finely diced)
- 2 pounds 80% lean ground beef (see notes for alternative meat suggestion)
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 eggs (whisked)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2-3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
Instruction:
- Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
- Sauté the diced peppers and onions in a small pan with the olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes. This gives them a more subtle flavor and texture. Set aside and let cool.
- Combined the whisked eggs, crushed crackers, onions, bell peppers, cheese, milk, and salt/pepper in a large bowl.
- Add ground beef and mix until just combined. Don’t overwork the meat, we want tender results.
- Form it in a loaf and place it into a loaf pan. Not using a loaf pan can result in the loaf falling apart. It also takes much longer to cook, which causes it to dry out.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Combine the topping ingredients while it bakes and set aside.
- Remove the meatloaf and brush on the topping. Bake for an additional 30-40 minutes. (Pull it once it reaches 155 degrees.)
- Let it rest for 15 minutes in the loaf pan prior to slicing in. It will increase 8-10 degrees in temperature during this time. Slicing in too early also causes the juices to leak out. Ensure the middle is 160 degrees before you slice it.
- Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and enjoy!