Description
Hearty Cracker Barrel meatloaf brings classic comfort to dinner tables nationwide. Home cooks can craft this savory dish with simple ingredients and enjoy its rich, homestyle flavor profile.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs / 680 g ground beef (80% lean)
- 1 cup / 115 g shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup / 120 g crushed Ritz crackers (about 24 crackers)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 0.5 cup / 120 ml whole milk
- 0.5 cup / 120 ml ketchup
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 0.5 cup / 75 g green bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and gather ground beef, Ritz crackers, onions, green bell peppers, cheddar cheese, eggs, whole milk, salt, black pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard.
- Mixing: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, finely chopped onions, diced green bell peppers, crushed Ritz cracker crumbs, and shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Binding: Whisk eggs and whole milk together, then gently fold into the meat mixture, seasoning with salt and black pepper while maintaining a delicate touch to preserve the meat’s tenderness.
- Shaping: Mold the mixture into a uniform loaf on a baking sheet, creating a compact shape approximately 9-5 inches long.
- Initial Baking: Place the meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meat to begin cooking.
- Glazing: Whisk ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard to create a vibrant glaze, then remove the meatloaf and generously brush the entire surface with the tangy mixture.
- Final Baking: Return the glazed meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160F (70C).
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes to redistribute juices, then slice and serve hot, revealing a perfectly cooked, flavor-packed comfort dish.
Notes
- Prevent Tough Texture: Mix meat mixture gently and avoid overmixing to maintain a tender, soft meatloaf consistency.
- Control Moisture Balance: Use fresh Ritz crackers and precise milk measurements to prevent dry or soggy results.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Consider adding Worcestershire sauce or garlic powder for richer, more complex taste profile.
- Master Internal Temperature: Use meat thermometer to accurately check 160F, ensuring safe and perfectly cooked meatloaf without drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 116 mg