Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

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• 🥇 Best Copycat Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
• ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 How To Make Cracker Barrel Meatloaf At Home
• ❗ Top Tip: Don't Overmix Meatloaf
• 🥗🥘🍲 Best Served With
• 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
• 🥡 Storing & Reheating
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

🥇 Best Copycat Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Craving the best-ever meatloaf recipe? This meatloaf fits the bill. It tastes just like Cracker Barrel’s amazing meatloaf with Ritz crackers recipe without going out to a restaurant.

The meatloaf is not only absolutely delicious, but it’s easy, too! It only takes 15 minutes to prep and will be on the table before you know it, which means you can make it even on busy weeknights.

This meatloaf recipe is topped with a sweet glaze that contrasts well with the savory meatloaf. It combines ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and a little Worcestershire sauce to keep it simple, tangy, and delicious.

The little bits of green peppers are a tasty addition that pulls all the delicious flavors together in this crowd-pleasing meatloaf.

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

• So Delicious. Meatloaf is such a comforting classic, and this recipe is made even better with tasty veggies and cheese inside. It’s the most delicious way to prepare this meatloaf.
• It’s Easy. One of the reasons meatloaf remains so popular is because of how easy it is to make. You simply mix the meat with seasonings, shape, and bake.
• The Whole Family Will Love It. Kids and adults alike will love this flavorful meatloaf!

🥘 Ingredients

Meatloaf Ingredients

• Ground Beef – I prefer ground beef that is 85% lean and 15% fat, so it’s a bit healthier but still rich enough to keep it juicy.
• Yellow Onion – I recommend yellow onion for this dish, but you can use white if you prefer a sharper flavor. You want the onion to be finely diced or even grated so it blends into the meatloaf perfectly. (See Tips & Recipe Notes)
• Green Bell Pepper – Green bell pepper adds that rich, savory flavor and makes the meatloaf taste just like Grandma used to make. You also want this to be finely diced or grated.
• Eggs – The eggs help bind the meat together and keep the meatloaf well-formed.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – The cheddar is one of the special ingredients of this recipe. It adds extra flavor and a cheesy bite you’ll be sure to love. You can grate your own sharp cheddar or use pre-grated.
• Whole Milk – Milk helps to keep the meatloaf moist. If you can’t have milk, you can use an alternative, but be sure it’s unsweetened.
• Ritz Crackers – Ritz crackers are the other special ingredient in this recipe! They add such a delicious, buttery flavor that regular breadcrumbs just won’t deliver. Crush them up to make sure they blend into the dish. No matter what size package or sleeve you have, you'll need 60-64 crackers.
• Salt & Pepper – You’ll use these to season the meatloaf. I recommend freshly ground pepper.

Meatloaf Glaze Ingredients

• Ketchup – This is the base of the glaze. It’s rich, sweet, and goes perfectly with the other ingredients.
• Brown Sugar – Brown sugar turns this sauce into a delicious sticky glaze when it bakes. You can use dark or light brown sugar, whichever you prefer.
• Yellow Mustard – Mustard adds a salty tang here, which contrasts well with the ketchup and brown sugar.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Just a little of this flavorful sauce goes a long way. It helps to season the glaze and make it irresistibly delicious.

🔪 How To Make Cracker Barrel Meatloaf At Home

You’re going to love this easy Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipe. Grab your knife, cutting board, measuring utensils, a large bowl for mixing, a spatula, and either a rimmed baking sheet (with a wire rack to set the shaped meatloaf on) or a loaf pan.

This recipe yields 8 servings, of 5-6 hearty servings for a hungry crowd.

Prep & Mix The Meatloaf

Step 1: Preheat and prep glaze. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then in a small bowl, combine ½ cup of ketchup, ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard, and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until smooth and well combined, then set it aside to use later (photo 1).

Step 2: Crush the crackers. Place 60-64 Ritz crackers into a plastic storage bag and cover with a kitchen towel. Crush them with a meat mallet or other heavy object until mostly fine, with a few lumps for added texture (photo 2).

Step 3: Add ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add 1 ½ lbs. ground beef, ½ cup of finely diced yellow onion, ¼ cup of finely diced green bell pepper, 3 eggs (room temperature is best), 4 ounces of grated sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup of whole milk, 2 sleeves (60-64 crackers) of crushed Ritz crackers, and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, or to taste (photo 3).

Step 4: Mix to combine. Using clean or gloved hands, thoroughly mix the ingredients until well combined (photo 4).

Shape, Bake, Glaze & Serve

Step 5: Bake the meatloaf. Place the meatloaf mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and form it into a loaf shape (photo 5). Bake in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 30 minutes. Then, remove from the oven and apply the glaze generously over the top of the meatloaf (photo 6).

Note: The barbecue sauce can also be applied twice for more depth of flavor. Start by brushing the sauce over your meatloaf at the 30-minute mark. Finish with the remaining glaze as directed just before the meatloaf is done cooking.

Step 4: Finish baking the meatloaf. Return your meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for 30 minutes or until the meatloaf is at least 160°F (72°C) when the temperature is checked in the center of the loaf.

Step 5: Rest and serve. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice into even pieces to serve.

🥗🥘🍲 Best Served With

What is an amazing meatloaf without rich and creamy mashed potatoes? I love serving this delicious copycat Cracker Barrel-style meatloaf for dinner with my incredible side dish recipes like garlic red skin mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli with garlic, crispy Parmesan smashed brussel sprouts, crockpot green beans and potatoes, or roasted asparagus.

Here are just a few more of my favorite sides for meatloaf.

• Veggie sides like Roasted Beets, Campbell's Green Bean Casserole, Air Fryer Mushrooms, or a simple Wedge Salad.
• Starchy sides like Crockpot Mac And Cheese, Macaroni And Tomatoes, Curry Roasted Potatoes, or another great CB copycat fave - Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole.

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• If you have trouble finely dicing your veggies, try grating them. Using the large holes on a box grater makes the onion and bell pepper fine enough to meld into the meatloaf perfectly. It's quick and easier for anyone who isn't comfortable with their knife skills, and most picky eaters won't notice the veggies!
• Reduce mixing time. Beat the room-temperature eggs before adding to the meatloaf ingredients. This will cut down on how long you need to work the mixture together to get everything evenly distributed.
• Shape the loaf or use a loaf pan. If you want a more defined loaf shape, put the meat mixture into a parchment-lined bread/loaf pan. Press down on it evenly, then flip the bread pan upside down over the parchment-lined baking sheet. Remove the pan (and parchment paper) and bake as usual.
• To ensure your meatloaf is cooked all the way through, use a meat thermometer. Meatloaf should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (72°C) to be safe to eat. Unless you’re a total meatloaf pro, it can be hard to know when it’s thoroughly done. Using a thermometer to check temp makes this so easy – you’ll never have to cut into under-cooked meatloaf.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Leftovers refrigerate beautifully. Store in an airtight container or wrap well with aluminum foil and it’ll last for 3 to 4 days in your refrigerator.

Freezing

You can also freeze either a whole cooked meatloaf or leftover meatloaf portions. Wrap the cooled meatloaf well with plastic cling film, place in a freezer bag or airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months for the best quality.

Read more in my how to freeze meatloaf guide. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheating

When you’re ready to reheat the meatloaf, the oven is my favorite way to keep it moist while reheating. Preheat your oven to 250°F (121°C/Gas Mark ½) and place the thawed leftover meatloaf into a baking dish.

Add a few splashes of beef broth or water to the bottom of the dish, then cover with aluminum foil and reheat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center is at least 165°F (74°C) when checked with a thermometer.

See all of my methods and tips on how to reheat meatloaf.

❓ Recipe FAQs

📖 Recipe Card