My Cracker Barrel meatloaf is comfort food at its best, with onions, green bell peppers, Ritz crackers, sharp cheddar cheese, and a tangy glaze. The bits of green bell pepper are a key ingredient in this recipe. They add a delicious savory note that elevates this meatloaf, making it a true crowd-pleaser that tastes just like the restaurant version.1x recipe yields 8 servings or 5-6 larger servings. See my best meatloaf seasoning, how to freeze meatloaf, and how to reheat meatloaf for great tips on making perfect meatloaf!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl combine the glaze ingredients: ½ cup ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. Whisk till smooth then set aside for later.
½ cup ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Place Ritz crackers into a plastic storage bag and cover them with a kitchen towel. Crush them with a meat mallet or other heavy object until mostly fine, with a few lumps for added texture.
In a large mixing bowl add the 1½ lbs ground beef, ½ cup yellow onion, ¼ cup green bell pepper, 3 eggs, 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup whole milk, crushed Ritz crackers, 1 teaspoon each, salt & pepper. Using your clean hands thoroughly combine all ingredients.
1½ lbs ground beef, ½ cup yellow onion, ¼ cup green bell pepper, 3 eggs, 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup whole milk, Ritz crackers, 1 teaspoon each, salt & pepper
Shape, Bake, Glaze & Serve
Place meatloaf mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and form it into a loaf shape.
Bake in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 30 minutes, remove from the oven, and apply the glaze over the top of the meatloaf.
Return your meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for 30 minutes or until the meatloaf is 160°F (72°C) when the temperature is checked in the center of the loaf.
Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
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Notes
For fine bits of your onion and green bell pepper, grate the vegetables using a cheese grater.
To get a better shaped loaf look, you can put the meat mixture into a parchment paper lined bread pan and press down on it evenly. Flip the bread pan upside down over the parchment lined baking sheet.
Use a digital meat thermometer to check the center of the meatloaf for doneness.