Ingredients
- For the Meatloaf Base
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 1 ¼ cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese (produced using microbial rennet)
- ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- ½ cup finely diced sweet yellow onion
- ½ cup half-and-half or whole milk
- 2 extra-large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- For the Ketchup Glaze
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 ½ tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 2 tsp Coles Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
1. Prep your workspace
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment for easy cleanup. (I like to double-line mine—who doesn’t love fewer dishes?)
2. Mix the ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crushed crackers, shredded cheese, bell pepper, onion, milk, beaten eggs, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix everything gently but thoroughly. Pro tip: Don’t overmix! It can make the meatloaf dense instead of tender.
3. Shape the meatloaf
Transfer the mixture to your baking sheet and shape it into a rectangle about 10 inches long and 6 inches wide. This ensures even cooking.
4. Bake the meatloaf
Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes. While it’s baking, whip up the glaze by mixing ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.
5. Add the glaze
After 30 minutes, pull the meatloaf out and spread the glaze evenly over the top. (Don’t skimp—this is where the magic happens!) Return it to the oven and bake for another 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 160°F.
6. Rest and slice
Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping every bite moist and flavorful.
Notes
To make a smaller loaf, simply halve the ingredients and adjust the baking time (about 20 minutes less should do it). For a larger crowd, double the recipe and shape the mixture into two smaller loaves. Just make sure they’re evenly sized to cook at the same rate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner