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Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe

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Recreate Cracker Barrel’s iconic meatloaf at home with this easy recipe. Packed with flavor, cheesy goodness, and a tangy glaze!

  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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.

  • Author: Soraya
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner