Cracker Barrel Copycat Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf has been a big part of my childhood because my mom loves cooking it in different styles. Now that I’m an adult, I tend to miss her meatloaf and try out different types as well. I even call her from time to time to ask her about some recipes. One recipe she introduced was a copycat version of the Cracker Barrel restaurant meatloaf by Tess Cooks 4u. At first, I got intimidated, but trust me, it was so good and surpassed my expectations when I tried it. It’s flavorful, moist, and has a great texture. Since then, I’ve been making them more often.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 small finely diced onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper – optional
• 1 1/2 sleeves of crushed Ritz crackers
• 3 eggs
• 4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar or Colby cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper

For the topping

• 1/2 to 3/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. mustard

 Directions:

Prepare all the needed ingredients.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Starting with the topping, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk 3 eggs.  Place 1 ½ sleeve of Ritz crackers in a Ziploc bag and crush using a rolling pin. Add the crushed Ritz crackers to the egg bowl. Then, add finely diced onions, green bell peppers, milk, salt, and pepper, and sharp cheddar cheese. Combine all the ingredients until everything is well incorporated. Add 2 pounds of lean ground beef and mix it together with the other ingredients. Make sure not to overmix.

Line a baking sheet or pan with foil or parchment paper and place the meatloaf mixture.  Place the pan in the oven to bake for 30 minutes at 350F. When done, remove the dish from the oven and brush on the topping mixture.

Place the meatloaf back in the oven to bake for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until the center is 160F.

Remove it from the oven and cool it for 15 minutes before serving.

Serve and enjoy! 

Cracker Barrel Copycat Meatloaf Recipe