Favorite Meatloaf (Cracker Barrel copycat)
There are many Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipes out there, and they are all very similar. I used a recipe from Taste of Home, although I adapted it a bit. This recipe makes a soft, delicious, flavorful, and large meatloaf!
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Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 2 lbs ground beef *I used 80% lean
- 30 crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/3 cup milk *I used whole milk, original calls for 2%
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
Meatloaf Sauce (I double this for extra sauce!)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tsps. dijon mustard *regular mustard fine
- 3 tbsps. brown sugar
Instructions
- Begin by sautéing the green pepper and onion in 1- 2 tbsp. of olive oil over medium-high heat until soft. Note: This is not in the original recipe, but sautéing them adds more flavor. Let the vegetables cool for a few minutes.
- In a bowl mix crushed crackers, milk, eggs, salt, and garlic powder.
- In another bowl, add the pepper-and-onion mix to the beef.
- Now add the grated cheese and the cracker mixture to the beef.
- Gently combine all the ingredients. Don't mix too hard.
- Shape the meat mixture into a loaf in an ungreased 7 x 11 or 13 x 9 inch pan.
- Bake the meatloaf, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
- While the meatloaf is baking, mix the ketchup, Dijon, and brown sugar.
- After the meatloaf has baked for 50 minutes, spoon the sauce on top of the meatloaf.
- Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes until the center of the meatloaf is 160 degrees.
- Remove from the oven and drain extra grease.
- It's ready to serve!
