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cracker barrel meatloaf recipe

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 cup crushed Ritz cracker crumbs (about 38 crackers)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Combine the ground beef, cracker crumbs, milk, eggs, onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until just combined, about 1 minute.
  2. Turn the mixture onto a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and shape into a 9-inch by 4-inch loaf, about 2 inches tall, pressing out any air pockets.
  3. Stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard until smooth. Spread two-thirds of the glaze over the top and sides of the loaf. Reserve the rest.
  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes. Spread the reserved glaze over the top and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until an internal thermometer reads 160°F (71°C).
  5. Rest for 10 minutes, then slice into thick pieces, transfer to a serving platter, and spoon any pan drippings over the top before serving.

Notes

You can mix and shape this loaf the night before and keep it covered in the fridge — just hold off on the glaze until you're ready to bake. An 80/20 blend of ground beef gives you the best result here; anything leaner and the loaf can come out dry at the center. A thermometer takes the guesswork out of knowing when it's done, which is worth using if you have one.