CrackerBarrel Meatloaf Recipe
If you have ever tried the Cracker Barrel meatloaf, then you are on a long list of people that want to bring that taste home over and over again.
Cue this recipe of awesomeness.
This Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipe is one that pretty much nails it. You get everything you want in a meatloaf here, with a fun twist of Ritz cracker goodness that offers both texture and flavor.
You’ll get your own orders for seconds of this wherever you take this dish.
It’s my husband’s favorite! He loves meatloaf!
Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.
Why I love Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe?
Everyone wants to repeat or replicate a chain dish that they fall in love with, and this copycat Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipe is no different. There’s more to it than that here though. I love this one because:
- Breading – The Ritz crackers bring a beautiful flavor profile to an old standby.
- Easy – Meatloaf is a mix and bake recipe as always, this one adds a few ingredients to bring beautiful flavor with little effort.
- Delicious – They won’t call your meatloaf boring ever again.
What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart?
This Cracker Barrel meatloaf recipe is a combination of eggs and Ritz crackers. Either one of these ingredients will do it. So, pulling these ingredients together in this recipe is going to result in a nice, perfectly shaped meatloaf that cuts as tightly as it cooks.
Why do you put milk in meatloaf?
The answer to this is not as difficult as people think, but we want our food to be perfect and worry about everything. Milk in meatloaf is for moisture. When you add moisture to a dish, you usually add moisture to the finish line as well. You can add the breadcrumbs or crackers to meatloaf without moistening them, but you WILL notice a difference if you try it both ways and see for yourself.
Is it better to cook meatloaf covered or uncovered?
You want to have your copycat Cracker Barrel meatloaf covered in the oven or slow cooker. Adding heat to anything that has moisture in it is going to result in evaporation. You want all of that nice moisture to stay in the meat.
How to serve Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe?
Get creative as you want when serving the cracker barrel meatloaf recipe. Add homemade fries or a sticky bed of rice to this dish. If you have a deep fryer, onion rings will never go poorly with a good homemade meatloaf.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe Cooking Tips:
Meat gets tougher the more you manage it. The “stir until combined” part of this recipe is literal. Don’t be shy about it, but don’t overmix your meat. You can’t make a mistake here by just mixing and baking the meat as the recipe calls.
Variations of Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe:
Barbecue sauce goes nicely with brown sugar and will give your Cracker Barrel meatloaf a smoky twist. You can also play with your mustards here, substituting yellow mustard with Dijon or honey mustard.
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Ritz crackers
- Onion
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ground beef
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Mustard
How to make Cracker Barrel Meatloaf:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: In a medium add your eggs and beat.
Step 3: Add milk and crackers to the beaten eggs.
Step 4: Add the onion and cheese to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
Step 5: Add ground beef to the egg mixture.
Step 6: Using your mix meat and egg mixture until well combined.
Step 7: Spray an 8×8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 8: Mold the beef mixture into the baking dish.
Step 9: Bake for 45 minutes or until the meatloaf is cooked thru.
Step 10: In a small bowl add ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard and mix to combine.
Step 11: Pour half of the topping over the meatloaf after 30 mins and spread evenly over the meatloaf.
Step 12: Return the meatloaf to the oven for 15 mins.
Step 13: Pour the rest of the topping over the meatloaf, and spread it evenly.
Step 14: Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake for 15 mins.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
Ingredients
-
2 eggs, room temp
-
2/3 cup whole milk
-
25 Ritz crackers, crushed
-
1 large onion, diced
-
½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
-
1 tsp. salt
-
1/4 tsp. pepper
-
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
-
1/2 cup ketchup
-
1/2 cup brown sugar
-
1 tsp. mustard
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-
In a medium add your eggs and beat.
-
Add milk and crackers to the beaten eggs.
-
Add the onion and cheese to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
-
Add ground beef to the egg mixture.
-
Using your mix the meat and egg mixture until well combined.
-
Spray a 8×8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
-
Mold the beef mixture into the baking dish.
-
Bake for 45 minutes or until the meatloaf is cooked thru.
-
In a small bowl add ketchup, brown sugar and mustard and mix to combine.
-
Pour half of the topping over the meatloaf after 30 mins and spread evenly over the meatloaf.
-
Return the meatloaf to the oven for 15 mins.
-
Pour the rest of the topping over the meatloaf, and spread it evenly.
-
Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake for 15 mins.
