Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Via Facebook link: Diane Dobbins Paschke

Equipment

  • Baking pan

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 small finely diced onion
  • 1/2 cup finely diced bell pepper (optional)
  • 1 1/2 sleeves crushed Ritz crackers
  • 4 once shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

For the Topping

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

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Place to the side. This will be used later as the topping.
  • In a large bowl, combine the eggs, crushed Ritz crackers, cheese, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix well.
  • Add in the ground beef. Mix well just to combine. Do not over mix.
  • Form into a loaf and place inside a baking pan or baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
  • Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and spread the topping over the meatloaf.
  • Bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes or until the center is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

 
Why is my meatloaf dry?

People often complain that their meatloaf is too dry. This is often caused by using leaner meat. 80/20 is the best ratio for a moist, juicy meatloaf that cooks to perfection.
The milk in this recipe also gives the meatloaf that extra bit of moisture that makes this one of my favorite go-to recipes.
Do not over mix the meat.
I’ve been guilty of this many times. But I’ve since learned from the error of my ways.
Mixing your ingredients too much will result in a tough, dry meatloaf.
One of the secrets to a juicy meatloaf is not to over mix your ingredients. If you’re a perfectionist like me, this one requires a bit of self-control.
But if it makes a better meatloaf, so I try and combat my OCD tendencies.
It’s also important not to compress the meat too much when you’re forming the loaf. When shaping your loaf, looser is better.