Here’s a Cracker Barrel‑Style Meatloaf recipe you can make at home—a hearty, juicy meatloaf with a sweet‑tangy glaze that’s inspired by the restaurant’s classic comfort‑food dish 🍽️🍞🥩 (Aurora Recipe)
🥩 Cracker Barrel‑Style Meatloaf (Serves ~6)
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 900 g (2 lb) ground beef (80/20 blend for best juiciness) (Food Faith Fitness)
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten (Food Faith Fitness)
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (about 24–32 crackers) (Food Faith Fitness)
- ½ cup whole milk (Food Faith Fitness)
- ¾ cup yellow onion, finely diced (Food Faith Fitness)
- ½–¾ cup green bell pepper, finely diced (Food Faith Fitness)
- 1 tsp salt (Food Faith Fitness)
- ¼–½ tsp black pepper (Food Faith Fitness)
- Optional: 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce for extra savory depth (Gonna Want Seconds)
- Optional: 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for richer flavor (Recipes By Carol)
Glaze
- ½–¾ cup ketchup (Food Faith Fitness)
- ⅓–½ cup brown sugar (Food Faith Fitness)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard (Food Faith Fitness)
🍴 Instructions
- Preheat & prepare
- Preheat oven to 175 °C / 350 °F.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment or lightly grease it. (Food Faith Fitness)
- Combine meatloaf mixture
- In a large bowl, mix ground beef, eggs, crushed crackers, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt, pepper, and optional Worcestershire sauce or cheese until just combined.
- Don’t overmix—gentle mixing keeps it tender. (Gonna Want Seconds)
- Shape & bake (first stage)
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and form a smooth loaf.
- Bake 30 minutes. (Food Faith Fitness)
- Make the glaze & finish baking
- While it bakes, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard.
- After the first 30 minutes, spread half the glaze over the loaf.
- Bake another 30–40 minutes, brushing the remaining glaze on top during the last 10–15 minutes of baking, until meatloaf is cooked through (internal temperature ~160 °F). (Food Faith Fitness)
- Rest & serve
- Let the meatloaf rest 10–15 minutes before slicing so juices redistribute.
- Serve with creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, or cornbread for a true homestyle meal. (theheartstonehomestead.com)
🍽 Tips for Best Results
- Ritz crackers add buttery, tender texture that’s signature to the style. (Mashed)
- Browning onions and peppers briefly before adding can mellow flavors. (Gonna Want Seconds)
- Letting the glaze caramelize helps create that sweet, sticky finish. (Food Faith Fitness)
If you want, I can also give you a slow cooker version or a lighter, turkey‑based twist!
