🍖 Cracker Barrel Meatloaf (Copycat)
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
- 500g ground beef (80/20 fat ratio works best)
- 1 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 egg
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Glaze:
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tsp vinegar
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Mix the meatloaf
- Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F)
- In a bowl, combine beef, crackers, onion, egg, cheese, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper
- Mix gently (don’t overwork or it gets dense)
2. Shape and bake
- Shape into a loaf and place in a baking dish
- Bake for 30 minutes
3. Add glaze
- Mix glaze ingredients
- Spread half over meatloaf
- Bake another 20–25 minutes
- Add remaining glaze and bake 5–10 minutes more
4. Rest
- Let it sit 10 minutes before slicing so it stays juicy
🔥 What makes it “Cracker Barrel style”
- Crushed crackers instead of plain breadcrumbs → softer texture
- Cheese inside the meatloaf → extra moisture
- Sweet ketchup glaze → signature flavor
- Gentle mixing → prevents toughness
🍽️ Result
- Texture: Soft, moist, sliceable
- Flavor: Savory beef + sweet-tangy glaze
- Best served with: mashed potatoes and green beans
If you want, I can also give you:
- The restaurant-style mashed potatoes and gravy pairing
- Or a healthier low-fat version of this meatloaf