Description
Cracker Barrel meatloaf brings comfort and nostalgia to home-cooked dinners with its hearty blend of ground beef, savory seasonings, and rich tomato glaze. Families can easily recreate this classic American dish that promises warmth and satisfaction at their own dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (0.9 kg) ground beef (80/20)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (drained)
- 1 large yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 cup green bell pepper (finely diced)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for convenient cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, diced onion, green bell pepper, eggs, salt, pepper, drained tomatoes, and crushed Ritz crackers using hands or a wooden spoon. Mix gently to maintain meat’s tenderness.
- Shape the meat mixture into a compact, evenly thick loaf on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring uniform cooking potential.
- Bake the meatloaf for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, creating an initial cooking foundation.
- Remove from oven and generously brush the entire surface with ketchup, creating a tangy, glossy coating that will caramelize during the final baking stage.
- Return the meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for another 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, guaranteeing thorough and safe cooking.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, allowing juices to redistribute and enhance overall flavor and moisture.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a lighter meatloaf texture that doesn’t feel greasy or heavy.
- Swap Ritz crackers with gluten-free alternatives like crushed rice crackers or gluten-free breadcrumbs for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets.
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to enhance the umami depth and provide a subtle tangy complexity to the meat mixture.
- Consider using ground turkey or a plant-based meat substitute for those wanting lower-fat or vegetarian versions of this classic comfort dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 427 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg