How to make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
Mix tender ground beef with seasonings, spices, cheese, and Ritz crackers. Then top with slices of bacon and an amazing sauce! I’m going to show you How to make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf! And I know you might be wondering where Cracker Barrel came from and why I invited them into this recipe. Well, I’m going to explain it a little bit better later, but Cracker Barrel seems to be the standard for meatloaf, at least in my husband’s opinion. In other words, this is the one that I had to beat… and I did it!
Sharing is caring!
Even though I live in the South, and Louisiana specifically, I didn’t grow up eating a lot of meatloaf. Now and then, when we would go to visit my Grandma Andrews, meatloaf would make an appearance on the table. It would be situated near her famous spaghetti and cheese, a plate with plain white bread, and a vegetable of some sort. As I grew older and my visits to my grandmother’s house became less frequent, so did my encounters with meatloaf.
I didn’t eat meatloaf for over 10 years. One day while eating at Cracker Barrel with my husband, I noticed that he ordered the meatloaf. Now, this was shocking to me because my husband is incredibly picky and I would have never guessed that he would venture into the meatloaf department of the menu.
When I asked him about it, he responded that he LOVED Cracker Barrel’s meatloaf and then a lightbulb went off in my head. If my husband says that they have a great meatloaf, then it HAS TO BE TRUE! From that moment, I decided that I was going to make a meatloaf at home that my husband would be proud of! And I can happily say that he approves!
What is the Cracker Barrel like? How is the food?
CLICK HERE FOR CRACKER BARREL DETAILS!
Be Sure To Pin It For Later!
This recipe is fantastic because it uses ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge. Not to mention it’s delicious and bakes away in the oven while you take care of other things like a side dish or salad. I truly believe that even if you think you aren’t a “meatloaf person” this recipe will change your mind and find a place on your table and in your heart!
For those of you with an appetite for history, let’s learn something new here!
Click here for the juicy scoop about Meatloaf
Tips for How to Make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf:
- I like to use aluminum foil because it makes for easier cleanup. Sometimes the brown sugar in the sauce and the bacon cause a crust on the cookie sheet that can be incredibly hard to scrub off. The aluminum foil keeps that from happening. When you are done, you can just throw it away and call it a day!
- Don’t skip the step of cutting the bacon in half. It fits perfectly on top of the meatloaf and it is so beautiful. (If you are the kind of person that thinks about that kind of thing… I know that I am.)
Let me Show you How to make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf on my YouTube Channel!
How to make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. ground chuck (I don’t use deer meat for meatloaf because it’s too lean)
- 1/2 lb. thick-cut bacon (Cut the strips in half)
- 1 1/2 sleeves of Ritz crackers crushed
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup ketchup (for the sauce)
- 1 teaspoon mustard (for the sauce)
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (for the sauce)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
How to make Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Instructions:
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees place the Ritz crackers in a large Ziploc bag, and crush them into small breadcrumbs.
- Second, crack the 3 eggs into a large mixing bowl add the crushed crackers and mix well.
- Third, add 1/2 cup of milk to the crackers and eggs and mix again.
- Next, add the onion powder, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper and combine.
- Then, add the ground beef to the bowl and mix well with your hands.
- Once everything has been mixed well, place the mixture on the lined baking sheet and form it into a loaf. (Think of the shape of the pan)
- Take your small mixing bowl and add the brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup, and mix well to make the sauce for the top of your meatloaf.
- Next, spoon your sugar and ketchup sauce all over the meatloaf including all sides.
- Then, take your strips of bacon that have been cut in half and layer them on top of the meatloaf and all sides as well. (The sauce will help the bacon stick to the meatloaf and not fall off while baking.
- Place the meatloaf into the oven and let it bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. (You can always check the internal temperature to make sure it’s done. (165 degrees)
- After the meatloaf has baked, turn on the broiler for a few minutes to let the bacon get extra crispy!
- Finally, take the meatloaf out of the oven and let it rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes, and then serve with creamy mashed potatoes and rolls!
Storage for the Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf:
- Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 4 days in an airtight container.
- Cooked meatloaf can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
- Raw meatloaf can be shaped and frozen in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag for up to 6 months.
Check out some of my other favorite Southern recipes!
Cajun Style Red Beans and Rice
If you try this recipe and love it, please consider giving it 5 STARS.
Also, tag me on:
- Instagram – @jessie.w.thompson
- Facebook – @Jessie’s Food, Faith, and Family
- TikTok – @jessiesfoodfaithandfam
Better than Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
Equipment
- 1 Baking sheet lined with aluminum foil
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 Small mixing bowl (for the sauce)
- 1 large Ziploc bag
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground chuck I don’t use deer meat for meatloaf because it’s too lean
- 1/2 lb. thick cut bacon Cut the strips in half
- 1 1/2 sleeves of Ritz crackers crushed
- 3 large large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup ketchup for the sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard for the sauce
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar for the sauce
Instructions
- First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and place the Ritz crackers in a large Ziploc bag and crush them into small breadcrumbs.
- Second, crack the 3 eggs into a large mixing bowl and add the crushed crackers and mix well.
- Third, add 1/2 cup of milk to the crackers and eggs and mix again.
- Next, add the onion powder, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper and combine.
- Then, add the ground beef to the bowl and mix well with your hands.
- Once everything has been mixed really well, place the mixture on the lined baking sheet and form it into a loaf. (Think of the shape of the pan)
- Take your small mixing bowl and add the brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup and mix well to make the sauce for the top of your meatloaf.
- Next, spoon your sugar and ketchup sauce all over the meatloaf including all sides.
- Then, take your strips of bacon that have been cut in half and layer them on top of the meatloaf and on all sides as well. (The sauce will help the bacon stick to the meatloaf and not fall off while baking.
- Place the meatloaf into the oven and let it bake for 45 minutes to an hour. (You can always check the internal temperature to make sure it's done. (165 degrees)
- After the meatloaf has baked, turn on the broiler for a few minutes to let the bacon get extra cripsy!
- Finally, take the meatloaf out of the oven and let it rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes and then serve with creamy mashed potatoes and rolls!
