Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 60 minutes Servings: 6 servings

Cracker Barrel’s meatloaf is the platonic ideal of home-style cooking. It’s a thick, tender loaf of seasoned ground beef with a sweet-tangy ketchup glaze that caramelizes in the oven, creating a sticky, flavorful crust. It’s the kind of food that tastes like it was made by someone’s grandmother, which is exactly the vibe Cracker Barrel is going for.

The secret to Cracker Barrel’s tender meatloaf is the panade — the mixture of Ritz cracker crumbs soaked in milk. This acts as a binder that keeps the meatloaf moist and prevents it from becoming a dry, dense brick. The butter flavor in the Ritz crackers adds richness you don’t get from plain breadcrumbs.

Meatloaf Mastery

• Ritz crackers, not breadcrumbs. The buttery, slightly salty flavor of Ritz crackers is what distinguishes this meatloaf from generic versions. Regular breadcrumbs give you a blander result.
• Don’t overwork the meat. Mix until the ingredients are just combined. Overworking ground beef develops gluten, which makes the meatloaf tough and dense instead of tender.
• Two-stage glazing. Applying half the glaze at the start and the rest 15 minutes before the end gives you a thicker, more caramelized coating. One application just soaks in and disappears.

Country Cooking Price Check

The meatloaf dinner at Cracker Barrel costs about $12-14 with two sides. This recipe serves six for about $9 total — $1.50 per serving. Add mashed potatoes and green beans for a complete Cracker Barrel meal under $3 per person.