meatloaf

The Best! Simple Cheesy Meatloaf – Cracker Barrel’s Recipe

July 25, 2024 by Becky Spoon

The Cheesy Meatloaf I made is different from my usual recipe, although the ingredients are quite similar. However, this version includes cheese and uses buttery Ritz Crackers as a binder. It is absolutely delicious and I couldn’t resist eating more! The meatloaf is moist with a delightful cheesy filling and topped with ketchup. There is no dryness to be found in this Cracker Barrel Cheesy Meatloaf!

I retuned from a trip to Mexico and I was craving my Southern comfort food. Foods that I grew up with; foods on many Southern tables when I was young and to this day. This is all of the delicious things I made to go with my meatloaf. Mashed potatoes delicious buttery mashed potatoes!! Fried Okra love this crispy fried okra. Southern cornbread along with some fresh purple hull peas from my sisters garden and some slices of fresh tomatoes.

What are the ingredients or this delicious Cracker Barrel Cheesy Meatloaf!

eggs
milk
Ritz Crackers, crushed
onion, chopped
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
black pepper
ground beef
ketchup
brown sugar
mustard

I always buy the Ritz crackers in bulk! There are so many uses for them. https://amzn.to/2URPr4q

Check this link out for many recipes and uses for these buttery crackers: http://www.ritzcrackers.com/Recipes

The Best! Cheesy Meatloaf

I’ve always loved meatloaf! Sometimes I hear folks say that they hate meatloaf and never understood that. Growing up, Mom would make meatloaf at least once a week! She made great meatloaf. Here’s a little history of Meatloaf! Seems it’s been around for a long time and is here to stay:https://www.bonappetit.com/story/history-of-meatloaf.

Of course, along side there would be creamy mashed potatoes or new potatoes cooked in some fresh green beans. Of course there was a dessert too! The green beans would always be the slow simmered green beans usually with salt pork or bacon and sauteed onions and cooked with new potatoes ! ! Here’s my green bean recipe if you want to add those to your dinner when you make this delicious meatloaf! https://the2spoons.com/country-style-fresh-green-beans-and-new-potatoes/

If you decide on mashed potatoes I love my garlic mashed potatoes with this too. https://the2spoons.com/chunky-garlic-mashed-potatoes/.

My Mac n’ Cheese recipe is another great side dish! https://the2spoons.com/delicious-five-cheese-macaroni-and-cheese/

Here’s the meatloaf recipe! Enloy!

The Best! Cheesy Meatloaf

Cracker Barrel's Recipe

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Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 sleeves Ritz Crackers, crushed
1/2 cup onion, chopped
4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp mustard

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325. Whisk the eggs in a bowl then add the milk and crackers. Stir in onion and cheese. Add ground beef, salt and pepper. Mix well. Shape into a loaf. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard to make topping. Spoon half of the topping over the meatloaf after the 30 mins of baking. Return loaf to oven for 15 more minutes of baking. Spoon the rest of the topping over meatloaf, return to oven and bake for 5-10 mins more.
Slice and serve!

Keyword cheesy meatloaf, comfort food, dinner, main course, meatloaf, southern food, the best

The Best – Mom’s Meatloaf

April 2, 2019 by Becky Spoon

Mom’s meatloaf wasn’t an “everything in the fridge” recipe, like that meatloaf you’ve heard stories about. I’ve heard so many say they hate meatloaf because of the meatloaf they had growing up. I can’t even imagine that. I love meatloaf!

Mom’s wasn’t a creation just to get rid of stuff but well thought out, even though it was simple, with just a few ingredients that worked well together. It was absolutely delicious. I have a couple of other meatloaf recipes in my collection, but I always come back to this recipe when I want some comfort food that I grew up with.

The Best – Mom’s Meatloaf

I don’t know why, but I really like to read about the history of food. I didn’t realize meatloaf actually dates back to ancient Rome, did you? Here’s a little history: https://www.thekitchn.com/origins-of-a-classic-the-histo-156555

The Best – Mom’s Meatloaf

I made this meatloaf the other day and served my Summer Squash Casserole as a side dish. Don’t forget the mashed tomatoes or scalloped potatoes! Here’s the link for my Summer Squash Casserole: https://the2spoons.com/two-cheese-qick-summer-squash-casserole/

Here’s the recipe!! Hope you and your family like it!

Mom’s Meatloaf

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Course dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1 egg
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp fresh parsly
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/4 cups bread crumbs

For the Topping

1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Add all the ingredients (except for the topping) and thoroughly combine. Add more bread crumbs if needed. Unlike when you are cooking a burger, you want to really combine this mixture.
Form into a loaf and place on a sheet pan or in a casserole dish. Cover the top and all sides of the meatloaf with the topping mixture. It’s fine if it flows down into your dish.
Bake until the meatloaf is firm and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from the oven, allow to rest a few minutes.
Remove to a serving platter and slice. Enjoy!
This meatloaf is easily doubled.

Summer Squash Casserole — Mom’s Meatloaf

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

February 21, 2019 by Becky Spoon

This is not your usual tomato based meatloaf. It is the 1770 House meatloaf which is loaded with garlic and fresh herbs and is absolutely delicious!

Ina Garten made this 1770 House meatloaf recipe famous when her friend, Chef Kevin Penner of the 1770 House in E Hampton shared the recipe with her. Here’s his link: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/1770-house-meatloaf/. Ina later featured this meatloaf on Food Network’s show, The Best Thing I’ve Ever Eaten. I ran across this recipe, and decided I’d try it, then share it with you.

This meatloaf is garlicky, loaded with fresh herbs and is crazy good! This recipe will serve about 6 and would be perfect with my garlic cauliflower mash as a side dish. Click on this link for my recipe.

http://www.the2spoons.com/love-this-roasted-garlic-cauliflower-mash/

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

What speaks Sunday lunch more than meatloaf? It is one of the ultimate comfort foods and almost everyone loves a meatloaf. My Mom would make meatloaf when I was growing up. She would have it for weeknights and many times after Church on Sunday’s. This 1770 House Meatloaf is perfect for dinner with guest or a casual dinner at home with the family. Even my picky cowboy thought this meatloaf was delicious.

I’d serve this 1770 House meatloaf with mashed potatoes or my cauliflower mash; a fresh green vegetable like sautéed spinach would compliment this garlicky meatloaf . A green salad will round this meal out!

I know this is different than the meatloaf you normally make, but it is delicious and give it a try! It’s really good.

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

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Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups spanish onion, chopped (1 large)
1 1/2 cups small diced celery (2 stalks)
1 lb ground beef
1 lb gound veal
1 lb ground pork
1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian Parsley)
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cups whole milk
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups panko (Japanese bread flakes)
Garlic Sauce, recipe follows

Garlic Sauce

3/4 cup good olive oil
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent but not browned. Set aside to cool slightly.
Place the beef, veal, pork, parsley, thyme, chives, eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Put the panko in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the panko is finely ground.
Add the onion mixture and the panko to the meat mixture. With clean hands, gently toss the mixture together, making sure it’s combined but not compacted.
Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Pat the meat into a flat rectangle and then press the sides in until it forms a cylinder down the middle of the pan (this will ensure no air pockets). Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in the middle, reads 155 degrees F to 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve hot with the Garlic Sauce.
Garlic Sauce:
Combine the oil and garlic in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic or it will be bitter. Remove the garlic from the oil and set aside. (I save the oil for vinaigrettes.)
Combine the chicken stock, butter, and cooked garlic in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a full boil for 35 to 40 minutes, until slightly thickened. Mash the garlic with a fork, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and taste for seasonings. Spoon the warm sauce over the meatloaf.

Keyword 1770 meatloaf, meatloaf, garlicky meatloaf