Cracker Barrel Meatloaf - This Cracker Barrel meatloaf copycat is tender, juicy, made with the restaurant's secret ingredients, glazed to tangy-sweet perfection, and sure to become a family FAVORITE comfort food dinner recipe! Air fryer AND oven baking options provided.
2pounds80/20 ground beef*do NOT use lean ground beef
1cupcrushed Ritz Crackers
Glaze
½cupketchup
1tablespoonlight brown sugarpacked
1teaspoonapple cider vinegar
1teaspoondried ground mustard
½teaspoondried onion powder
Instructions
Meatloaf - To a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients through pepper, and mix to combine.
Add the ground beef and using either clean hands or a wooden spoon, mix to just incorporate the ingredients. Tip - The beef is added at the end to make sure you get everything else mixed first before adding the beef since you don't want to overmix it at all or your meatloaf will be tougher.
Add the Ritz crackers and mix lightly to incorporate. If air frying, go to step 4. And if oven baking, go to step 10.
Air Fryer - Preheat an XL air fryer to 350F, line two 5x3x2-inch ceramic pans or similarly sized mini loaf pans (you can use metal, noting meatloaf will cook faster in metal than ceramic) with parchment paper, and spray well with cooking spray.
Divide the meatloaf mixer between the two pans taking care not to hard-pack it in or meatloaf will be denser. For crispier edges, leave about a 1 centimeter perimeter between the meat and all sides of the pan.
Air fry for 30 minutes.
While waiting, make the glaze by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl.
After 30 minutes, open the basket, and evenly brush and distribute the glaze over the tops of both loaves of meatloaf and return to the air fryer.
Air fry again for about 5 to 7 minutes, and check for doneness with a digital thermometer that should read 155F, before removing the loaf pans from the air fryer basket and allowing them to rest for 15 minutes. Tip - The resting period is important because it will allow the internal temp to climb to 160F which is when the meatloaf is technically done and safe to consume. Therefore, don't skip the resting step. Jump to step 16.
Oven Baking - Preheat oven to 350F, line a 8x4-inch ceramic pan (9x5-inch is also fine but mealoaf will not be as tall and may cook quicker; metal baking pans are also fine noting meatloaf will cook quicker) with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
Add the meatloaf mixer to the pan taking care not to hard-pack it in or meatloaf will be denser. For crispier edges, leave about a 1 centimeter perimeter between the meat and all sides of the pan.
Bake for 30 minutes.
While waiting, make the glaze by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl.
After 30 minutes, pull out the meatloaf, and evenly brush it all over the top of the meatloaf and return to the oven.
Bake again for 30 minutes, or until done. Check for doneness with a digital thermometer that should read 155F, before removing the loaf pan from the oven and allowing it to rest for 15 minutes. Tip - The resting period is important because it will allow the internal temp to climb to 160F which is when the meatloaf is technically done and safe to consume. Therefore, don't skip the resting step.
Serve meatloaf after the 15 minute resting period if air frying or oven baking with your favorite sides. Meatloaf will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Notes
*I use 80/20 ground beef. Alternatively, you can use half ground beef and half ground pork. This makes for an extra moist meatloaf. You can use ground turkey. However, you’ll need to make modifications to the meatloaf mixture to make sure there’s enough moisture since turkey is so lean, such as by adding ketchup and sautéed mushrooms to the meatloaf mixture.