The Best Meatloaf
Published: Friday, November 19, 2021
3 eggs
1 ½ sleeves of crushed Ritz crackers (48 crackers total)
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar or Colby cheese
½ c. milk
1 small finely diced onion
½ c. finely diced bell pepper (optional)
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
2 lbs. lean ground beef
For the topping:
½ to ¾ c. ketchup
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. mustard
Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, crushed Ritz crackers, cheese, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix well. Add the ground beef and mix well just to combine. Do not overmix.
Form into a loaf and place on a baking pan or baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and spread the topping over the meatloaf and bake an additional 30-40 minutes or until the center is 160°. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
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