This is the best meatloaf recipe with crackers you’ll ever eat and it is such an easy classic dish. It’ll quickly become a favorite family meal!
Original recipe: February 2018 | Updated: January 2021
Why This Recipe Works
Please hear me out. I understand that the word “meatloaf” is a turn-off to some. If this is you, I beg you to set your qualms aside because you have just landed on this blog post detailing the most delicious meatloaf you will ever eat.
A few years ago I dug up my mother’s handwritten recipe from childhood and used it as my guide. I don’t remember ever eating a recipe as good as hers.
This recipe is a version of hers (and it is a great recipe!), with an added irresistible sauce. I have received so many comments and emails over the years from people who tell me this famous Pip and Ebby meatloaf has become their favorite go-to recipe.
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Recipe Ingredients for the Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever
Beef – To avoid an extra greasy meatloaf, use a leaner meat like ground turkey or even venison. Beef meatloaf is incredible, but I promise the flavor is still super amazing no matter which type of meat you use in the recipe.
Crackers – Ritz crackers taste so incredible in this recipe, but feel free to replace equal amounts of crushed saltines, if desired.
Onion – Chop the onion very finely to avoid an end product that falls apart easily.
Milk – Any type of milk can be used in this recipe. Almond, skim, 1%, 2% or whole.
Sauce – The apricot preserves in the sauce MAKES this recipe, but if you don’t have it on hand grape or cherry jelly or jam are great replacements.
How To Make This Recipe For Meatloaf Using Ritz Crackers
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 5×9 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, egg, milk, ketchup, finely chopped onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Mix everything together with your hands until it is thoroughly combined.
Step 2
Pour the meat mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet (this is important!) so grease does not spill over the edges and into your oven!
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours (add the sauce at around the 45 minutes mark!).
Step 3
Make the meatloaf sauce: In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, apricot preserves and Worcestershire sauce.
Mix well. Spread half of the mixture evenly over the meatloaf halfway through baking.
Reserve the remainder of the meatloaf topping for dipping/topping. Let the meatloaf sit for 15 minutes before slicing and serving or it may fall apart on you.
Popular Pip and Ebby Recipes
What To Serve With This Easy Meatloaf Recipe
Check out this comprehensive list of side dishes that pair perfectly with meatloaf! You will find 44 options to choose from, ranging from a simple hashbrown casserole to a chopped salad to marinated carrots (and so much more!). Stuffed Sweet Potatoes or a pile of hot mashed potatoes are perfect options, too.
Other Ways To Prepare This Dish
- Instant Pot Meatloaf is super quick and easy to make and it is SO delicious. It cooks so much more quickly than an oven-baked meatloaf.
- Don’t forget the sauce! This red sauce recipe will transform your next comfort food dinner and quickly turn into a family favorite.
- Check out this yummy roundup filled with delicious ideas for other beef and pork meatloaf recipes to get on the table tonight!
Substitute for Bread Crumbs in Meatloaf
Whether you are looking for a gluten-free replacement or you just don’t have bread crumbs on hand, learn what to substitute for breadcrumbs in this dish!
Substitute for Apricot Preserves
Read on for some great ideas about what to substitute for apricot preserves if you need a replacement for this ingredient.
How Long Does Meatloaf Last In The Fridge
How long does meatloaf last in the fridge? If you have leftovers and you’re not sure whether to throw, refrigerate or freeze, read on!
What To Do With Meatloaf Leftovers
- Make meatloaf tacos.
- Add to a batch of chili, yum!
- Create leftover meatloaf sandwiches, obviously!
- Crumble it up and throw into spaghetti sauce to create leftover meatloaf spaghetti.
- Break into pieces and add it to your next batch of nachos.
- Build a few meatball subs, substituting meatballs for chunks of meatloaf.
Comfort Food Recipes
- Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole boasts flavor and creaminess over a bed of steaming egg noodles. This is a perfect hearty weeknight meal to put on the table.
- Instant Pot White Turkey Chili is packed with turkey meat, white beans and veggies, this comfort food is super flavorful and delicious.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a delicious combination of the tastiest flavors you will ever eat in a single bite.
- Best Baked Ziti is packed with flavorful meat sauce and layers of cheesy goodness, you will enjoy each flavorful bite. This delicious dinner feeds a lot of people and is super filling and hearty.
- Best Instant Pot Chili is the absolute perfect comfort food, packed with flavor, texture, color and a tiny bit of spice. Perfect dinner or party food!
Recipe Notes
- Be absolutely sure that you place the pan of meatloaf on a rimmed baking sheet before you put it in the oven. At times this recipe can bubble over and I really don’t want to be the reason your oven caught on fire.
- To save yourself from having to clean an extra dish, place parchment paper on top of the baking sheet.
- Be careful not to over mix! Mix until all ingredients are just combined. Over-mixing can create a different, denser texture.
- To avoid an extra greasy meatloaf, use a leaner meat like ground turkey or even venison! Beef meatloaf is incredible, but I promise the flavor is still super amazing no matter which type of meat you use in the recipe.
- Let the meatloaf rest for AT LEAST 15 minutes after it comes out of the oven. If you slice into it too soon, it will fall apart. Heed this important warning!
- The apricot preserves in the sauce MAKES this recipe, but if you don’t have it on hand grape or cherry jelly or jam are great replacements!
- The most accurate way to determine if any meat is done cooking is by using a Thermapen. (<—-affiliate link) Insert the thermometer into the center of the loaf to get a good reading. For this recipe I recommend achieving a temperature of 160°F.
FAQ About Meatloaf
Letting it sit for at least 15 minutes after pulling it out of the oven is a vital step if you wish to keep your meal intact. The egg and crackers will work their magic and hold the meatloaf together, but it may fall apart if you slice too soon.
If you are wondering about cooking times for cooking meatloaf all the way through, it takes an entire hour and a half. Make sure to place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet before putting it into the oven!
To ensure your meatloaf is fully cooked, stick a meat thermometer into the center. You will want to achieve an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Meatloaf turns out great when any variety of ground meat is used. Keep in mind that the fattier the meat (beef or sausage), the more grease will hang out in the bottom of the pan. Leaner meats such as ground turkey or even venison still produce a delicious end result!
The purpose of adding crackers to meatloaf is to help the mixture stick together (along with eggs!). They also add flavor to the final dish. Just be sure not to add too many cracker crumbs or the opposite problem can happen: your meatloaf may fall apart.
You can use equal parts cracker crumbs to replace breadcrumbs in just about any meatloaf recipe. Be sure the cracker crumbs are finely ground or the meatloaf may have issues with falling apart.
What People Are Saying About This Recipe
“Been using this recipe for years, we love it so much!! my husband was never a huge fan of meatloaf until I tried this recipe, now he asks for it regularly 🙂 thank you for sharing it, makes me feel like a rock star every time! “ ~Felicia
“Our whole family absolutely LOVES this meatloaf. I never cared for meatloaf until this recipe. Turns out great every time!! I make it exactly as directed, it is fabulous. We love the sauce so much that I sometimes make just the sauce and serve it with hamburger steak. ? “ ~Patricia
“This is by far the best meatloaf I’ve ever eaten/made. Everyone that has eaten it has loved it. I once put mine in muffin tins and swirled garlic mashed potatoes on top for a meatloaf cup cake. Soooooo yum!!! “ ~Ashley L.
Meatloaf Recipe With Crackers
Ingredients
Sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 5×9 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crackers, egg, milk, 1/2 cup ketchup, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix together with your hands until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours.
Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine ¾ cup ketchup, brown sugar, apricot preserves and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well. Spread half of the mixture evenly over the meatloaf halfway through baking. Reserve the remainder of the sauce for dipping/topping. Let meatloaf sit for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Be absolutely sure that you place the pan of meatloaf on a rimmed baking sheet before you put it in the oven. At times this recipe can bubble over and I really don’t want to be the reason your oven caught on fire.
- To save yourself from having to clean an extra dish, place parchment paper on top of the baking sheet.
- Be careful not to over mix! Mix until all ingredients are just combined. Over-mixing can create a different, denser texture.
- To avoid an extra greasy meatloaf, use a leaner meat like ground turkey or even venison! Beef meatloaf is incredible, but I promise the flavor is still super amazing no matter which type of meat you use in the recipe.
- Let the meatloaf rest for AT LEAST 15 minutes after it comes out of the oven. If you slice into it too soon, it will fall apart. Heed this important warning!
- The apricot preserves in the sauce MAKES this recipe, but if you don’t have it on hand grape or cherry jelly or jam are great replacements!
- The most accurate way to determine if the ground beef is done cooking is by using a Thermapen. (<—-affiliate link) Insert the thermometer into the center of the loaf to get a good reading. You will want to reach 160°F.
- You can freeze your loaf. If you are cooking it, allow it to cool completely. Then double pack it in a ziplock or air tight container and it can be enjoyed within 2-3 months.
Melissa
Seriously the best. Most requested recipe from the family.
Megan Porta
Melissa, thank you for sharing that! I agree it’s a perfect family dinner and we love it too.
Judy Howell
Can this meatloaf be frozen before it’s cooked to prevent a possible leftover taste? This is a fantastic recipe, best my family has ever had. Thanks
Megan Porta
Yes, you could freeze it ahead of time. I wouldn’t add any sauce. Then you can freeze it. When you’re ready to cook it, allow it to thaw in the fridge, ,then follow the baking instructions.
Nicole
H
Hello! I’ve made this several times and we love love love it! This time I’m going to half the recipe as we won’t need leftovers but how long should I cook it for?
Megan Porta
I would cook it almost the same amount of time, but you can start checking it for doneness around the hour mark. It could get done faster but each oven is a little different.
Danielle V.
Seriously THE BEST! The only thing I do differently is I use bread crumbs instead of Ritz crackers, but that’s just because I always seem to have bread crumbs on hand when I go to make it. It has literally become the most requested recipe from my family (including inlaws!) A true testament is it’s the ONLY thing my husband ever wants when he’s sick. This recipe is more than 5 Stars!!!
Megan Porta
When the hubby loves it, that is high praise. I’m so glad it’s enjoyed and you’re doing the right thing – I use up what I have on hand and ritz are a great tweak to the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Whitney
Making this again tonight. I also realized I haven’t commented on how it’s the perfect recipe. I’ve always struggled with meatloaf, and finally found the perfect recipe. My husband actually commented how amazing g it was and to please keep making this recipe. Tonight I realized my kids ate the rite crackers in the pantry and substituted with French fried onions. We’ll see how it turns out!
Megan Porta
That sounds like a great tweak to the recipe – so glad everyone loves it! We do too and it’s easy to put together, making it even better.
Linda Joy
We ABSOLUTELY love love love this recipe…. I always double the recipe for the sauce as we love dipping it!!!! I am actually making this as I type, but tonight I added mushrooms & Italian cheese…. Dare I mention what an unbelievable sandwich this meat loaf makes???? Oh. My. Goodness…. I actually have used this recipe & made burgers with it…. Thank you ever so much!!!!
Megan Porta
Such a great idea! Thanks for the sharing and for a delicious dinner idea!
Christy Johnson
Love this always a hit at home!!!
Megan Porta
Yay! Love that it’s enjoyed. Thanks for sharing.
Angela
Can I half the recipe? I only have 1lb of ground beef at the moment.
Megan Porta
Yes, you can definitely enjoy it in smaller serving. Thanks!
Hannah
During the first two years of my marriage my husband loathed meatloaf!! Than I found this recipe. He LOVES it!! Asks for it regularly, and he will not eat any other recipe.
Jessica Puryear
Made this tonight! My 7 year old daughter asked for seconds. Definitely going to be my go to meatloaf recipe!
Megan Porta
So cool. Glad it’s being enjoyed by all! Thanks for sharing.
Sarah
I was never a fan of beef meatloaf until I made this one! I can’t wait try it with turkey too. The flavors are amazing and just what I want in a meatloaf!
Megan Porta
So glad we have you converted! Turkey’s a great idea too.
Lucia Zuro
Search for best meatloaf recipe ended when I found this recipe! I have been making it for a few years w beef and potk mixture. My husband and family loves it!
I messed up once, Looked at picture of ingredients and added ALL. Didn’t realize until I needed glaze that ingredients were “in” the meatloaf! It turned out anyway! I now add Worcester and some apricot preserves to the meatloaf. Only because my family liked it so much, but it might have been the “extra” sugar. Doesn’t matter its the best everytime even w mistakes!
Megan Porta
So glad that you found it and even with the additional ingredients it was enjoyed!Thank you for sharing!
Erika
I have been making this recipe for a couple years now. It’s a regular rotation in our meals. A family favorite.
Megan Porta
I love to hear that. Thank you for sharing!
Christine
This is the staple meatloaf recipe in the house now, my kids and husband wont eat any other.
Megan Porta
I’m so glad you have found a winner for your family. It’s definitely on rotation at our home too. Thanks for sharing!
Arianna
I’ve been using this recipe for a few years now and realized I had never reviewed. It is absolutely AMAZING! Every time somebody new tries it they go crazy and ask for the recipe. Best meatloaf ever!
Megan Porta
That is wonderful to hear! It’s good to have a solid dinner recipe everyone can agree on and feed them full with. Thanks for sharing – I appreciate it!
Meg
Can you freeze this?
Megan Porta
Great question – you can freeze it. If you are cooking it, allow it to cool completely. Then double pack it in a ziplock or air tight container and it can be enjoyed within 2-3 months.
Melodi
Made this once before and it was absolutely delicious! Just put one in the oven for dinner tonight😊 I just realized though, that I forgot to beat the egg before adding it first, but I did mix the ingredients very well. I hope I didn’t over mix it and it still turns out as good!🤞I’ll update my post after to let you know.
Megan Porta
So glad to hear it! I’m sure that step won’t affect the recipe from turning out.
Lori lulu
My whole family absolutely loves this recipe! I now get regular requests for meatloaf. We are having it again tonight at my daughters request ❤️
Megan Porta
It’s such a great meal for the family, affordable so I’m glad it’s been enjoyed! Thank you for sharing!
Kirsty
There is NO OTHER Meatloaf recipe I will use! This is a keeper! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Megan Porta
I’m so glad you love it too! Thank you for sharing!
Carol M Bliesner
I really liked this recipe. I think it is my favorite. I did halve the recipe and it turned out so yummy.
Megan Porta
I’m glad you gave it a try. Thank you for sharing!
Lauren
This is my all time favorite meatloaf recipe!!
Megan Porta
Thank you Lauren for sharing. I love to hear that!