Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs (900g) ground beef (80/20 chuck)
  • 2 cups (150g) Ritz crackers, crushed
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup (60g) sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
  • 1 cup (150g) yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup (75g) green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
  • 1.5 tsp (9g) kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp (1g) black pepper
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) ketchup
  • 2 tbsp (30g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp (5g) yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp (5ml) apple cider vinegar

Instructions:

  1. Sauté the aromatics. Cook the 1 cup yellow onion and 1/2 cup green bell pepper in a small skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
  2. Place 2 cups of Ritz crackers in a bag and crush them by hand. You want some small crumbs and some pea sized chunks for texture.
  3. Mix the crushed crackers with 1/2 cup whole milk in your large bowl and let it sit for 2 minutes until the crackers soften into a paste.
  4. Add 2 lbs ground beef, 3 beaten eggs, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the cracker mixture.
  5. Add your cooled onion and pepper mixture to the bowl.
  6. Use your hands to fold the ingredients together until just combined. Over mixing will lead to a tough, rubbery texture.
  7. Transfer the mixture to your baking dish and form into a rectangle roughly 4 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall.
  8. Whisk 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp mustard, and 1 tsp vinegar together.
  9. Place in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30 minutes.
  10. Brush half of the glaze over the loaf, bake for another 15 minutes, then add the remaining glaze and bake for a final 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  11. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing to ensure it holds its shape.