Spelling noun–noun compound words

Question

I am translating my meatloaf recipe to German and am unsure about translating the meatloaf mixture from the sentence

Transfer the meatloaf mixture into the loaf pan.

I have: meatloaf → der Hackbraten and mixture → die Mischung.

I am undecided between:

1. die Hackbratenmischung
2. die Hackbraten-Mischung
3. die Hackbraten Mischung
4. der Hackbraten Mischung

I have already gone through:

• How to make German compund noun?
• Hyphen for compound nouns: Mathe-Wettbewerb or Mathewettbewerb?
• German Compound Words
• The Hyphen

I want to go with forms 1 or 2, but I remember seeing forms 3 and 4 somewhere, can’t recall where. Which of the above noun–noun compound word construction(s) are wrong? Please provide the reasons why they are incorrect.

Answer 1

For the composition rules: 1 and 2 are ok. Case 1 is the normal choice in general, but you would prefer 2 over 1 if it leads to better readability, e.g. in cases of an unusual, unexpected composition. I think you already know this, because you linked to Hyphen for compound nouns: Mathe-Wettbewerb or Mathewettbewerb?, and the answers there explain it quite well.

Case 3 is a common mistake, sometimes called "Deppenleerzeichen". You cannot use the space for word composition in German, although many people (presumably under the influence of the English language) do so.

Case 4 adds the wrong gender to the error in 3.

For the wording in that specific case: don't use Hackbraten, since this would refer to the meal you want to have in the end. As long as it was not yet cooked, you better use Hackfleisch. So it is Hackfleischmischung or even better (thanks @chirlu) Hackfleischmasse.