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    Home » Recipes » Italian Beef Recipes

    Italian Meatloaf Recipe

    Published: Apr 9, 2023 Modified: May 5, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Stuffed with gooey cheese and seasoned to perfection, this Italian Meatloaf recipe is a total game-changer. Kids love the flavors of this easy meatloaf recipe - and you'll love it, too! Ready in under 1 hour using simple ingredients.

    italian meatloaf sliced on a cutting board
    Jump to:
    • Meatloaf Recipe
    • Italian Meatloaf Ingredients
    • Recipe for Italian Meatloaf
    • Italian Meatloaf Recipe Tips
    • Italian Meatloaf Recipes FAQs
    • Meatloaf Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Meatloaf Recipe

    Meatloaf is one of my family's favorite comfort food dishes, and whenever we're craving something hearty and warm, this Italian meatloaf is our go-to dinner.

    Not only is this meatloaf topped with cheese, but it's also stuffed with it, too! Ooey, gooey melty mozzarella in the center makes this Italian-style meatloaf extra special. It's even soft and extra moist from the milk-soaked bread mixed in!

    If you love Italian meatballs, you are going to love this recipe! Serve this Italian meatloaf for dinner, and I doubt you'll even have enough leftovers to save from everyone wanting seconds. It's just that good!

    serving board of italian meatloaf sliced next to pasta and salad in separate bowls

    Italian Meatloaf Ingredients

    • Ground beef
    • Ground sausage
    • White bread
    • Milk of choice - we used whole milk
    • Eggs
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Garlic powder
    • Dried oregano
    • Italian breadcrumbs
    • Tomato sauce
    • Shredded mozzarella
    • Block of mozzarella (optional)
    ingredients for italian meatloaf with labels

    Recipe for Italian Meatloaf

    1. Preheat oven to 375℉. In a shallow bowl, add slices of bread and pour milk over top. Allow the bread to soak for about 5 minutes.
      pouring milk into container with bread
    2. While the bread is soaking, combine ground beef, ground sausage, garlic powder, dried oregano, Parmesan cheese, Italian breadcrumbs, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix well.
      beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasoning in bowl to make italian meatloaf mixture
    3. Squeeze any remaining milk out of the bread and add the bread to the meat mixture. Mix well.
      adding soaked bread to meatloaf mixture in bowl
    4. Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Add the meat to the loaf pan and spread it evenly.
      spreading italian meatloaf mix into baking dish
    5. Create a hollow line in the middle of the meat mixture and add blocks of mozzarella cheese. Cover back up with meat. (Optional, but stuffed meatloaf is the best!)
      adding cheese to center of meatloaf in dish
    6. Top with tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
      italian meatloaf covered with tomato sauce and cheese ready to bake
    7. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until the cheese is golden and melted. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
      baked italian meatloaf fresh out of the oven

    Italian Meatloaf Recipe Tips

    • Stuffing the meatloaf is optional, but it really is delicious and adds so much flavor. I recommend giving it a try!
    • If your meatloaf is browning too quickly, you can tent it with foil.
    • For smaller portions, you can split the mixture into individual mini loaf pans.
    • I recommend using whole milk in your meatloaf.

    Italian Meatloaf Recipes FAQs

    What is the secret to moist meatloaf?

    The secret to moist meatloaf is the milk-soaked bread added to the mixture. This adds so much tenderness to the loaf that will keep it nice and juicy. In addition, using milk with breadcrumbs and eggs helps keep meatloaf tender, too.

    Do you cook meatloaf covered or uncovered?

    Bake Italian meatloaf uncovered for 40 minutes; however, all ovens are different. The center of the meatloaf should read at least 160°F on a meat thermometer. If you notice it's browning too quickly before reaching that temperature, tent foil over the top to prevent it from browning further.

    What is the best binder for meatloaf?

    The best binder for meatloaf is called a panade, and is a mixture of starch and liquid; basically, it's a combination of eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs. This helps the meat maintain its shape when baked in addition to adding texture and flavor.

    serving board of italian meatloaf sliced with cheese at the center

    Meatloaf Recipes

    • Keto Meatloaf
    • Air Fryer Meatloaf
    • Meatloaf Seasoning
    • Meatloaf Glaze

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    overhead photo of italian meatloaf on a cutting board with gooey mozzarella cheese at the center
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    4.59 from 24 votes

    Italian Meatloaf Recipe

    Italian Meatloaf is an easy meatloaf recipe you will love! Stuffed with mozzarella cheese and seasoned to perfection, this will be your go-to meatloaf.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Keyword: Italian meatloaf, italian meatloaf recipe, italian meatloaf recipes, meatloaf recipe
    Servings: 8 slices of meatloaf
    Calories: 536kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • 2 Large bowls for soaking bread and combining meat mixture
    • 1 9 by 5 inch loaf pan
    • Cooking spray

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 pound ground sausage
    • 4 slices white bread
    • 1 cup milk of choice; we used whole milk
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
    • ½ cup tomato sauce
    • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    • ½ block mozzarella cheese optional, for stuffing the inside of the meatloaf

    See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375℉. In a shallow bowl, add slices of bread and pour milk over top. Allow the bread to soak for about 5 minutes.
      4 slices white bread, 1 cup milk
      pouring milk into container with bread
    • While the bread is soaking, combine ground beef, ground sausage, garlic powder, dried oregano, Parmesan cheese, Italian breadcrumbs, and 2 eggs in a large bowl. Mix well.
      1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground sausage, 2 eggs, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
      beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasoning in bowl to make italian meatloaf mixture
    • Squeeze any remaining milk out of the bread and add the bread to the meat mixture. Mix well.
      adding soaked bread to meatloaf mixture in bowl
    • Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Add the meat to the loaf pan and spread it evenly.
      spreading italian meatloaf mix into baking dish
    • Create a hollow line in the middle of the meat mixture and add blocks of mozzarella cheese. Cover back up with meat. (Optional, but stuffed meatloaf is the best!)
      ½ block mozzarella cheese
      adding cheese to center of meatloaf in dish
    • Top with tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
      ½ cup tomato sauce, ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
      italian meatloaf covered with tomato sauce and cheese ready to bake
    • Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until the cheese is golden and melted. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
      baked italian meatloaf fresh out of the oven

    Video

    Notes

    • Stuffing the meatloaf is optional, but it really is delicious and adds so much flavor. I recommend giving it a try!
    • If your meatloaf is browning too quickly, you can tent it with foil.
    • For smaller portions, you can split the mixture into individual mini loaf pans.
    • I recommend using whole milk in your meatloaf.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1000mg | Potassium: 481mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 446IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 3mg

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    « Beef Tenderloin Recipe
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    About Isabel Laessig

    Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and makes regular television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      love, love this idea. I've been making stuffed Italian meatloaf for decades. my family loved meatloaf night, and still does.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        October 25, 2022 at 11:26 am

        Thanks so much, Susan! This is absolutely one of our favorites. Stuffed meatloaf is so good!

        Reply

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