Italian Meatloaf
A juicy, flavor-packed Italian Meatloaf that’s easy to make and sure to please the whole family.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- 9x5-inch loaf pan or baking sheet
- Aluminum foil (optional)
- Knife and cutting board
- Grater (for cheese, if needed)
- Meat thermometer (recommended)
- Medium saucepan (for marinara, if heating separately)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio is best
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs Plain, about 1 cup
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated, if possible
- 1 medium Onion Finely chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic Minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning Dried is fine
- 0.25 cup Milk About ¼ cup
- 1 cup Tomato sauce For topping & mixing
- to taste Salt
- to taste Pepper
- to taste Red pepper flakes Optional for a bit of zing
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Gently mix the ingredients together with your hands until just combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or shape it free-form on a baking sheet.
- Spread tomato sauce or marinara over the top of the meatloaf.
Cooking
- Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, checking for doneness at 45 minutes with an instant-read thermometer (should reach 160°F).
- Allow the meatloaf to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Optional variations include swapping ground beef for ground turkey or pork, adding chopped spinach or carrots, and using mozzarella or sun-dried tomatoes for stuffing.