Description
Stuffed Italian Meatloaf is a juicy, cheesy, comforting dinner that bursts with Italian herbs, tomato flavor, and a center of melted mozzarella. This easy oven-baked dish comes together in minutes, serves 6, and pairs perfectly with marinara. Ideal for weeknights or Sunday dinners, it delivers bold flavor, kid-friendly appeal, and a hearty, sliceable presentation from simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or a mix of ground beef and ground turkey
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup marinara sauce (plus extra for serving)
- Optional: fresh parsley for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a loaf pan or baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, milk, Italian seasoning, basil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
- Spread the meat mixture onto a sheet of parchment and press into a large rectangle.
- Sprinkle mozzarella across the center, leaving the edges clear.
- Carefully roll the meat into a loaf shape, sealing the cheese inside.
- Place the meatloaf seam-side down in the pan and spread marinara sauce over the top.
- Bake 55–65 minutes, or until fully cooked and bubbling around the edges.
- Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Spoon extra warm marinara on top and garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can use half ground beef and half ground turkey for lean texture.
- Let the loaf rest 10 minutes before slicing for cleaner cuts.
- Serve with extra marinara for dipping.
- Leftovers refrigerate well for 2–3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-65 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/6 loaf)
- Calories: Approximately 320 per serving
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: Approximately 520 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
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