Description
Ready to impress your family with a hearty, flavor-packed dinner? This Savory Italian Meatloaf with Cheese is your new go-to comfort meal. It’s a juicy meatloaf filled with melty mozzarella, topped with marinara, and seasoned with bold Italian herbs. Perfect for a quick dinner, a cozy weekend lunch, or meal prep! Packed with protein and flavor, it’s one of the best easy dinner ideas to keep in your recipe rotation.
Ingredients
1.5 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 large eggs
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons tomato paste
0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
0.5 cup marinara sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and Parmesan until well combined.
3. Divide the meat mixture in half. Press one half into a loaf pan or shape by hand on a lined baking sheet.
4. Create a shallow well in the center, fill it with shredded mozzarella, then cover with the other half of the meat. Seal edges tightly.
5. Spread marinara sauce evenly over the top.
6. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
7. Rest for 10 minutes, garnish with fresh parsley, and slice to serve.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat mixture—this keeps the loaf tender.
For extra flavor, sauté the garlic and onion before mixing.
Let the loaf rest before slicing so the cheese and juices don’t run.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Italian meatloaf, cheesy meatloaf, ground beef dinner, comfort food