Italian Meatloaf With Parmesan Cheese Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 02/10/23
Italian meatloaf recipe

The Spruce

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 80 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
396 Calories
22g Fat
11g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 396
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 9g 43%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 573mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 4mg 19%
Calcium 113mg 9%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 618mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This meatloaf takes on Italian flavor with the addition of Parmesan cheese and an Italian herb blend. Serve this flavorful meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn or green beans for a fabulous everyday meal.

The meatloaf is made with a combination of lean ground beef and ground pork. Feel free to use all ground beef in the meatloaf, or use 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef and 1/2 pound of ground pork. The pork adds extra flavor and moisture to the loaf. Bulk Italian sausage may be substituted for the ground pork.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon marjoram

  • 1 dash dried rubbed sage

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 pound ground pork

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce, divided

  • 3/4 cup seasoned fine breadcrumbs

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 2 to 4 tablespoons for topping

  • 2 large eggs, beaten

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

  • 2 tablespoons dried minced onion

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Italian meatloaf
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  2. Heat oven to 350 F.

  3. Combine 1/2 teaspoon each dried leaf basil, oregano, and marjoram, and a dash of dried rubbed sage for the Italian seasoning.

    Add spices
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  4. Combine the ground meats, about half of the tomato sauce, the bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic, onion, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir or mix until blended.

    Combine ground beef
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  5. Pack into a lightly oiled loaf pan.

    Pack meat into pan
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  6. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

    Bake
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  7. Carefully pour off the excess accumulated fat, and spread the remaining tomato sauce over the loaf; sprinkle with a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.

    Pour cheese on meatloaf
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  8. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer.

    Bake again
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  9. Turn out of the pan, slice, and serve.

Tips

  • To keep the meatloaf from baking in the drippings, use a meatloaf pan with a rack insert. 
  • Don't overmix the meatloaf mixture. Use your hands or put all of the ingredients in a large food storage bag to mix.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the ground pork with mild Italian sausage without casings or use partly ground veal in the loaf.
  • Use 1/3 cup of finely chopped onion instead of dried minced onion.
  • Overlap 3 or 4 mozzarella cheese slices over the final topping of tomato sauce, and then bake the meatloaf for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
  • Use soft breadcrumbs instead of fine breadcrumbs for a moister meatloaf. 
  • Substitute some grated carrot or potato for part of the ground meat. It's a good way to hide vegetables from the kids, and the loaf will be slightly lower in calories.