The Best Italian Meatloaf

Let me introduce you to The Best Italian Meatloaf recipe you’re ever going to need. Flavorful spices and Parmesan cheese push this meatloaf over the top. It’s definitely a family-fave!

My grandma Florence used to make The Best Italian Meatloaf! I have never even met my grandma because she passed a year before I was born, but I’m so glad I get to make all of her recipes. They were handed down to my mom and my aunts and then to me and my cousins.

I believe the secret to this recipe is adding a lot of cheese. My mom always says, there’s never too much cheese! And it’s true.

I like to use ground chuck for meatloaf because it has a higher fat percentage than the ground beef from leaner primal cuts. This extra fat makes ground chuck better for meatloaf, meatballs and burgers. It also holds it shape very well and is the most flavorful.

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp dried parsley, or 3 tbsp of fresh parsley
• 1-1 1/2 cups (135g) grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (We prefer Romano.)
• 1 medium yellow onion (150-170g), chopped
• 1 1/2 lbs (680g) ground chuck (You can also use a leaner cut of meat, but I find the ground chuck to be more flavorful.)
• 5 slices of stale sandwich bread (If you don’t have stale bread, you can leave it on the counter for a couple of hours to stale.)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Chop onion and set aside.
• Add salt and pepper to two eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat until combined.
• Add garlic powder, parsley and Romano cheese and beat until combined.
• Add chopped onion to egg mixture and stir until combined.
• Add the ground chuck and mix with a fork until all of the ingredients are mostly incorporated.
• Using two pieces of bread at a time, wet all sides of the bread and then squeeze some of the water out of the bread. You want the bread to be mushy. Break the bread up with your fingers and add it to the bowl.
• Mix the bread and all ingredients together with your hands until completely combined.
• Shape meat into a loaf and put into a glass or metal baking dish. I used an 8 x 8-inch glass baking dish.
• Bake meatloaf for 1-1 1/2 hours until done in the middle. The internal temperature should be 160° F.
• Remove meatloaf from oven and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.
• Slice meatloaf into 8 slices.
• Serve with your favorite brown gravy and enjoy!

The Best Italian Meatloaf

 

Let me introduce you to The Best Italian Meatloaf recipe you’re ever going to need. Flavorful spices and Parmesan cheese push this meatloaf over the top. It’s definitely a family-fave!

 

• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp dried parsley (If using fresh parsley, you will need 3 tablespoons.)
• 1 1/2 cups (135g) grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (We prefer Romano.)
• 1 medium (150-170g) yellow onion
• 1 1/2 lbs (680g) ground chuck (You can also use a leaner cut of meat, but I find the ground chuck to be more flavorful.)
• 5 slices stale sandwich bread (If you don’t have stale bread, you can leave the bread on the counter for a couple of hours to stale. )

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Chop onion and set aside.

3. Add salt and pepper to two eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat until combined.

4. Add garlic powder, parsley and Romano cheese and beat until combined.

5. Add chopped onion to egg mixture and stir until combined.

6. Add the ground chuck and mix with a fork until all of the ingredients are mostly incorporated.

7. Using two pieces of bread at a time, wet all sides of the bread and then squeeze some of the water out of the bread. You want the bread to be mushy. Break the bread up with your fingers and add it to the bowl.

8. Mix the bread and all ingredients together with your hands until completely combined.

9. Shape meat into a loaf and put into a glass or metal baking dish. (I used an 8 x 8-inch glass baking dish.)

10. Bake meatloaf for 1-1 1/2 hours until done in the middle. The internal temperature should be 160° F.

11. Remove meatloaf from oven and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

12. Slice meatloaf into 8 slices.

13. Serve with your favorite brown gravy and enjoy!

Store leftover meatloaf covered in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Meatloaf can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight freezer bag or container.

Main Course

Italian

Dinner, Ground Beef, Italian Meatloaf, Meatloaf

This recipe is another great comfort food dinner and is great served with your favorite gravy and mashed potatoes! You might want to add something green along with it as well. I try to be good!

If you’re in the mood for something sweet for later, check out my no bake peanut butter pie!! Everyone will love it!

Sweet regards,

Michele

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