Italian Meatloaf is a popular comfort food made with ground beef, tangy marinara sauce, Italian bread crumbs, Italian seasonings, eggs, and milk baked in a baking sheet-lined loaf pan. It is often topped with shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. You can also use Italian sausage or ground turkey for the meat mixture.
Another way to make your meatloaf mixture more flavorful is to add garlic, diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, or veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, and diced tomatoes. Many people also top their meat with a sauce made from tomato paste, barbecue sauce, or just ketchup. Toss it all in a large bowl, mix it up, and cook it at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F.
The world’s first meatloaf recipe
Nobody can completely agree on when and where the first meatloaf recipe originated. Some say it was in the fifth century in medieval Europe. It was a dish of diced meat scraps mixed with nuts, fruits, and seasonings. Another theory is that it is a version of the Dutch meatball. American meatloaf mixture is different than other countries’ recipes, but they were typically made with minced meat, veggies, milk, breadcrumbs, and herbs.
Leftovers in a bowl
Many people consider meatloaf to be a scrap heap of leftovers you have in your fridge. You can just toss everything in a mixing bowl and combine well before cooking in a loaf pan. Whether it is minced or ground chicken, turkey, pork, or beef. They all make delicious Italian meatloaf. Some recipes call for cooked veggies. You can saute onions and peppers over medium heat in a skillet to bring out more flavor.
Baked, pressure-cooked, air-fried, or slow-cooked
No matter what the ingredients, you can also choose from several different ways to cook your Italian meatloaf. Although the most traditional way is baking it in the oven, you can also use an air fryer, slow cooker, or instant pot. In fact, you can even wrap it in aluminum foil and cook it on the barbecue grill if you want to. Back in the old days, they always cooked over fire so why not?
What to serve with Italian meatloaf
- The most common side dish with Italian meatloaf is mashed potatoes. You can use whatever kind of potatoes you want including instant.
- Macaroni and cheese is another dish to serve. Any pasta shapes with melted cheese will work.
- There are all sorts of vegetables that go great with this dinner as well. Green beans, corn, peas, asparagus, sweet potatoes, or whatever you like.
- Instead of topping with tomato sauce or ketchup, try it with a layer of parmesan cheese for a rich and salty flavor.
- It also makes great leftovers. A meatloaf sandwich on homemade bread is a delicious lunch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a larger meatloaf for more people?
Although most people use a loaf pan for making meatloaf, you can certainly use a larger pan like a 13×9-inch baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil if you are serving a lot of people. Just try to make it as thick as a regular meatloaf so it does not cook too fast or dry out. Or you can just make two or three regular-sized meatloaves.
What keeps meatloaf from falling apart?
A crumbling meatloaf is so disappointing. Even if you did everything right, there is always the possibility that it will just fall apart. It could be that it did not have enough binding ingredients like eggs and bread crumbs. This is common when you add extra liquids like sauces or soups. If you are adding liquids, add more bread crumbs and another egg.
Why is my Italian meatloaf dry?
It is possible that you cooked it too long or your oven was too hot. It could also be dry if you use lean meat. Any kind of meat with a low-fat content can possibly give you dry meatloaf. You need a little bit of fat for juiciness. Also, do not put too many bread crumbs in your meatloaf. Instead, add another egg for a binder that also adds moisture.
Tips and Tricks
- Check your oven temperature before baking. Some ovens have a lower cooking point than others. Just get an oven thermometer and check it once in a while to be sure.
- Keep the ingredients balanced. As mentioned previously, adding more dry ingredients can cause a dry meatloaf, and too much moisture can make it fall apart. If you are adding extra liquids like marinara sauce or tomato paste, add some more bread crumbs. But do not use too many bread crumbs or it will be too dry. Try an extra egg instead.
- Although the internal temperature should be 160 degrees F, you can take it out when it reads 155 degrees F. It will continue to cook after you remove it from the oven. However, only do this if you are using ground beef. Not turkey or pork.
- Let your meat sit for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing so all the juices get absorbed back in.
- Be creative. Add whatever spices, herbs, and veggies you like.
