Description
Comforting mozzarella stuffed meatloaf brings Italian-American cuisine to your dinner table with hearty flavors. Cheese-filled meat creates a delicious centerpiece that home cooks will savor and guests will appreciate.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (120 grams) breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Liquid and Fresh Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) marinara sauce (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center for even cooking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef with breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, Parmesan, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Lay out a parchment paper and gently spread the meat mixture into a uniform rectangular shape, maintaining an approximately 1/2-inch thickness.
- Distribute mozzarella cheese across the meat’s central region, leaving a small border around the edges to facilitate rolling.
- Carefully lift the parchment paper’s edge to assist in rolling the meat into a compact cylindrical form, ensuring the cheese remains enclosed within the meat.
- Transfer the rolled meatloaf to a lightly greased baking sheet or loaf pan, positioning the seam facing downward to prevent cheese leakage.
- Generously ladle marinara sauce over the meatloaf’s surface, covering it completely for enhanced flavor and moisture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, verifying doneness by checking that the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) using a meat thermometer.
- Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps stabilize the internal structure and makes slicing easier.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a lighter, healthier meatloaf.
- For a gluten-free version, replace breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like cheddar or provolone for unique flavor variations.
- Ensure the meat is evenly rolled to prevent cheese from leaking during baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg