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Italian Meatloaf is pure comfort food! It is tender, juicy, and full of savory Italian flavor, with a rich marinara topping and optional melted mozzarella. It’s an easy twist on classic meatloaf that makes a hearty, delicious dinner.
This Italian-inspired meatloaf recipe is simple to put together and has lots of flavor without requiring anything complicated.
Pair it with Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Cheesy Creamed Spinach for a satisfying meal.
It’s a great option for a family dinner and makes delicious leftovers the next day. We love making meatloaf sandwiches!
Why You’ll Love This Italian Meatloaf
- Marinara, Parmesan, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic add lots of Italian flavor.
- The meatloaf stays tender and moist from the milk, eggs, breadcrumbs, and marinara sauce.
- You can make it with all ground beef or a beef and sausage meatloaf mixture of half beef and half Italian sausage.
- Mozzarella is optional, so you can make it cheesy if you like.
Italian Meatloaf Ingredients
This easy meatloaf recipe uses several classic Italian-inspired ingredients for lots of savory flavor.
Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need:
Olive Oil, Yellow Onion, Seasoned Italian Breadcrumbs, Milk, Eggs, Marinara Sauce, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Garlic, Italian Seasoning, Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Parmesan Cheese, Ground Beef, Mozzarella Cheese (optional).
Ground Beef – I use 85/15 ground beef to keep the meatloaf tender without making it too greasy. You can make it with all ground beef or make a beef and sausage meatloaf using half ground beef and half Italian sausage.
Marinara Sauce – Use a marinara sauce you enjoy since its flavor comes through. Part goes into the meat mixture and the rest is spread over the top during baking.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes – Drain oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes well before chopping. They add concentrated tomato flavor without adding much extra moisture.
Parmesan – Freshly grated Parmesan works especially well here, but packaged grated Parmesan can also be used.
Tips for Making Italian-Style Meatloaf
- Let the cooked onion cool before adding it to the meat mixture.
- Mix the breadcrumb mixture well before adding the beef so the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Mix the ground beef just until combined. Overmixing can make meatloaf dense.
- Shape the loaf evenly so it cooks at the same rate throughout.
- Use an instant-read thermometer. The center should reach 160°F.
How to Make Italian Meatloaf
Sauté the onion until softened. Mix the breadcrumbs with the milk and eggs.
Stir in the seasonings, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, marinara, and cooked onion. Add the ground beef and mix just until combined.
Gently mix the meatloaf mixture, then shape the meatloaf into an even loaf on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake, add the marinara topping, then finish with mozzarella if using. Continue baking until the center reaches 160°F.
What to Serve with Italian Meatloaf
Serve with Baby Potatoes, Green Beans, Broccoli, or try my Blueberry Spinach Salad or Flavorful Boiled Corn on the Cob.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator: Store covered for 3 to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze well-wrapped slices or portions for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Microwave individual slices or warm covered in a 325°F oven until heated through.
More Meatloaf Recipes
Classic Meatloaf Recipe
Tasty Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Italian Meatloaf
Equipment
- Parchment Paper or Foil
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- 1 medium Yellow Onion diced
- 1 ¼ cups Seasoned Italian Breadcrumbs or finely crushed crackers
- 1 cup Milk
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 ½ cups Marinara Sauce divided
- ¼ cup Chopped Sun-Dried Tomatoes drained
- â…“ cup Chopped Fresh Basil
- 4 large Garlic Cloves pressed or minced
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes or to taste
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 pounds Ground Beef 85/15, or use half ground beef and half Italian sausage
Topping
- 1 cup Marinara Sauce reserved from above
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese optional
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Gather everything you will need and measure the ingredients.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Cook the Onion
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- When the skillet is hot, add the olive oil and diced onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and lightly golden.
- Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the Meatloaf Mixture
- Add the breadcrumbs and milk to a large mixing bowl. Stir together and let the mixture sit for a minute or two to absorb the milk.
- Add the eggs and mix well.
- Add ½ cup of the marinara sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Parmesan, and the cooked onion.
- Mix well, making sure there are no large clumps of breadcrumbs.
- Add the ground beef and gently mix with your hands or a fork just until everything is evenly combined. Try not to overmix.
Form the Meatloaf
- Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking sheet.
- Shape it into a loaf approximately 9 inches long, 5 inches wide, and about 3 inches tall. Keep the thickness as even as possible so the meatloaf cooks evenly.
Bake the Meatloaf
- Bake on the middle oven rack for 40 minutes.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the remaining 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the top.
- Return it to the oven and continue baking for about 15 to 25 minutes, or until the center of the meatloaf reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Add the Mozzarella
- If using mozzarella, sprinkle it over the top during the final 5 minutes of baking.
- For a more browned and bubbly cheese topping, you can instead add the mozzarella after the meatloaf is fully cooked and place it briefly under the broiler. Watch it closely so the cheese does not burn.
Rest and Serve
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
- Serve hot with additional warm marinara sauce, if desired.
Notes
- For extra Italian flavor, use 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage.
- If using plain breadcrumbs or crackers instead of seasoned Italian breadcrumbs, consider adding a little extra Italian seasoning.
- Use an instant-read thermometer rather than relying only on baking time. The center of the meatloaf should reach 160°F.
