Italian Meatloaf
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Think of this Italian meatloaf as one big giant meatball, packed with familiar flavors but on a grander, more satisfying scale.
My family loves this delicious Italian meatloaf that is essentially one big giant meatball, or an Italian version of my classic meatloaf. It’s comforting and satisfying, and the smell of it baking in the oven always lures everyone to the kitchen. I serve it with a big Italian salad and Parmesan smashed potatoes, but it is also delicious with pasta or creamy polenta. If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, the meatloaf is even better the next day, sliced and topped with melted cheese in a warm sandwich.
To make the recipe quick and easy, I use a food processor to chop the vegetables. I also cheat and use a good-quality store-bought marinara sauce; the recipe only calls for 3/4 cup, so there is no need to make it from scratch. It’s easy to make two meatloaves, so you might as well—one to freeze and the other to bake straight away.
Table of Contents
“So I made this meatloaf on a whim…My husband and my in-laws LOVED it. I was so proud!!”
What You’ll Need To Make Italian Meatloaf
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by chopping the vegetables. I use a food processor, which makes it quick and easy. Always rough chop the veggies before putting them in the machine, otherwise they won’t chop evenly.
You want to pulse until the vegetables are finely chopped but not puréed — this makes for a nicely textured meatloaf.
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet and cook the vegetables until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the eggs with the Worcestershire sauce, basil, salt and pepper.
Whisk to combine.
Add the meat, bread crumbs, cheese, and cooked vegetables.
Mix with your hands until well combined.
Shape the meat into a 9×5-inch loaf on a greased, foil-lined baking sheet. I prefer to “free-form” it rather than cook it in a loaf pan — that way, the fat cooks out and there’s always enough well-browned crust to go around.
Top with marinara sauce, letting a bit drip down the sides.
Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, until cooked through, then scrape away any fat that accumulates around the meatloaf.
Slice the meatloaf and serve.
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Italian Meatloaf
Think of this Italian meatloaf as one big giant meatball, packed with familiar flavors but on a grander, more satisfying scale.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 pounds meatloaf mix (or use 1½ pounds 85% lean ground beef plus ½ pound ground pork)
- ⅔ cup Italian-style bread crumbs
- ¾ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- ¾ cup marinara sauce, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the vegetables are minced. (Alternatively, you can mince all of the vegetables by hand.)
- Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the minced vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown. Let cool until just warm.
- In a bowl large enough to hold all of the ingredients, whisk the eggs with the basil, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.
- Add the meat, bread crumbs, cheese, and cooked vegetables to the egg mixture and mix with your hands until evenly combined.
- Form the meat mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf shape directly on the prepared baking sheet. Spread the marinara sauce evenly over top, letting it drip a bit down the sides.
- Bake for 65 for 70 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F in the middle of the meatloaf. Let the meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes. Scrape any fat away from the edges of the meatloaf (it will ooze out and brown while baking), then use a wide spatula to transfer the meatloaf to a cutting board or serving platter. Slice and serve with more marinara sauce on the side, if desired.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked meatloaf can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, defrost it in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then reheat it in a 300°F oven until hot in the middle. You can also freeze the meatloaf for up to 2 months before baking. Wrap the shaped loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil. Add the marinara sauce after defrosting, when you are ready to bake and serve.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 585
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Sugar: 4g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Sodium: 966mg
- Cholesterol: 180mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Wow Jenn! Another keeper recipe. I’ve made a lot of meatloaves over the years, but this was one of the best. Adding it into the rotation. Thank you!
This is my new go to meatloaf! Turns out perfectly every time:)
I have now turned my youngest daughter on to the OUAC website as her go-to for recipes (besides mom!) She tried this meatloaf recipe a few days ago for her and her boyfriend and LOVED it! She followed the recipe to the letter and said it turned out great, was nice and moist and flavorful.
Yesterday was a chilly Sunday evening and I was looking to make a great old fashion comfort food dish for a chill Sunday dinner. Look no further. I found this wonderful meatloaf recipe to make and thought it would be ideal to pair it with your potatoes au gratin recipe. …..This meatloaf recipe was simply amazing and so easy to make, it is a classic! Once again thank you Jenn for all your incredible dishes.
We were craving meatloaf last night so what do I do – onceuponachef.com is always my first stop and this recipe did not disappoint!! Thank you so much Jenn!
Could you mix all of the meatloaf ingredients together the nite before, place it in a bowl in the fridge but then not cook it until the next day?
Yes, that should work Marny. Enjoy!
This meatloaf was delicious and eaten enthusiastically by my two young-ish kiddos, who are good eaters generally but tend to resist new recipes. I couldn’t find meatball mix and used one pound each 85% lean organic beef and pork. The fat baked off nicely, and the loaf was flavorful and moist. My only note is that it was quite dense and filling….one slice goes a long way.
P.s. I am 5 for 5 with your recipes and coming back for more! Thanks for a great site!
Hi. I’ve just stumbled across this recipe and thought I would give it a try. Meatloaf isn’t something we’re big on here in England but it looks scrummy so thought I would give it a try. We don’t have Marinara sauce here – but we do have various jars of pasta sauces – do you know a good substitute or what is in a Marinara sauce so I can look for something similar? Many thanks.
Hi Jacqueline, Marinara sauce is a red sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs, so if you can find a pasta sauce resembling that, it should work well. Hope you enjoy!
pork shank receipe please
Hi Dorothy, I will add a pork shank recipe to my list of recipes to potentially develop. Thanks for the suggestion as I am always looking for new inspiration!
This recipe was easy to follow and the results were moist and delicious! I did not have anything but 80% lean ground beef and decided to give it a try. I am looking forward to trying it again following it with the exacts meats called for. A definite keeper. Thank you for another terrific recipe!