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This delicious Italian meatloaf is a flavorful combination of all your meatloaf ingredient favorites like ground beef, veggies, breadcrumbs, and eggs, but has a rich and tangy marinara sauce all over it like you’d have with meatballs. In fact, you could say this recipe is like a giant meatball with lashings of sauce. It’s easy to make and goes well with your favorite Italian sides such as spaghetti or garlic bread (or both!) So, if you want to make something hearty, meaty and Italian but don’t want to shape individual meatballs, consider this quick and easy option instead.

A pan of Italian meatloaf in tomato sauce, garnished with parsley, surrounded by ingredients and kitchenware on a light surface.

Beef and mild sausage pair up with veggies, seasonings and more to make a wonderful Italian meatloaf bathed in tasty marinara sauce the whole family will enjoy!

If you’re an Italian food fan, you might also like to try gnocchi foil packets, classic Italian rice salad, homemade frittata, or a sweet ricotta pie.

An Italian baked meatloaf with tomato sauce and melted cheese, garnished with basil, served in a white baking dish.

Why You’ll Love This

Delicious: This Italian meatloaf is bursting with amazing Italian flavors such as Italian sausage, Italian cheese, marinara sauce, and more.
Simple to make: It’s so easy to make this meatloaf. In fact, it’s almost like a giant meatball but without all that scooping and rolling you need to do!
Customizable: You can mix and match the proteins in this dish. Perhaps you want to use all ground beef or all spicy sausage or a blend of your favorites – anything goes.

A plate with an Italian style meatloaf drizzled in tomato sauce.

Italian Style Meatloaf Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Meat: I like to use ground beef as well as mild Italian sausage but feel free to mix and match your meats.
Cheese: Italian blend cheese works well, or you can sub your favorites, using shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese, or whatever blend works for you.
Vegetables: This meatloaf has onion, carrot, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. If you don’t like one of those just leave it out and use a little more of one of the others.
Italian-style bread crumbs: These act as a binder, holding the meatloaf together. Regular bread crumbs would work too.
Herbs and spices: I find that fresh basil and fennel seeds add a wonderful flavor to this meatloaf. You can omit the fennel seeds if you aren’t a fan. Italian seasoning and freshly ground black pepper are also good.
Marinara sauce: It’s worth buying a good quality marinara sauce, as it’s a huge part of this recipe and using a cheap one won’t complement your homemade meatloaf as well.

Ingredients for Italian meatloaf arranged on a marble surface, including ground meat, vegetables, eggs, spices, cheese, and jars of sauce.

How to Make Italian Meatloaf

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mince the vegetables: Mince the vegetables and garlic in a food processor.
Cook them: Cook the minced vegetables in olive oil in a medium skillet for 5 minutes or until tender, then let them cool for 5 minutes.
Combine the meatloaf ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the basil, fennel seeds, and salt and pepper, then add the meats, breadcrumbs, minced vegetables, and a cup of cheese.
Shape your meatloaf: Use your hands to form an 8×4-inch meatloaf from the meat mixture.
Add to the baking dish: Spread a cup of marinara sauce over the base of your baking dish, put the meatloaf in the middle, and then spread the remaining tomato sauce over the top of the meatloaf.
Cook it: Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until the meatloaf is 165 degrees F in the center, adding the rest of the cheese on top 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
The finishing touches: When the cheese has melted, let the meatloaf rest before slicing and serving, garnished with more fresh basil if liked.

A skillet of Italian style meatloaf topped with cheese and tomato sauce, garnished with basil, beside ingredients like eggs, breadcrumbs, and green bell pepper on a marble surface.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Different meats: Mix and match any ground meats you want, such as spicy sausage, ground pork, ground turkey, or whatever else you want.
Spice it up: Use spicy sausage or add some chili powder or hot sauce to the meatloaf.

A plate of Italian meatloaf with a rich tomato sauce and shredded cheese, topped with basil leaves, beside a pepper grinder and a dish of the baked meatloaf in the background.

Serving Suggestions

Side dishes: A simple Italian salad, garlic bread, or a simple pasta dish would go well with this meatloaf, along with your favorite vegetables such as roasted carrots or asparagus. For a true Italian side, try giardiniera. Mashed potatoes are also great with meatloaf.
Dessert: Finish the meal with an Italian dessert such as lemon ricotta cookies, panna cotta, or amaretti cookies.

An Italian inspired meatloaf with melted cheese on top served in a skillet, surrounded by tomato sauce and garnished with basil.

How to Store Italian Meatloaf

Store: Keep leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: This meatloaf can be frozen whole or in portions for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Use the microwave to reheat the meatloaf or pop it in a hot oven until hot in the middle.

Baked Italian style meatloaf covered in tomato sauce, served in a round white dish alongside ingredients on a marble surface.

Top Tips

Finetune the texture: If your meatloaf mixture seems to be falling apart too much to get into the pan, mix in more Italian-style breadcrumbs, as these act as a binder.
Ideal baking dish: You can use any roasting pan, baking pan, oven dish, or rimmed baking sheet for this recipe. As long as it holds an 8-inch by 4-inch meatloaf, it’ll work.
Check the temperature: The best way to tell if the meatloaf is done is to use a meat thermometer. To be safe to serve, the meatloaf should be 165 degrees F in the center.

Overhead a plate of Italian meatloaf that is garnished with fresh basil.

Best Italian Meatloaf Recipe FAQs

Do you need a loaf pan for this recipe?

No, because the meatloaf is partly submerged in tomato sauce and because more will go on top along with cheese, so it’s best to use a rimmed baking sheet or a baking dish. You can make it in a loaf shape or, if you want to get creative, free form!

What’s a good way to serve up the leftovers?

You can enjoy it with whatever you had it with before, or you might like to make something different like a meatloaf sandwich which makes a tasty lunch.

An Italian meatloaf covered with melted cheese and garnished with basil, in a red sauce, served in a white skillet on a light tabletop.

Italian Meatloaf Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Italian Meatloaf

Beef and mild sausage pair up with veggies, seasonings and more to make a wonderful Italian meatloaf bathed in tasty marinara sauce the whole family will enjoy.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 Yellow onion, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 Carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Green bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 Stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 Cloves garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 eggs, large
  • ¼ Cup fresh basil, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • ½ Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 Pound lean ground beef
  • ½ Pound Italian sausage, mild, ground
  • Cup breadcrumbs, Italian-style
  • Cup shredded cheese, Italian cheese blend
  • 1 Cup marinara sauce, plus more for serving

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a large baking dish or rimmed sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Place the onion, carrots, bell pepper, celery, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until the vegetables are minced.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
  • Whisk the eggs, basil, salt, pepper, and fennel seeds in a large bowl.
  • Add ground beef, Italian sausage, bread crumbs, 1 cup cheese blend, and cooked vegetables to the egg mixture and mix with your hands until evenly combined. Form the meat mixture into an 8×4-inch loaf shape.
  • Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Carefully, place the meatloaf in the baking dish using a spatula to help.
  • Spread a couple of tablespoons of marinara sauce evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. During the last 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup cheese blend on top of the meatloaf. Continue baking until cooked through and the cheese is melted.
  • Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with more basil if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Finetune the texture: If your meatloaf mixture seems to be falling apart too much to get into the pan, mix in more Italian style breadcrumbs, as these act as a binder.
Ideal baking dish: You can use any roasting pan, baking pan, oven dish, or rimmed baking sheet for this recipe. As long as it holds an 8-inch by 4-inch meatloaf, it’ll work.
Check the temperature: The best way to tell if the meatloaf is done is to use a meat thermometer. To be safe to serve, the meatloaf should be 165 degrees F in the center.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 882mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1703IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 3mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

You’re going to love this Italian meatloaf if you’re a fan of Italian flavors. It’s a meaty, delicious dish with plenty of tomato sauce and cheese. If there are leftovers you can make a meatloaf sandwich or just reheat them for lunch the following day. Italian meatloaf is a family favorite because it’s such tasty comfort food and it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t love this delicious meal.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m over the moon with how delicious this dish is. It’s definitely going to be a regular on our dinner table!