Description
Savory mozzarella stuffed meatloaf brings comfort and excitement to classic dinner tables with its gooey cheese center and hearty meat blend. Rich Italian-inspired flavors promise a delightful meal that satisfies hunger and warms hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 whole egg
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Aromatic Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375F (190C), ensuring proper temperature for even cooking.
- Create meat mixture by thoroughly blending ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, milk, minced onion, crushed garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until uniformly combined.
- Lay out meat mixture on parchment paper, gently stretching into a rectangular shape approximately 1/2 inch thick.
- Distribute shredded mozzarella across meat surface, maintaining a small uncoated border to prevent cheese leakage during rolling.
- Carefully transform meat into a compact cylindrical roll, meticulously sealing edges to trap cheese within the meat’s interior.
- Transfer rolled meatloaf to greased loaf pan or baking sheet, positioning seam facing downward to maintain structural integrity.
- Optional: Brush ketchup across meatloaf’s exterior for enhanced flavor and attractive glazed appearance.
- Roast in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, monitoring internal temperature until it reaches 160F (70C), ensuring complete meat doneness.
- Allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after removing from oven, enabling juices to redistribute and facilitating cleaner slice presentation when serving.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a lighter meatloaf texture.
- Chill the mozzarella before stuffing helps prevent cheese from completely melting out during baking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to keep the meatloaf tender and prevent a tough, dense result.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like cheddar or provolone for unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg