Hello everyone! I’ve got a great recipe for you! Confession – I’m not real crazy about meatloaf but my Husband loves it. This Italian Style Meatloaf recipe changed my mind though! Basically, if you like meatballs, you’ll like this!
We serve ours with mashed potatoes and green beans. Still keeping it somewhat traditional. I always make this on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Cleaning is just easier that way. Also, I just make one big rectangle about an inch – inch and a half high. You can make two smaller ones if you’d like. Just adjust baking time if need be.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 bell pepper, seeded, diced (I use orange or red)
1/2 onion, diced
2 teaspoons (about 3 cloves) minced garlic
2 pounds ground meat (I mix 1 lb each turkey and lean ground beef)
2 eggs
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried (you can also use dried Oregano)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup marinara sauce, divided
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat and add the peppers, onions and garlic. Saute until just soft, remove to a plate and let cool.
In the meantime, combine all of the ingredients except for 1/2 of the marinara sauce. Add the pepper mixture once cooled and mix until just combined.
Pack the meatloaf onto a large parchment covered cookie sheet, approximately 1-1 1/2 inch thick. You could also use an oiled loaf pan if you’d like. Top with the remaining marinara making sure to spread evenly over the top.
Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F in the middle of the meatloaf. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve.
