Meatloaf is one of those food names that’s just terrible, and yet the outcome is delicious. As a child, I remember my mom calling me in for dinner and as I waited with bated breath to find out what we were having I was always disappointed when she said meatloaf. However, it wasn’t because of the meal, but rather the name just never seemed to match the gooey cheese, sweet tomato, and salty meat that was my moms meatloaf (she never made hers with ketchup).
As I’ve been writing this recipe I realized a few things, 1. a beautiful picture of meatloaf is near impossible and 2. you need a lot of meat to fill a loaf pan (which isn’t always necessary when you are feeding a small family). The finished meatloaf also makes a killer meatloaf sandwich the next day for any of you looking for something to take to work for lunch.
Ingredients
- 2-14 ounce packages of 85-15% ground beef (Trader Joes sells meat in 14oz pkgs)
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 1-teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 egg, lightly whisked
- ¼ cup (for mix) + ½ cup (for top) of pureed tomatoes (or tomato puree)
- ½ cup to 1-cup mozzarella cheese (depending if you like a lot or a little)
- Fresh cracked pepper
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl add the ground beef, tomato puree, parsley, basil, garlic powder, oregano, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
- Mix well either with your hands or a metal spoon. If you use your hand be sure to squeeze the mixture through your fingers to really mix everything well.
- Next, add the mixture to a loaf pan and form the meat into a loaf-shaped.
- Bake the meatloaf uncovered for 35 minutes.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and pour off the grease.
- Pour the remaining tomato puree on top and cover it with mozzarella cheese.
- Place the meatloaf back into the oven and bake it for another 25 minutes.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and serve with fingerling potatoes or mashed potatoes.
For more delicious recipes like this one try our pot roast recipe or our beef bourgeon recipe.
