Parmesan Meatloaf

         Meatloaf has always gotten such a bad rap. I am guessing some mother’s did not know how to make a proper meatloaf. Whenever my mother made meatloaf, we all screamed for joy! Meatloaf is true not that much different from a good hamburger.

Meatloaf is a very versatile meal. You can virtually mix the meat with leftover vegetables, potatoes, or anything! You can always guarantee it will taste awesome.

            When I say versatile, I mean seriously! There are so many ways that you could prepare meatloaf. Some of my favorites would be Sweet and sour meatloaf and of course this Parmesan Covered meatloaf!

I used my mother’s original recipe, it was so good, and I made a couple of small changes to make it better than that. It is such an amazing meatloaf I cannot begin to explain how tender and juicy it is on the inside, along with the perfect tangy flavor on the outside.

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Can I use a combination of meats?

Absolutely. I would use half lean ground beef and the other half ground pork.

            Can I freeze meatloaf?

You can freeze meatloaf before baking it. Prepare the meatloaf, place it in a loaf pan and top it with a tangy glaze. To bake it, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bake as usual.

            Can I make a meatloaf on a baking sheet?

As long as the baking sheet has sides, you can do so. Even with lean meat, there will be some grease that comes from the meat. Without sides, the grease will drip into the oven. Not pleasant!!

            Why does my meatloaf fall apart?

There are a couple of reasons this may happen. 1.) You did not use an adequate amount of binding ingredients or 2.) You overbaked the meatloaf. You only need to bake a meatloaf for 50 to 55 minutes. Also, it is always recommended to let your meatloaf rest for 5 or 10 minutes before you slice it.

What do you need to make Parmesan Meatloaf

            1 pound lean ground beef

            1 pound lean ground turkey

            2 eggs

            ½ tsp basil

            ½ tsp dried thyme

            ½ tsp salt

            ¼ tsp ground black pepper

            ½ dried oregano

            1 or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

            1 onion, finely chopped

            ¼ cup Italian flavored breadcrumbs

            ½ cup grated parmesan

            ½ cup Italian cheese, shredded

            ½ cup marinara

            Fresh parsley for garnish

How to make Parmesan Meatloaf

FIRST STEP:

Preheat the oven to 350*

Lightly grease a loaf pan

SECOND STEP:

In a large bowl combine the meats, add the eggs, breadcrumbs and spices, parmesan cheese

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

Do not overmix the meat, it will become tough and chewy

THIRD STEP:

Place the meat into a loaf pan and top with the marinara sauce

Place the loaf pan on top of a baking tray lined with aluminum foil

FOURTH STEP:

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese and a little more parmesan cheese

a)

b)

FIFTH STEP:

Bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let the meatloaf rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!

YUM!