Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf

Say good-bye to boring, flavorless meatloaf and make Pizza Meatloaf instead. Made with pizza seasonings and stuffed with cheese, this recipe for Meatloaf is filled with incredible flavor and simply the best meatloaf you will ever eat!

Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf is an easy recipe that will delight even the pickiest of eaters. Serve with a side of Parsley Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans, for a simple, hearty family meal.

My mom's recipe for meatloaf is the BEST recipe for Meatloaf.

Made with a combination of Italian sausage, pizza sauce, Italian seasonings, and lots of cheese, this Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf is reminiscent of pizza not only in flavor but in the way even the pickiest eaters devour it and beg for second servings.

Ingredients Needed

• Meat: I suggest using a combination of lean ground beef with ground Italian Sausage. Feel free to use ground turkey in place of the beef and/or turkey or chicken sausage in place of the pork sausage.
• Pizza Sauce: If you don't have pizza sauce on hand, feel free to use a good quality jarred spaghetti sauce or homemade spaghetti sauce.
• Bread Crumbs: Use unseasoned bread crumbs to help bind the meatloaf together. I prefer the texture of panko breadcrumbs, but traditional breadcrumbs work as well.
• Cheese: Shredded Mozzarella is the best cheese to stuff the meatloaf with, as it melts really well and the flavor lends itself perfectly to the seasonings in the meatloaf. If you don't have Mozzarella cheese on hand, use sliced provolone cheese or a blend of shredded Italian cheeses.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step One: Combine Ingredients

The order in which you combine the ingredients is KEY in determining how tender and flavorful the resulting meatloaf will be. It is essential to mix the seasonings and binding ingredients together BEFORE adding the meat, so all the flavors are evenly distributed without having to overmix the meat.

• In a large bowl, mix together the pizza sauce, seasonings, egg, and bread crumbs until well combined.
• Add in the sausage and ground beef and gently mix into the binders to just combine. Do NOT overmix the meat or the meatloaf will be tough and dry after baked.  I often find it is best to use your hands to evenly mix the meatloaf mixture.

Step Two: Stuff the Meatloaf

• On wax or parchment paper, flatten out the meat into a rectangular shape (about 6 by 10 inches.)
• In the center of the meat mixture, cover with cheese.
• Roll the meatloaf into the shape of a loaf, with the cheese being in the center of the loaf.
• Place the stuffed meatloaf onto a broiler pan.
• Spread pizza sauce on top of the meatloaf and sprinkle with additional cheese.

Step Three: Bake

• Bake meatloaf for 1 hour, or until the center reaches 165 degrees.
• Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• Leftover meatloaf can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can wrap the meatloaf in foil and then place it into a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and warm through in a 350-degree oven or microwave.
• I highly recommend baking your meatloaf on a broiler pan to let the fat drain away as it is rendered while the meatloaf cooks.

More Family Favorite Dinner Recipes

• Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Noodles
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Cheesy Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

If you tried this Stuffed Meatloaf, I would love for you to leave a comment below. I love hearing how your family enjoys these recipes!

Stuffed Meatloaf

This Stuffed Meatloaf is made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and pizza seasonings and stuffed with cheese for the BEST Meatloaf recipe.

4.7 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 253kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound lean ground beef
• ▢ ½ pound Italian sausage
• ▢ 1 cup pizza sauce divided
• ▢ ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• ▢ 2 eggs whisked
• ▢ 1 teaspoon oregano
• ▢ 2 tablespoons dried parsley
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ▢ 8 ounces 1 cup shredded or sliced Mozzarella or Provolone cheese, divided

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix together eggs, bread crumbs, salt, oregano, parsley, parmesan, and ⅓ cup pizza sauce together until well combined.
• Add in ground beef and sausage and gently combine, being careful to not overmix your meatloaf mixture.
• Flatten and top with ⅔ cup mozzarella or provolone cheese.
• Roll meat around cheese and shape into a loaf.
• Place meat on broiler pan or loaf pan and top with remaining sauce and cheese.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until the center reaches 165 degrees.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes and then slice and serve.

Equipment Needed

• Roasting Pan with Rack

Notes

For gluten-free meatloaf, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or oats in place of the regular breadcrumbs.

For the meat: Use any type of ground meat (beef, chicken, or turkey) and any type of Italian sausage (pork, chicken, or turkey). Instead of using a combination of ground meat and sausage, use 1.5 pounds of ground meat and add in an additional teaspoon each of garlic, red pepper flakes, and onion powder, to account for the flavor lost from the Italian sausage.

Leftover meatloaf can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can wrap the meatloaf in foil and then place it into a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and warm through in a 350-degree oven or microwave.

I highly recommend baking your meatloaf on a broiler pan or roasting pan with a rack to let the fat drain away as it is rendered while the meatloaf cooks.

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 956mg | Potassium: 539mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 15.2mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 6.9mg

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