Parmesan meatloaf features a special nutty flavor by using parmesan cheese in almost every way possible to create a twist on a classic dish.
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this savory twist on a classic meatloaf. This parmesan meatloaf recipe is guaranteed to take your taste buds on a journey of pure delight.
Imagine sinking your teeth into tender, moist meatloaf packed with the rich and nutty goodness of parmesan cheese. The robust flavors of garlic and Italian herbs infuse every bite, then finished with a sweet marinara topping.
You can easily use parmesan cheese that’s been grated or shredded. But, for that deep nutty flavor, shredding or chopping chunks from the block is an experience in itself.
Don’t settle for ordinary meatloaf – when you can have something slightly more special. The only challenge you’ll face is resisting the temptation to have seconds.
How To Make Parmesan Meatloaf
Ingredients needed
- Ground beef
- Grated and shredded parmesan cheese
- Marinara sauce
- Onion
- Garlic
- Parmesan flavored breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Salt, garlic powder & pepper
Using fresh parmesan or buy it pre-prepped
This is personal preference but when you grate/shred it yourself and you choose quality parmesan the results are always better. Meaning you’ll get a much stronger parmesan and nutty flavor.
From my experience, I’ve found a store that has a parmesan rind tends to have good parmesan. Grated parmesan is great for garnishing but store-bought shredded parmesan can lack flavor.
Making the parmesan meatloaf recipe
- To start, you’ll need to sauté the onion and the garlic in a pan first. Cook them until they are browning and fragrant. Allow them to cool as you prep the rest of the recipe.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the breadcrumbs, shredded parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, egg and buttermilk. Mix to the point where everything is just combined, then add in the cooked onion and garlic. Cover the mix and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes to bring everything together. If you can sit it in the fridge for an hour or two that would be even better for the flavors.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- You can use a 9 inch loaf pan or you can shape the meatloaf by hand as I did in the photos then place on a sheet pan. Cover with the top with marinara sauce. Then, place in the oven for 60 minutes.
- At that point, check for doneness by your personal preference but I find the meatloaf to be best at medium-well. Add more time if needed.
- When the parmesan meatloaf is ready, remove it from the oven. Allow to rest for 20 minutes then top with grated parmesan cheese, slice then serve.
Great recipes to serve with parmesan meatloaf
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Parmesan Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 cup parmesan breadcrumbs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoon grated parmesan
Instructions
- To start, you'll need to sauté the onion and the garlic in a pan first. Cook them until they are browning and fragrant. Allow them to cool as you prep the rest of the recipe.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the breadcrumbs, shredded parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, egg and buttermilk. Mix to the point where everything is just combined, then add in the cooked onion and garlic. Cover the mix and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes to bring everything together. If you can sit it in the fridge for an hour or two that would be even better for the flavors.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉
- You can use a 9 inch loaf pan or you can shape the meatloaf by hand as I did in the photos then place on a sheet pan. Cover with the top with marinara sauce. Then, place in the oven for 60 minutes.
- At that point, check for doneness by your personal preference but I find the meatloaf to be best at medium-well. Add more time if needed.
- When the parmesan meatloaf is ready, remove it from the oven. Allow to rest for 20 minutes then top with grated parmesan cheese, slice then serve.