Italian Meatloaf is a tender, flavorful meatloaf made from a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage. Cooked in a rich tomato sauce and covered with a thick layer of Fontina cheese. So delicious!
It’s like eating a giant meatball! This is one of my favorite meatloafs. Scroll down for more meatloaf recipes.
The leftovers make a fantastic Meatloaf Sandwich.
The binding agents in this meatloaf are eggs and crushed Saltine crackers and they do a fantastic job of holding it together. It can be cut into nice sturdy slices which is one of the reasons it makes such a great meatloaf sandwich.
Saltines add so much more flavor to meatloaf than breadcrumbs. There’s a full sleeve of Saltine crackers in this Italian Meatloaf which seems like a lot. But trust me, it is just the right amount.
This meatloaf feeds alot of people. A family of 4 should get two meals out of it.
In addition to the thick layer of Fontina cheese on top, there’s Parmesan cheese added to the meatloaf mixture. The meatloaf cooks in a rich tomato sauce that comes most of the way up the meatloaf. Cooking it in tomato sauce really keeps it moist.
There’s a few crushed red pepper flakes added to the sauce and the meatloaf for a little heat. If you want more heat, double the amount in either the sauce or the meatloaf. Doubling both might be overpowering.
What To Serve With Italian Meatloaf:
- Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
- Southern-Style Green Beans
- Super Creamy Mac and Cheese
- Marinated Tomato, Cucumber, and Onion Salad
Try These Other Meatloaf Recipes:
- Classic Meatloaf
- Bourbon and Coke Meatloaf
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Cheesy Chipotle Meatloaf
- Old School Meatloaf
Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make.
Italian Meatloaf
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Meatloaf
- 35 saltine squares, one full sleeve
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teapsoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teapsoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup shredded fontina cheese or mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- To make the sauce, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a broiler-safe 9x13-inch pan.
- Place saltines in a large ziptop bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Stir together the saltines, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes. Stir again so that it forms a paste.
- Add all remaining ingredients EXCEPT fontina cheese and basil. Mix thoroughly.
- Transfer mixture to prepared dish and shape into a 9x5-inch oval. Pour sauce over meatloaf.
- Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.
- Uncover and sprinkle with fontina. Place under broiler until cheese is melted. Let rest 10 minutes. Spoon off any grease from tomato sauce. Slice meatloaf and sprinkle with basil.
Nutrition
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I’m so grateful for the way you’ve brought my thoughts to Italy Rugby. Your writing is a gift!
Made this for my family and it was a very big hit! Not to much ingredients and had everything on hand to make.
Followed recipe to the “T” and came out perfect very moist and delicious 😋 thanks for the recipe!
Best meatloaf I have ever made. So moist. My husband does not really like meatloaf but loves this one. It makes great sandwiches on hoggie rolls and heated.
Finally, I’ve discovered my go-to recipe! dino game
Really good doubled reciepe next time wont double sauce made to much real runny
Have this in the Oven as I type this. I saw almost the exact recipe on Test Kitchen and wanted to give it a try. Having it with Rice and some Garlic Bread and corn for the kid who likes corn, lol.
5 Star for sure! I was a little intimidated at first with so many ingredients. And…I need not have been at all. It sounded so good and looked so awesome, I made it for company. Not too smart, but good friends and I wanted something new. I can’t remember getting so many compliments! Great meal. The only thing I changed was adding a little more milk, maybe 1/4 cup. When mixing meatloaf, it felt a little dry. It was then perfect! Highly recommend. 😊
Tried stop eating it 10 mins out of the oven finally stop after it was half gone. I know I will have to double the recipe or make 2 of them next time! I mean it was ridiculously delicious. You heard of can’t eat just one Jays potato chip, Well you can’t stop with just 2 slices of this Meat Loaf.