Do you love meatloaf like I do? The flavor of Italian seasonings in meatloaf with cheese on the top is a bonus too… sometimes inside as well. It's an economical recipe you can make ahead and bake later too. I always use turkey, but great with beef too. Also, a dish to make with your kids, as they can add the ingredients as you mix them in!

Italian Meatloaf

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground turkey or lean beef
Or …1 pound ground turkey & 1 pound ground turkey sausage
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ cup pasta sauce
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
Optional: 1 cup shredded mozzarella
Olive oil or vegetable oil spray

Topping:

½ cup pasta sauce
¾ cup shredded mozzarella

Equipment Needed:

Medium mixing bowl
Chef knife
Cutting board
Liquid and dry measuring cups
Measuring spoons
13 x 9 baking pan

Preheat oven to 350 F (if baking immediately.)

Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food & I love it’s versatility! You could make it every day, for a month and never eat it the same twice… at least I wouldn't. Meatloaf When I was growing up it was always yummy and my dad always made it different. It was always beef back then, but now I usually make mine with ground turkey, chicken or ground lean beef depending on what's on sale or in the freezer. Start out by dicing and mincing your veggies and gathering your ingredients. This makes the prep go smoother as mixing with your hands is required and pre-prep helps you to not have to wash your hands every 2 minutes. I have used a stand up mixer to combine the ingredients too… if you’re not into mixing with your hands!

To start….

1) Place meat in medium mixing bowl. I used ground turkey and turkey Italian sausage in the one pictured. Had it in the freezer and love the flavor it gives the final product. Mix meats together with your CLEAN hands. Yes, your hands… it will be fine.

**A spatula works too, but takes twice as long and doesn't do as good a job. If using one ground meat, break it up into small chunks. This makes later mixing easier. Place all the ingredients in a stand up mixer with the paddle attachment too.

Second step…

Here's where it's handy to have a helper…

2) Add onions, garlic, egg and dry seasonings on to the top of the meat and mix with your hands until you no longer see visible chucks of seasonings.

3) Add bread crumbs and pasta sauce to meat mixture and continue to mix until bread crumbs are evenly distributed and a homogeneous mixture.

** If adding extra mozzarella cheese into meatloaf, add with bread crumbs and sauce.

Last Step…

4) Prepare baking pan by spreading a little olive oil (~2 tablespoons) on bottom of pan or using vegetable oil spray.

5) Pick ball of meatloaf mixture out of bowl and place into baking pan creating a oblong loaf about 3 inches thick with your hands. Spoon pasta sauce over top of loaf as shown above. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly on top of sauce.

**I usually sprinkle additional seasonings on top too… for meal appeal!

6) Bake for 60 – 75 minutes. When cheese melts and browns, as pictured below, or a ready read thermometer inserted in thickest center reads 165 F you're ready to eat! I usually serve with a dark green or vegetable medley, or pasta with sauce and a salad on the side… Yum!