How can you make a dinner staple like a meatloaf even better? Add cheese of course! This flavorful easy Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf is packed with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese, making this a family-friendly recipe you'll turn to again and again!
Growing up I didn't know that you could have meatloaf that wasn't stuffed full of cheese, it was just the way my mom always made it. Fast forward to marriage and the first time I made this delicious mozzarella meatloaf recipe my husband couldn't stop gushing about it!
This recipe is the ultimate comfort food, serve alongside mashed potatoes for the perfect homestyle meal!
Why I love this recipe
- There is a lot of wiggle room in this meatloaf recipe to allow for you to customize it.
- You can add hidden veggies! My mom loved to add chopped veggies in the meatloaf. You can use any moist vegetable that is finely chopped: bell peppers, carrots, zucchini whatever you have on hand!
- Ummm....hello, CHEESE! 🧀
Ingredients
- ground beef
- yellow onion
- bread crumbs
- egg
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt & pepper
- basil
- oregano
- milk
- mozzarella cheese
Step by step
This recipe is so simple!
- Mix the ground beef in a large bowl with breadcrumbs, egg, chopped onion, a little milk and spices.
- Divide the meat mixture in half and press half into the loaf pan.
- Place the cheese over top of the meat then add the rest of the meat and press down.
- An hour in the oven bakes it up perfectly and you'll never guess the ooey-gooey goodness waiting just below the surface!
Variations
- use a mix of ground pork and ground sirloin instead of regular ground beef
- customize the flavors by experimenting with adding garlic, chopped parsley, black pepper, chopped mushrooms, etc
- Top with shredded Parmesan cheese to give even more cheesy flavor!
FAQs
No! I actually don't glaze my meatloaf at all. If you do want a glaze I recommend combining 4 tablespoons of ketchup, 2.5 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon of dry mustard in a small bowl. Brush over the meatloaf the last ten minutes of cooking.
The color of the meatloaf doesn't tell you if it is fully cooked. Meatloaf must be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. So long as you use a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached this temperature, it is safe to eat your meatloaf even if a little pink.
In order for your meatloaf recipe to stay together, you need to include enough binders such as egg and breadcrumbs. Too little and you'll end up with crumbly meatloaf. Meatloaf will also fall apart if it is overcooked.
I prefer mozzarella cheese because it's perfect melting but you can use your favorites. Cheddar cheese, gouda, provolone, pepper jack, and havarti cheeses would all taste wonderful in this recipe!
Yes, meatloaf is very freezer-friendly. Freeze it by the loaf or save individual servings of leftover meatloaf to reheat and eat later. Simply wrap it in two layers of aluminum foil and place in a freezer bag up to 3 months. To thaw place overnight in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze in the same manner before cooking. Thaw before cooking and you may have to extend the cooking time when cooking for a chilled state.
You might also like these other comfort food ground beef recipes:
If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Print
Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: main course
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
How can you make a dinner staple like a meatloaf even better? Add cheese of course! This flavorful easy Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf is packed with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese, making this a family-friendly recipe you'll turn to again and again!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅓ cup milk
- 8 ounce mozzarella cheese, cut into chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire, spices and milk. Knead with hands until combined.
- Divide the meatloaf in half. Press one half into the prepared pan.
- Place the cheese down the center of the meat. Top with remaining beef and press down to seal sides.
- Bake for one hour in preheated oven.
- Let rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Meat should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit when fully cooked. If the temperature is reached it is ok if slightly pink in color.
- Lean ground beef is preferred. Higher fat percentage beef will cause there to be grease in the pan after baking, pour off before slicing if necessary.
- Keep leftovers in fridge up to 3 days.
- Freeze meatloaf by wrapping in two layers of foil and placing in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Keywords: cheese stuffed meatloaf
Michelle says
Is this actually a 9x13" pan? The pictures make it seem like a loaf pan...
Melissa Riker says
You are 100% right, that was a typo in the recipe card, thank you for point it out!
Michelle says
Thanks for confirming!
I made this on Christmas for my boyfriend and his dad - everyone loved it! Some of the cheese escaped a bit from one end, so next time I just need to make sure it's sealed better. Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Hanna says
Really good, my kids loved it
★★★★★
Marta says
LOVE it!! I'll never go back to regular meatloaf again!
★★★★★
Jenny says
My husband loved it!
Melissa Riker says
That's great!
Marta says
Family loved it!
★★★★★