This Classic Italian Meatloaf, or polpettone, is made with Parmesan, Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, and sautéed onions, then baked with marinara sauce. My mom made it on weeknights throughout the school year, and it's still the kind of comforting dinner I love serving my own family (and the one I ask her to make when she visits)!
Looking for another delicious Italian Family Meal? Try Italian Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin or Italian Pork Roast!
A Quick Look at The Recipe
- ✅Recipe Name: Italian Meatloaf (Polpettone)
- ⏲️Ready in: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 👪Makes: 8 servings
- 📋Main ingredients: Meatloaf mix, milk, parmesan, Italian breadcrumbs.
- ⭐Why You'll Love This Recipe: This is a classic Italian-American meatloaf recipe. My brothers and I would fight for the last piece of this moist and tender main dish, perfect for weeknights.
Jump to:
Why This Italian Meatloaf
- Tender and savory. This Italian meatloaf, or polpettone, is like one big, tender meatball. See the difference between baked and fried meatballs.
- Easy to prep ahead. Assemble it a day in advance, then bake with tomato sauce or homemade marinara.
- A family weeknight staple. My mom made this on weeknights throughout the school year, often with our Italian Cabbage.
- Leftovers worth saving. Make sandwiches with marinara and mozzarella, or reheat slices with gravy made from Homemade Beef Stock.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Meatloaf Mix. I use a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal for a tender, flavorful meatloaf. You can substitute ground beef if that's what you have; choose 80/20 or 85/15 rather than extra-lean.
- Onion. Sauté the onion before adding it to the mixture for a softer texture and sweeter flavor. Let it cool before mixing it with the meat and egg.
- Marinara Sauce. Use your favorite jarred sauce or my Homemade Marinara Sauce. Spread it over the meatloaf before baking and warm extra for serving.
- Breadcrumbs. Italian seasoned breadcrumbs add flavor and help bind the meatloaf. Store-bought or Homemade Seasoned Italian Breadcrumbs work well. If using plain breadcrumbs, add Italian seasoning.
- Milk. I use whole milk to moisten the breadcrumbs and help keep the meatloaf tender. Start with the amount in the recipe card, then add a small splash if the mixture feels dry. The same is true for Classic Italian Fried Meatballs.
*Please see the recipe card below for more information on the ingredients.
How to Make Italian Meatloaf
Step 1: Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil and sauté onions until they're soft and have brown edges, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 2: Once the onions are golden-brown, remove them from the heat. Set them aside and allow them to cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 350℉. In a large bowl, combine meat, breadcrumbs, parmesan, Worcestershire, milk, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and egg.
Step 4: Gently combine everything with your hands until just combined.
Step 5: Drizzle a large glass baking dish with olive oil. Shape the meat into a large ball. Place it in the baking dish and slowly expand it into a desired meatloaf shape. Don't go all the way to the edge, but spread it out as far as possible to shorten cooking time.
Step 6: Spread marinara over the top of the meatloaf. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 1 hour or until the meat reaches 160℉.
Step 7: Remove from the oven and rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Serve Italian meatloaf with your favorite classic sides like Roasted Carrots and Fennel, REAL Italian Mac and Cheese, or Lemon Spinach Orzo.
If you love Italian weeknight meals, try our Italian Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce or Pork Tenderloin Medallions in Marsala.
Pro-Tips
- Mix and shape gently. Combine the ingredients just until incorporated, then shape without tightly packing the meat. Overworking the mixture can make the meatloaf dense and tough. Also avoid buying meat in a vacuum-sealed package. The meat is often compressed and can lead to a tougher meatloaf.
- Sauté the onions first. This softens them and develops their sweetness so you don't get crunchy onion pieces in the finished meatloaf. Let them cool before mixing them into the meat.
- Check the texture before shaping. The mixture should feel moist and hold its shape. If it feels too wet, add a little more breadcrumbs; if it feels dry, add a splash of milk.
- Serve with extra warm marinara. The sauce baked onto the meatloaf adds flavor, but a little extra over each slice makes it even better-especially alongside Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes.
FAQs about Italian Meatloaf
Essentially, yes. It's not much different than a big meatball. The only difference is that the meat is cooked through while baking in the oven instead of being simmered in sauce.
Yes, ground beef is a great substitute. If you can't get a meatloaf mix, ground beef will still make a good meatloaf.
American meatloaf is typically topped with ketchup, while Italian meatloaf has a marinara sauce and usually is made with Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.
Yes, mix the meat and form the meatloaf up to 24 hours in advance, making it the perfect weeknight meal to prep ahead.
Serving Suggestions for Italian Meatloaf
Italian Meatloaf is a classic weeknight dinner and can be served with some really easy and classic side dishes.
- Weeknight dinner. Serve this Italian Meatloaf with Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potato Halves or Crispy Garlic Parmesan Potatoes and a side of Sauteed Rapini with Garlic or Stewed Italian Broad Beans (Fava Beans).
- Leftovers. The next day for lunch or dinner, reheat the meatloaf and serve with a simple Italian Rice and Beans (Riso e Fagioli) topped with Marinara sauce, or serve the slices on a sandwich with marinara and melted mozzarella.
More Italian Family Dinners
Please leave a comment and star rating below in the recipe card! I love to hear what you think of our recipes. Feel free to tag us on Instagram @vindelgiudice.
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Italian Meatloaf
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 1 small saucepan
- 1 glass baking dish
Ingredients
- 2 lbs meatloaf mix or ground beef
- 1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1.5 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- 3 tablespoon milk
- 1 small onion
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Place a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the onions until they're soft and have a brown edge, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the onions to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. In a large bowl, combine meat, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire, Parmesan, milk, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and egg. Mix everything until just combined.
- Shape the meat into a large ball. Oil the glass baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place the meatloaf in the dish and slowly expand it into the desired meatloaf shape. Don't go all the way to the edge, but spread it out as far as possible to shorten cooking time.
- Spread marinara over the top of the meatloaf. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 1 hour or until the meat reaches 160℉.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- If you want a tender meatloaf, don't buy prepackaged retail meat. Being packed and pressed will result in a tough texture. It's best to get meat directly from the butcher or supermarket. It should look like it was run through a grinder and not just a block of meat.
- Using cooked onions is preferred over raw. Raw onions will never get cooked just by baking and will be crunchy compared to the rest of the dish.
- Be aware of the feel and texture of the mix when you combine the ingredients. All eggs and meat aren't created equally so you may need to add more milk or breadcrumbs depending on how wet the meat is. *See instructions above.
- Using a marinara sauce to top the meatloaf will give it a bit of extra Italian flavor, and you can top the meatloaf after it's been cooked with more marinara.
Kathy says
Great recipe. 2 tsp salt is too much. I would suggest cutting that back a lot. Texture was perfect and cooked up nice and moist with meatloaf mixture meat.
Vinny says
There's nothing like mom's Meatloaf recipe! It's one of our family's go-to recipes! Leave a review and let us know what you think!