Chef John's Meatball-Inspired Meatloaf

Ottis Schulist

Updated on May 11, 2024

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

1 hr 15 mins

Additional Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Servings:

Yield:

1 meatloaf

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, diced
salt to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups very dry white bread crumbs
1 ½ cups milk
2 pounds ground chuck
½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 cups tomato sauce, or to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion with a pinch of salt in hot oil and butter until onion is golden brown and soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat and cool onion mixture to room temperature.
Place bread crumbs in a large bowl. Add milk and stir with a fork until combined. Let sit until all of the milk is absorbed into the breadcrumbs, 15 to 20 minutes.
Combine ground chuck, cooled onion mixture, parsley, Parmesan cheese, eggs, 2 teaspoons salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Grab a handful of breadcrumbs and squeeze very gently to remove excess milk. Repeat with remaining breadcrumbs, transfer breadcrumbs to ground chuck mixture, and discard excess milk. Stir ground chuck mixture until evenly combined.
Turn chuck mixture out into prepared baking dish, and shape meat into a 3x4x10-inch meatloaf. Pour tomato sauce over the loaf and into the bottom of the dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Chef John

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

286	Calories
15g	Fat
19g	Carbs
20g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 286
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g	19%
Saturated Fat 6g	30%
Cholesterol 86mg	29%
Sodium 1129mg	49%
Total Carbohydrate 19g	7%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 20g	39%
Vitamin C 11mg	12%
Calcium 167mg	13%
Iron 3mg	17%
Potassium 483mg	10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.