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Italian Meatloaf Recipe (Polpettone)
This recipe for Italian meatloaf, or polpettone, is how my family always made it. It’s like a giant meatball that gets baked free-form on a sheet pan with a thin layer of tomato paste on top. The outside gets a nice golden crust, while the inside stays tender and easy to slice. It’s simple, nostalgic, and comes together quickly for an easy, old-school Italian weeknight dinner.
👥 8 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 1h 10m⏳ Prep: 20 min🔥 Cook: 50 min👤 Nicole Gaffney📖 coleycooks
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- pan
- oven
- bowl
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
2
In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and milk. Stir and let sit for a few minutes so the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid.
3
In a large bowl, combine the soaked breadcrumbs, minced onion, grated garlic, Pecorino Romano, Italian seasoning, parsley, eggs, tomato paste, salt and pepper, then mix until evenly combined.
Italian seasoning1 teaspooneggs (large )2tomato paste1 tablespoon¼ cup tomato paste
4
Add the ground meat and gently mix with your hands or a fork just until everything is incorporated. Avoid overmixing or the meatloaf can become dense.
5
Transfer the mixture to the prepared sheet pan, drizzle all over with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and shape it into a wide oval loaf about 2½ inches tall. Smooth the surface so it cooks evenly.
6
Bake uncovered for about ⏱️ 30 minutes.
7
In a small bowl, stir together the tomato paste, olive oil, and salt.
tomato paste1 tablespoon¼ cup tomato paste
8
Spread the sauce evenly over the top of the meatloaf in a thin layer, then return to the oven and bake for an additional ⏱️ 15-20 minutes or until browned and the internal temperature reaches about 155-160°F.
9
Let the meatloaf rest for at least ⏱️ 10 minutes before slicing so it holds together nicely.
Nutrition Facts
calories
419 kcal
fat Content
31 g
serving Size
1 serving
fiber Content
1 g
sugar Content
3 g
sodium Content
657 mg
protein Content
25 g
trans Fat Content
1 g
cholesterol Content
129 mg
carbohydrate Content
9 g
saturated Fat Content
11 g
unsaturated Fat Content
17 g
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