Here’s a simple, comforting recipe for Easy Cheese Meatloaf — flavorful, cheesy, and perfect for a quick family dinner:
🥩 Easy Cheese Meatloaf
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
Meatloaf
- 2 lbs ground beef (or mix of beef and pork)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Cheese Layer
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Topping (Optional)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp mustard
🔪 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a loaf pan or baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease.
2️⃣ Mix Meatloaf
- In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk; let sit 5 minutes.
- Add ground meat, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix gently until combined — avoid overmixing to keep meatloaf tender.
3️⃣ Assemble Meatloaf
- Press half of the meat mixture into the loaf pan.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the middle.
- Top with remaining meat mixture, pressing lightly to seal.
4️⃣ Add Glaze (Optional)
- Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard.
- Spread over top of meatloaf for a sweet-savory finish.
5️⃣ Bake
- Bake 55–65 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
- Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes to caramelize the topping.
6️⃣ Rest & Serve
- Let meatloaf rest 10 minutes before slicing to keep it moist.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, or roasted vegetables.
🌟 Tips
- Cheese options: Use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella or even pepper jack for a spicy twist.
- Extra flavor: Add herbs like thyme or parsley to the meat mixture.
- Make-ahead: Meatloaf can be assembled the day before and baked the next day.
If you want, I can also give a “super easy one-bowl cheese meatloaf” version that skips layering cheese and still gives gooey cheesy bites inside.
Do you want me to do that?
