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Mozzarella & Basil Stuffed Meatloaf

October 7, 2022 Amanda Plott

Meatloaf is one of those tried and true dinners that has withstood the test of time through the generations. I saw the idea for stuffed meatloaf a while back though and thought it would be pretty fun to play around with that idea. So. Enter this Mozzarella & Basil Stuffed Meatloaf. The original called for some ham to be among the things rolled up in the meatloaf, but I decided against it to save on not only the calories, but also the sodium!

This meatloaf itself starts off pretty standard with ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs and some veggies and seasonings, so it’s good stuff all the way around. After that you flatten out the meat and top it with cheese and fresh herb then roll it all up together to bake.

It’s lightened up with using a lean ground beef, and of course a fat free mozzarella. Other than that, it’s fairly straight forward. This will give you 8, count them 8, fairly big servings of meatloaf, and as you can see below, that loaf pan is pretty damn full! Another nifty thing? You can make this meatloaf ahead of time. I put mine together the night before and stored it in the fridge until I was ready to bake it for dinner the next day.

I served mine with what my kiddo is dubbing ‘space broccoli’ which is AKA romanesco that I roasted. I also topped mine off with just a little more marinara sauce for good measure.

Mozzarella & Basil Stuffed Meatloaf

Mozzarella & Basil Stuffed Meatloaf

Yield: 8
Author: The Skinny Fork (Amanda Plott)
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 1 H & 30 MTotal time: 1 H & 45 M
A fairly traditional meatloaf that's rolled up and stuffed with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Delicious. Easy to make. And great for a weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

  • 1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped
  • 1 Red Onion, Diced
  • 2 Minced Garlic Cloves
  • 2 Lbs. Lean Ground Beef
  • 3/4 C. Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 Whole Large Eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tsp. Salt
  • 1/2 Tsp. Pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley
  • 12 Fresh Basil Leaves, Chopped
  • 1 1/4 C. Shredded Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1/2 C. Marinara Sauce + More for Garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly coat the inside of an 9x5" loaf pan with non-stick spray; set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the 1 Red Bell Pepper and 1 Red Onion over a medium-high heat until soft and tender.
  3. Add in the 2 minced garlic and continue to cook until fragrant; set aside to cool slightly.
  4. In a large bowl, add in the 2 Lbs. Lean Ground Beef, 3/4 C. Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs, 1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese, 2 Whole Large Eggs, 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste, 1 Tsp. Salt, 1/2 Tsp. Pepper, and 2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley along with the pepper and onion mixture. Stir to combine until well mixed.
  5. Set the meat mixture out onto some parchment paper and flatten it out into a rectangle shape, making sure the width is no larger than the loaf pan.
  6. Top the meat with 12 Fresh Basil Leaves and 1 1/4 C. Shredded Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese.
  7. Using the parchment paper and your hands, roll the meat up.
  8. Transfer to the loaf pan and top with the 1/2 C. Marinara Sauce.
  9. Place it in the oven to bake for about 1 1/2 hours or until cooked through.
  10. Once done, remove from the oven, slice into 8 pieces, and enjoy right away with more marinara sauce if desired!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

271.41

Fat (grams)

8.94

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.89

Carbs (grams)

13.73

Fiber (grams)

2.35

Net carbs

11.36

Sugar (grams)

2.9

Protein (grams)

34.89

Sodium (milligrams)

781.73

Cholesterol (grams)

119.85

Nutritional Claims: Low Carb • Sugar Conscious • Peanut Free • Tree Nut Free • Soy Free • Fish Free • Shellfish Free • Pork Free • Crustacean Free • Celery Free • Mustard Free • Sesame Free • Lupine Free • Mollusk Free • Alcohol Free

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Step-by-Step Photos:

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In American, Beef, Italian, Kid Friendly Tags meatloaf, loaf, beef, mozzarella, stuffed, dinner
Comment

Instant Pot Meatloaf Bites

February 9, 2022 Amanda Plott

Hey, you. Yeah, you! Did you know that you can make meatloaf in the instant pot? Well you absolutely can! I took one of my favorite meatloaf recipes that I already make in the instant pot and turned it into mini individual meatloaves. One of my favorite things about these meatloaves is that they are perfectly portioned and loaded up with sneaky hidden veggies!

Another thing that I like about these meatloaves is that they are great for making ahead as a meal prep for the week or for lunches! They also freeze and either reheat or cook up pretty well when you’re ready to enjoy them.

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In American, Beef, Crock Pot/Instant Pot, Game Day, Kid Friendly Tags beef, meatloaf, instant pot, pressure cooker, meatloaves
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Brain Meatloaf

October 3, 2021 Amanda Plott
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I’ve taken my classic meatloaf recipe and molded it into the shape of a brain for a fun Halloween inspired twist. My meatloaf is made with plenty of vegetables loaded into it, onion, bell pepper, and zucchini too! So it’s healthified and lightened up while still being scary good.

Usually meatloaf is made with ketchup, but I decided to use tomato sauce and tomato paste along with salt and pepper to lower the amount of sugar and also to be able to control the level of salt. It’s a good little swap that doesn’t effect the taste or texture and gives you a lot more bang for your buck!

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Vegetarian Meatloaf & Macaroni Casserole

July 13, 2021 Amanda Plott
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So, I saw the idea for this casserole the other day and just knew that I was going to have to make it myself and in my own way. First of all, I didn’t need a 13x9'“ dish casserole since my family unit is small and, while I force leftovers, there’s only so many days in the week. That’s why I halved the recipe right off the bat.

I also work really hard to limit the amount of meat we eat, so I thought it would be pretty fun to try and make a meatloaf into a vegetarian dish. I guess you can just call me crazy. But, I’m happy to report back that it totally worked out and it worked out SO well…

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In American, Casseroles, Kid Friendly, Meatless, Vegetarian Tags meatloaf, vegetarian, casserole, macaroni, cheese, dinner, baked, family
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Skinny Meatloaf & Mash (Instant Pot Dinner)

September 7, 2019 Amanda Plott
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A one pot meal, in the Instant Pot, for under 350 calories? Yep! You got it dude. This lightened-up meatloaf AND mash is made in the Instant Pot in just 25 minutes. And you know what? I think I may just stick to cooking my meatloaf in the Instant Pot from this day forward. It’s quick and easy to do, plus it locks in all the moisture and juices so you don’t run the risk of ending up with a dried out meatloaf for dinner!

The mash and the meatloaf are both cooked in the Instant Pot together at the same time. Leaving you with a pretty hands-off dinner that everyone is sure to enjoy…

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Skinny Classic Meatloaf

May 8, 2019 Amanda Plott
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It’s been a hell of a long time since I made a meatloaf. I mean… a really really really long time. Almost 5-6 years or something? I’m not really sure why either. It’s a quick and easy part of dinner that can be tossed together in no time at all. Plus, it can be made to be pretty damn healthy too!

So, after discussing meatloaf with a group of friends last week, I decided that it was high time for me to make another meatloaf. This time though? We’re going old-school and classic with this loaf of meat…

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