• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
  • RESOURCES
    • How to Start a Food Blog

Chefjar logo

Home / BEEF RECIPES

Italian Meatloaf with Ricotta Cheese

Jump to Recipe

This Italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese (Polpettone alla Ricotta) is juicy, tender and delicious. It is the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for family dinner.

This meatloaf is a delicious Italian version of classic American comfort food. Be sure to try our Best Meatloaf Recipe, Southern Meatloaf or Meatloaf with Ritz Crackers.

italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese

Ricotta Meatloaf

If you don’t know what to make for dinner tonight, try this ricotta meatloaf. You can’t go wrong with it. And it is so huge, that you can feed a crowd.

It is made with ground beef, ricotta cheese, onion, Parmesan and Italian seasoning.

Ricotta makes this meatloaf extra creamy and super tender. I am sure it will become one of your favourite ground beef recipes and you will make it again and again! Seriously, every time I make this meatloaf for our friends or family, they say that it is the most giant meatloaf they’ve ever seen.

italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese

Italian Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients

italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese
  • Garlic cloves and onion: We like to chop onion, garlic and parsley in a food processor before adding to other ingredients. It is an effortless and very quick method to mince everything. It seriously takes not more than 1 minute. Use an S-blade attachment for food processor to do this job. Be sure to quarter onion.
  • Fresh parsley: It is a go-to herb for this meatloaf, but basil leaves will work too.
  • Ground beef: We recommend to use ground beef (77-80% lean). It is perfect for this meatloaf as it has enough moisture and holds its shape while baking.
  • Whole milk Ricotta cheese: If you are not familiar with ricotta cheese, it is a creamy cheese made with cow’s milk. You can buy it at your local grocery shop or on amazon. We like Calabro or White Rose brands.
  • Milk: It is an optional ingredient. Use it only if your ricotta is too dry.
  • Parmesan: Please grate it yourself for the best results.
  • Eggs: They work as a binder and help the meatloaf hold its shape while baking.
  • Italian breadcrumbs: We prefer to use Italian breadcrumbs. Panko is another great option.
  • Worcestershire sauce: It is not a typical ingredient for this Italian meatloaf, but we like to add 1 tablespoon as it helps to tenderize the meat and adds flavor.
  •  Italian seasoning: Any Italian seasoning will work well for this recipe.
  • Dried oregano: You can substitute it with dried sage if desired.
  • Salt and pepper: Adjust the amount to your liking.

How to Make Ricotta Meatloaf

  • Chop onion, garlic and parsley in a food processor with an S-blade attachment.
chop-veggies-in-a-food-processor
  • Combine all the ingredients for this meatloaf: the chopped onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, Italian seasoning, ground beef, eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan, Italian bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Don't over mix!
combine all the ingredients for ricotta meatloaf
  • Transfer the meat mixture into a loaf pan and form 7 x 9- inch loaf. Turn it out onto the prepared roasting tray with rack. Alternatively, you can form the loaf with your hands. 
  • Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.
shape the meatloaf
  • Mix together the tomato sauce (marinara), onion powder and Italian seasoning in a medium bowl. 
meatloaf glaze
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze over it. Bake further for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Once the internal temperature is 160 F ( 71 C), meatloaf is done. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.
meatloaf glaze

Tips for making the Best Italian Meatloaf with Ricotta Cheese

  • We like to use a food processor for chopping the veggies and herbs. It saves times and efforts. If you don’t have it, grate onion, chop parsley and mince garlic.
  • Bake the meatloaf on the tray with rack. Doing this, you allow the drippings to fall through the rack and also provide even heating.
  • Glaze the meatloaf. Pour the glaze over the meatloaf and spread with a spoon to cover completely. It will prevent it from drying out.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It is not necessary to do, but it ensures you won’t overbake the meatloaf. The meatloaf is done when the internal temperature is 160 F (71 C).
italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese

How Long To Cook It

The cooking time will depend on the size and shape of your meatloaf.

If you bake it on the tray with rack as I did, it will cook faster.

Baking meatloaf in a loaf pan, will increase the cooking time because the meatloaf is more compact.

The only way to check its doneness is to verify the internal temperature.

However, the total cooking time should be anywhere from an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.

italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese

Side Dishes for Meatloaf

Here are some of our favorite side dishes.

Cheesy Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Healthy Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Sauteed Mushrooms

pinterest-chefjar

If you make this Italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
italian-meatloaf-with-ricotta-cheese

Italian Meatloaf with Ricotta Cheese


★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: chefjar
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This Italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese (Polpettone alla Ricotta) is juicy, tender and delicious. It is the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for family dinner.


Ingredients

For The  Meatloaf

  • Garlic cloves-5
  • Onion (quartered)-1
  • Fresh parsley-⅓ cup
  • Ground beef- 2 lbs (1 kg)
  • Whole milk Ricotta cheese- 15 oz (450 gm)
  • Milk-½ cup, optional ( use only if ricotta cheese is too dry)
  • Fresh grated Parmesan cheese-1 cup
  • Large eggs (slightly beaten)-2
  • Italian breadcrumbs-½ cup
  • Worcestershire sauce-1 tablespoon
  •  Italian seasoning-1 ½ teaspoon
  • Dried oregano-1 teaspoon
  • Black pepper-½ teaspoon
  • Salt-2 teaspoons or as needed

For The Glaze

  • Marinara sauce-½ cup
  • Onion powder-1 teaspoon
  • Italian seasoning-½ teaspoon

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C). Line a roasting tray (with rack) with parchment paper.
  • Add the onion, parsley and garlic to a food processor; pulse until finely minced, scraping down the sides if needed.
  • In a large bowl combine the mixture with ground beef, eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan, Italian bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix just until combined. Don't overmix otherwise the meatloaf will be tough.
  • Put the meat mixture into a loaf pan and form 7 x 9- inch loaf. Turn it out onto the prepared roasting tray with rack. Alternatively, you can form the loaf with your hands. 
  • Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.
  • Meanwhile, mix together the marinara sauce, onion powder and Italian seasoning in a medium bowl. 
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze over it. Bake further for 15 minutes or until cooked through. The meatloaf is done when the internal temperature reaches 160 F ( 71 C). Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
  • Serve meatloaf  over spaghetti pasta and top with pasta sauce (or marinara sauce), grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Equipment

Meat Thermometer

Buy Now →

Food processor

Buy Now →

Electric Meat Grinder

Buy Now →
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 min
  • Category: Beef recipes
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 278kcal
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 312mg
  • Fat: 13g
  • Carbohydrates: 8g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Cholesterol: 138mg

Keywords: italian meatloaf with ricotta cheese, ricotta meatloaf, meatloaf recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

All rights reserved. CHEF JAR. All images and content are copyright protected. PLEASE do not use my images without my permission. If you want to share this recipe, PLEASE provide a link back to this post.

If you make this recipe, take a photo of your creation and hashtag  it # CHEFJAR on  Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Beef Recipes

  • Chili-con-carne
    CHILI CON CARNE RECIPE IN CROCK POT
  • Beef stir fry
    BEEF STIR FRY RECIPE WITH SNOW PEAS AND CARROTS
  • Goulash recipe
    Hungarian Goulash recipe with Beer
  • Ropa vieja recipe
    ROPA VIEJA RECIPE IN SLOW COOKER
  • beef-stroganoff-recipe
    Best Beef Stroganoff Recipe
  • bolognese sauce
    BOLOGNESE SAUCE ( IN CROCK POT)
  • Beef massaman curry
    BEEF MASSAMAN CURRY ( MASSAMAN NEUA มัสยิดเนบู)
  • Mongolian beef
    MONGOLIAN BEEF ( VIDEO INCLUDED)
  • homemade taco seasoning
    HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING IN 5 MIN
chefjar

More BEEF RECIPES

  • Image of a slice of savory meatloaf topped with a tangy tomato glaze, served on a plate next to a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes with a sprinkle of fresh herbs on top.
    Oven Temperature for Meatloaf
  • Chebureki Recipe ( Deep-Fried Turnovers)
  • Image shows steak seasoning mix spilling out of spice jar.
    Steak Seasoning
  • Pizza pasta in a white casserole dish with a spoon lifting up a serving out of the dish.
    Pizza Pasta

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jane says

    June 18, 2021 at 9:37 pm

    This recipe is absolutely Fantastic! I needed an idea for some good meatloaf! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      June 18, 2021 at 9:43 pm

      Thank you Jane!I am very happy you liked it))) Hop you will try other recipes on the blog!

      Reply
  2. Laura says

    June 18, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    My husband loved this recipe. This Italian meatloaf was so creamy, juicy and flavorful and baking it on the rack let the heat circulate, making it less greasy. A great idea!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      June 18, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Thank you, Laura!

      Reply
  3. Amanda says

    January 11, 2023 at 5:45 pm

    LOVE THIS and so does my entire family! This will definitely be a go-to recipe moving forward! Thank you for sharing!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      January 13, 2023 at 4:00 am

      Thank you, Amanda! I am glad you liked this meatloaf recipe and enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Chanelle says

    January 12, 2023 at 10:28 pm

    I made this today and the flavor was great! Moreover it was overly easy to make. I loved it and so did my husband. This was a real winner!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      January 13, 2023 at 3:48 am

      Thank you for sharing your experience! I am glad you like this meatloaf recipe like we do.

      Reply
  5. Allie says

    January 19, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    This meatloaf was a hit! I followed the directions exactly. It sliced well with a warm knife, and the texture and crumb were perfect!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      January 21, 2023 at 6:43 am

      Hey Allie! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂

      Reply
  6. Arielle says

    January 20, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    Best and easiest scratch meatloaf ever. I followed this recipe completely and I have to say, this was delicious and the steps weren't hard to follow. This will become a regular recipe at our house.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      January 21, 2023 at 6:40 am

      Hey Arielle! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂

      Reply
  7. Harley says

    January 26, 2023 at 7:55 pm

    Made it today and devoured it! Everyone loved it though, easy to make and slice! I paired it with a side of garlic mashed potato’s and fresh green beans.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      January 27, 2023 at 6:09 am

      Hey Harley! Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you liked it!

      Reply
  8. Raegan Mackay says

    February 11, 2023 at 9:48 pm

    Literally the most delicious meatloaf I’ve tried and so simple to make! Our entire family absolutely LOVED it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • chefjar says

      February 12, 2023 at 10:29 am

      Wow, that's such a great compliment! I'm so happy to hear that this meatloaf recipe was the most delicious one you've tried and that your entire family loved it. Simplicity is key in cooking and I'm glad you appreciated how easy it was to make. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, it means a lot.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

LOOKING FOR RECIPES? SEARCH HERE!

About Me

Hi, I am Tati and welcome to my online kitchen. A foodie, wife and mom of 2 adorable boys. Read More…

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube



Search Recipes

Footer

SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE RECIPES STRAIGHT INTO YOUR INBOX!

CONNECT WITH ME – CHEFJAR

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Privacy Policy
  • ABOUT ME
  • Recipe index

Copyright © 2023 · CHEFJAR