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

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

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly coat the inside of an 9x5" loaf pan with non-stick spray; set aside.
In a large skillet, cook the 1 Red Bell Pepper and 1 Red Onion over a medium-high heat until soft and tender.
Add in the 2 minced garlic and continue to cook until fragrant; set aside to cool slightly.
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.
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.
Top the meat with 12 Fresh Basil Leaves and 1 1/4 C. Shredded Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese.
Using the parchment paper and your hands, roll the meat up.
Transfer to the loaf pan and top with the 1/2 C. Marinara Sauce.
Place it in the oven to bake for about 1 1/2 hours or until cooked through.
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