Cheesy Meatloaf

Easy to make Cheesy Meatloaf made with ground beef and breadcrumbs. Shredded cheddar cheese is baked into this homemade meatloaf making it very fluffy and moist.

Cheesy meatloaf recipe

Meatloaf is one of our favorite dinners in our house. What’s not to love? It’s filling, easy to make, and oh so delicious. This Cheesy Meatloaf is super fluffy and moist inside due to the shredded cheddar cheese we’re adding in. If you’ve ever been curious about making meatloaf with cheese, this recipe is a perfect place to start.

The cheese is not overpowering and doesn’t make it taste too “cheesy.” In fact, if you don’t tell anyone, they might not even know there’s cheese in it. Instead, they’re going to say, “How did you make this meatloaf so fluffy?” That was my husband’s first question after he said how good it was. It’s similar to the easiest bread machine meatloaf with ground beef, where simple ingredients create a surprisingly tender texture.

So next time you’re looking for a meatloaf recipe, please give this Cheesy Meatloaf a try! Between this and tons of homemade casserole ideas, I think you’ll have lots of upcoming dinner options!

Ingredient Notes:

Here are a few ingredient notes that I wanted to point out after making this so many times!

Ground Beef: I recommend semi lean to prevent it from becoming too greasy.

For bread crumbs:I recommend Italian as it adds some extra flavor with seasonings. Some people like using crackers instead of breadcrumbs, so if you’re one of those people, go for it. Use a buttery salty cracker, like a Ritz cracker, just crush them up.

For pasta sauce: use your favorite pasta sauce that you would usually put on your spaghetti.

For shredded cheese, use a good quality cheddar cheese. You can buy shredded cheese in a bag (I like the thickly cut shredded cheese as it melst better) or buy a bar of cheese and grate it.

How to Make a Cheesy Meatloaf with Ground Beef

Meatloaf is a pretty easy dinner to make. It just involves mixing ingredients in a bowl, forming it into a “loaf” and then baking it. Really, the oven does most of the work!

Add all your meatloaf ingredients into a large bowl. Mix it with a spoon or your hands (my preferred method).

Form it into a meatloaf shape and put into a 9×5 baking pan.

Put all the tomato sauce glaze ingredients into a small bowl. Mix with a spoon until the dried mustard is completely dissolved. Pour over meatloaf.

Bake for 55-65 minutes or until the temperature of the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees on a meat thermometer.

Can I make it in advance? Can I freeze it?

Yes, you can absolutely make the Cheesy Meatloaf in advance. Just prepare the mixture, shape it into a loaf, and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. This actually helps the flavors blend together even more.

You can also freeze it either before or after baking. If freezing raw, wrap it tightly and store it for up to 6 months, then thaw in the fridge before baking. If freezing cooked, let it cool, wrap well, and reheat in the oven until warmed through.

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