Italian Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf – Easy Family Recipe

Name: Italian Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf - One Loaf
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef, I recommend organic, grass-fed beef; 1/2 - 5 ounces packaged fresh organic spinach, chopped fine; 2 cups bread crumbs; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided; 1/2 an onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves crushed garlic; 3 eggs, lightly beaten; 1 tsp salt; freshly ground pepper to taste

By Michelle Marine

on Jul 30, 2023, Updated Oct 28, 2023

32 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Are you looking for a quick and easy meatloaf recipe that’s perfect for busy school nights AND packs in some extra vegetables? This spinach mozzarella meatloaf is one of our family’s favorite recipes. I always double it and put one meal in the freezer, too. It’s full of real food and healthy ingredients, including early spring spinach straight from my garden.

Early spring might be the busiest time of the year for me. With multiple kids playing ball, working hard to plant my garden, and the basic cleanup after winter, I need quick menu options to feed my family. Otherwise, our diet goes downhill in a hurry.

Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf! So Good You'll Make Double Batch

This Italian Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf has long been a staple at my house. It comes together quickly and freezes well. I love having freezer meals for super busy days! It makes mealtime a snap. And best of all, it’s a delicious way to sneak in some healthy spinach AND use up the surplus in my garden.

I love having ALDI as a local local grocery store. They have more and more organic options every time I go there. I love getting in and out of the store in a hurry. Feeding four hungry kids is expensive, and ALDI’s prices are good for our family food budget.

I buy a lot of my groceries in bulk, but ALDI fills the gap when I need fresh fruit and other ingredients. If there isn’t one near you – I’m sorry!

Ingredients for Italian Style Meatloaf

You’ll probably have most of the ingredients for this meatloaf on hand already. It uses simple, whole foods for a perfect savory combination of Italian flavors. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ground beef
Bread crumbs
eggs
Onion
Spinach
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Garlic
Salt and pepper
Basil, oregano, other Italian seasonings

Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf - mix in a bowl

How to Make Italian Style Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start by finely chopping the spinach and onions. Press the garlic. I prefer using fresh spinach but you could also use frozen. Just make sure to thaw it first and drain any excess moisture.

Then, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. I mix up meatloaf with my hands {or get a kid to do it}, but you can certainly use a spoon.

Call me weird, but I enjoy smashing the meat mixture ingredients together by hand.

Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf - form into loaves

Form loaves and put them into loaf pans or similar baking dish. Bake for 60-75 minutes at 350 degrees or until the internal temperature of the Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf is 160 degrees (always check it with a meat thermometer). Once it’s cooked, let the meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving to keep it tender and flavorful.

How to Freeze and Reheat Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf

As I mentioned above, it’s easy to double this Italian meatloaf recipe and freeze a meal for later. It’s not much more work to prep two meatloaves. It saves a lot of time down the road. Once you have the loaves made, you can either cook the loaf and then freeze or freeze and then cook later.

Freeze the loaf uncooked. Move it to the refrigerator to thaw the day before you’d like to cook it. On serving day, bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes per recipe instructions.
I usually bake the meatloaf first and then reheat when I need it to. For this option, cook the meatloaf according to the directions above, then let it completely cool. Once it is cool, place the loaf in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze it. Again, thaw it in the fridge overnight and simply reheat the following day.

But, in all honesty, I have put these meatloaves frozen in the oven and cooked them too. It takes about an hour if you start with a frozen meatloaf. Whichever method you choose, ensure you cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil before cooking or if you decide to reheat the already-cooked meatloaf!

Add More Nutrition to Meatloaf

I love this base recipe for Italian style meatloaf. Sometimes I add additional vegetables or spices to change it up a bit. What would you add?

Fresh chopped herbs like basil and oregano
Chopped bell peppers
Shredded carrots
Dried red pepper flakes

Can I use frozen spinach for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen spinach, but make sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out any excess moisture before incorporating it into the meatloaf.

Can I use ground sausage instead of beef?

Yes! You can substitute Italian sausage for the ground beef or make a mixture with half and half.

Can I use fresh mozzarella instead of shredded mozzarella?

Yes, you can use fresh mozzarella, but chop it into small pieces so it is thoroughly mixed with the meat mixture.

Should I cover the meatloaf while baking?

It’s best to cover the meatloaf with foil during the first half of baking to retain moisture, then uncover it and allow the top to brown for the second half.

Side Dishes for Meatloaf

Now that you have a delicious, juicy meatloaf on the table, it’s time to make it a complete meal. My kids like to dip this meatloaf in marinara sauce. I love adding additional vegetables, green salads, and fruit for side dishes. Simple is the name of the game at my house. Here are a few options that the whole family loves:

Do you have a favorite family recipe for meatloaf? Share it in the comments!

Yield: 10 servings

Italian Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf - One Loaf

Delicious spinach mozzarella meatloaf is always a hit. Double the recipe and put it in your freezer to use on a busy day.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef, I recommend organic, grass-fed beef
1/2 - 5 ounces packaged fresh organic spinach, chopped fine
2 cups bread crumbs
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 an onion, finely chopped
3 cloves crushed garlic
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp salt
freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, mix the beef, spinach, bread crumbs, 1 1/2 cups cheese, egg, onion, garlic, and salt. Transfer to loaf pan.
Bake 75 minutes in the preheated oven, to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Top with remaining cheese to serve.

Notes

This ingredient list is for one loaf. If you'd like to make two loaves, just double the recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 434Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 623mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 36g

Nutrition facts are not always correct.

About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.