Cheese-Filled Meat Loaf

Total Time

Prep: 35 min. Bake: 65 min. + standing

Makes

8 servings

Updated: May. 26, 2022
My mother’s cheese-stuffed meat loaf is something special, swirled with a filling of sour cream, cheddar cheese and stuffed olives. It's the perfect centerpiece for Sunday dinner or even a festive occasion. —Susan Hansen, Auburn, Alabama
Cheese-Filled Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup crushed cornflakes
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped celery
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives
  • Mashed potatoes, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. On a large piece of heavy-duty foil, pat beef mixture into a 14x10-in. rectangle. Spread sour cream to within 1/2 in. of edges. Sprinkle with cheese and olives.
  2. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side and peeling away foil while rolling. Seal seam and ends. Place seam side down in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish.
  3. Bake, uncovered, until meat is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°, 65-75 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. If desired, serve with mashed potatoes.
Cheese-Stuffed Meat Loaf Tips

Can you use other kinds of cheese to make cheese-stuffed meat loaf?

Yes! Mozzarella would be a great alternative, but if you want to branch out you could also use other good melting cheeses, such as Gruyere or Gouda, provolone or Colby. On the other hand, if you have leftover shredded cheddar to use even after you make this cheese-stuffed meat loaf, try one of these ways to use up a bag of shredded cheese.

What beef-to-fat ratio should you use to make cheese-stuffed meat loaf?

The higher the fat content, the juicier and more flavorful your cheese-stuffed meat loaf will be. It's up to you, but just know that if you go for a ratio like 93/7 (93% beef, 7% fat) your meat loaf might be a bit on the drier side. Learn more about which ground beef is best.

How can you make sure your cheese-stuffed meat loaf stays juicy?

Letting your cheese-stuffed meat loaf rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it is essential to creating juicy meat loaf slices. It's tempting to dig in as soon as you pull it out of the oven—but waiting the extra few minutes means that the juices have a chance to redistribute throughout the loaf instead of spill out into the bottom of your pan when you cut into it.

—Lauren Pahmeier, Taste of Home Associate Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 486 calories, 30g fat (15g saturated fat), 194mg cholesterol, 988mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 32g protein.