Meatloaf With a Twist

Ingredients

• 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated
• 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.

Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Set the onion and garlic aside.

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, black pepper, onion and garlic mixture, eggs, chicken broth, and Romano cheese until thoroughly combined. In a second bowl, mix the mashed potatoes and ricotta cheese.

Spoon half the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, and smooth into an even layer with a spoon. Spread the mashed potato mixture over the meat, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge of the meat; sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese over the mashed potato layer. Cover the cheese with the remaining meat mixture in an even layer; press the edges down to seal in the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle loaf with additional 2 tablespoons of mozzarella cheese, if desired.

Bake in the preheated oven until the loaf is browned and the meat is no longer pink, about 1 hour. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let the loaf stand for 10 minutes before serving.