Italian Meat Loaf with Pesto

Gluten free cooks know that meat loaf doesn't always need breadcrumbs. This Italian Meat Loaf with Pesto and Pine Nuts is my version of an everyday meat loaf. Serve it with homemade or store bought tomato sauce for a delicious weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

• ground pork
• pine nuts
• egg
• Parmesan cheese
• pesto sauce
• store bought or homemade tomato sauce

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Instructions

My mom always cooked meat loaf in a standard loaf pan but I cook mine shaped into a loaf and placed on a baking sheet. This method requires less time and allows the grease to slide away from the cooked meat.

Variations

There are more than two ways to make meat loaf. Meat loaf muffins or cupcakes are popular so if that inspires someone to cook by all means let them experiment. As always, make some notes because when it works out perfectly you will wish you knew how you did it.

Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe or just tried this with a different recipe.

Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts

Italian Meat Loaf with pesto and pine nuts is my version of an everyday basic meat loaf with a twist. Everyone needs a recipe like this.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: meat loaf with pine nuts

Author: Cinde Little

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb ground pork
• ▢ ⅓ cup pine nuts
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 3 tablespoon pesto sauce

SERVING

• ▢ 1½ cups tomato sauce

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• In a large bowl gently mix the pork, egg, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, pesto, salt and pepper until combined.
• Dump into the middle of the prepared baking sheet. Dampen your hands and shape into a loaf.
• Place in preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers 160°F.
• Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Top each serving with tomato sauce.