Polpettone al Forno (Italian Baked Meatloaf)
A tender Italian meatloaf flavoured with soffritto, parmesan and parsley, baked in tomato sauce.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Soffritto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 20
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.46 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Soak the breadcrumbs in the milk for 5 minutes.
5 min - 2
Put the beef and pork mince in a large bowl. Add your ready made soffritto (see the base recipe), eggs, soaked breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, nutmeg and 1 tsp salt.
- 3
Mix with your hands for 1 minute only, until just combined. Shape into a thick oval loaf about 25 cm long.
- 4
Spread half of your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe) in a baking dish and place the loaf on top. Spoon the rest of the sauce over the loaf.
- 5
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, basting once, until the middle is 75C and the sauce is bubbling.
53 min 20 s - 6
Rest for 10 minutes, then slice thickly. Serve with mash, roast potatoes or greens and the sauce spooned over.
Tips
- Mix lightly. Overworking the mince makes it dense and rubbery.
- Use a mix of beef and pork for the best flavour and a tender loaf. All beef is drier.
- Fry a tiny piece of the mixture and taste it for seasoning before shaping.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keeps 3 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. Reheat slices in the sauce until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make it gluten free?
Yes. Use gluten free breadcrumbs, or 40 g cooked rice, and make sure the tomato sauce is gluten free. The soffritto and mince contain no gluten.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Shape the loaf up to a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge, then bake from fridge cold with 5 extra minutes in the oven.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.