The Big Meatball

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 lb ground chuck
• 1/2 lb hot italian sausage or 1/2 lb sweet italian sausage
• 1 cup seasoned dry bread crumb
• 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 2 t. dried)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 t. dried)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 3 eggs
• 4 cups homemade marinara sauce (or bottled marinara sauce)

Recipe

• 1 preaheat oven to 350°.
• 2 in a big mixing bowl, combine the beef, sausage, bread crumbs, parsley, cheese, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and eggs (this works best if you use your hands).
• 3 place the meat in the center of a 13x9 inch baking dish; shape mixture into a smooth rounded dome 3-4 inches high.
• 4 bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• 5 spoon or drain off any fat in the dish.
• 6 pour the marinara sauce over the loaf and bake 20 minutes; let stand 10 minutes.
• 7 serve meatloaf cut in wedges with about 2/3 cup sauce per serving.
• 8 left-overs: cut into chunks and reheat in additional marinara sauce; serve spooned into hero or grinder rolls; add a few slices of mozzarella cheese and sauteed green pepper, if you wish.