Italian Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: beef
- Cuisine: american
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 2 eggs, mixed
- 2 cups soft breadcrumbs (not toasted)
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 (8 oz) can pizza sauce
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- 2 small or one large roasted red peppers or 1 jar (7.25 oz) roasted red bell peppers, drained, chopped
- 1/4 cup pitted & chopped kalamata olives
If you’d like a little more pizazz, add 1/4 cup of either of the following:
- 1/4 cup of chopped oven roasted or sundried tomatoes, soaked in hot water if dried, and diced
- 1/4 cup of chopped pepperoni, diced
- As few or more pepperoncini peppers as you’d like, minced
- Any additional items you think appropriate
Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F.
Make this on 15x10x1-inch pan. Put out a large piece of foil and spray foil with cooking spray.
In large bowl, add ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic, and 1/2 cup of the pizza sauce until well combined.
On the foil, shape beef mixture into 12×10-inch rectangle. Pay special attention to make sure beef is in an even layer with no holes. Top evenly with mozzarella cheese, roasted peppers, and olives to within 1/2 inch of edges.
If desired, add sun-dried tomatoes, pepperoni, or pepperoncini. Starting with one 10-inch side, roll up; pinch & press seam to seal. Move it seam side down and transfer, carefully, foil and all, to the baking sheet.
Look over the roll carefully and use a finger dipped in a little water to smooth out any cracks or holes, paying special attention to the ends of the meatloaf.
Bake 40 minutes. Remove from oven; spoon remaining pizza sauce over loaf. Insert meat thermometer so bulb reaches center of loaf.
Return to oven; bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until loaf is thoroughly cooked in center and thermometer reads 160°F. Test in more than one place. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.