Description
This Pizza Meatloaf is a savory, comforting twist on traditional meatloaf, combining ground beef, Italian sausage, and pepperoni with classic pizza flavors like mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce. Perfectly baked to a tender finish, it’s an easy, family-friendly dish that brings the best of pizza into a hearty loaf.
Ingredients
Meatloaf Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef (93% lean)
- ½ lb Italian sausage (casings removed)
- ½ cup chopped pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg (slightly beaten)
- 1 cup rolled oats (old fashioned oats)
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¾ cup milk
Topping
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the meatloaf evenly.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, chopped pepperoni, shredded mozzarella, beaten egg, rolled oats, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and milk. Mix thoroughly but carefully to keep the meat mixture tender.
- Form the Meatloaf: Press the prepared meat mixture firmly into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or a designated meatloaf pan, shaping it evenly for uniform cooking.
- Add Sauce: Evenly spread 1 cup of pizza sauce over the top of the meatloaf to infuse it with classic pizza flavors.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. The meatloaf should be firm to the touch and cooked through.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian sausage with all ground beef if preferred.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- For a less dense meatloaf, soak the oats in milk for 5 minutes before mixing.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes after baking before slicing to retain juices.
- Add extra mozzarella on top before baking for a cheesier crust.
