Italian Cheese-Stuffed Meat Loaf

Servings: 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

You will need

2 eggs

1 ½ lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

2 cups soft French bread crumbs

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (2 oz)

¼ cup chopped fresh basil or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce

1 ½ cups shredded provolone cheese (6 oz)

1 jar (7.25 oz) roasted red bell peppers, drained, chopped

¼ cup chopped ripe olives

Method

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat eggs. Stir in ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, salt, pepper, garlic and 1/2 cup of the pizza sauce until well combined.
2. On a large sheet of foil, shape the beef mixture into 12x10-inch rectangle. Top evenly with provolone cheese, roasted peppers and olives to within 1/2 inch of edges. Starting with one 10-inch side, roll up; press seam to seal. Place seam side down in pan.
3. Bake 40 minutes. Remove from oven; spoon remaining pizza sauce over loaf. Insert meat thermometer so bulb reaches center of loaf.
4. Return to oven; bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until loaf is thoroughly cooked in center and thermometer reads 160°F. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Source: http://www.bettycrocker.com/

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