Best Italian Pepperoni Meatloaf Recipes

ITALIAN MOZZARELLA-STUFFED MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix beef, onion, 1/2 of the tomato sauce, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Pat into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle on a sheet of waxed paper. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
• Lift up the short side of the waxed paper to start rolling up the meatloaf. Roll tightly, peeling back paper as you go. Seal edges in place. Transfer meatloaf to a loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Combine remaining tomato sauce and 1/2 teaspoon oregano; pour over meatloaf and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN-STYLE MEATLOAF

Steps:

• For the meatloaf: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, bell pepper and crushed red pepper if using and saute until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the beef, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, kosher salt, pepper, basil, eggs, 1/2 cup of the marinara and the cooled vegetables. Use your hands to mix everything together. Transfer the mixture to the center of the prepared baking sheet and form into a loaf. Coat the meat loaf with the remaining 1/2 cup marinara.
• Bake until the meat loaf is firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on the shape of your loaf). Let set for about 5 minutes before slicing.
• For the sandwiches: Butter the rolls and then sprinkle with garlic salt. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until light golden and toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Add a slice of meatloaf to each toasted roll and top with some of the marinara and 3 slices mozzarella. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

AIR FRYER CHEESE-STUFFED MINI ITALIAN MEATLOAVES

Steps:

• Combine milk, pesto, egg, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add ground beef and bread crumbs and combine, being careful not to overmix.
• Divide meat mixture into 4 portions. Press a well into each portion, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Place 2 slices pepperoni into each well, overlapping to cover the length of the well. Top each with 1/4 of the mozzarella balls. Press meat mixture around the filling to enclose; form each portion into an oblong loaf shape. Place loaves into the air fryer basket, in batches.
• Cook in the air fryer at 370 degrees F (190 degrees C) until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the meat reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 15 minutes. Serve meatloaves topped with warm marinara sauce and fresh basil.

PEPPERONI MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• place all ingredients (except 1/2 to 2/3 cups spaghetti sauce) in a large bowl.
• mix thoroughly with clean bare hands.
• place meat mixture into a loaf pan (I use stoneware so there is no need to grease it first).
• pat top until evenly distributed in the loaf pan.
• top with remaining spaghetti sauce.
• Stoneware loaf pan: bake at 350 50-60 minutes or until cooked through.
• Metal loaf pan: bake at 350 45-50 minutes until cooked through.
• Slow Cooker Method: place loaf pan in slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours.

ITALIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat and add the garlic. Saute 1 minute and then add the peppers and onions and saute until just soft. Let cool.
• Whisk together the basil, parsley and eggs in a small bowl, and then add the salt and black pepper. Combine the Parmesan and breadcrumbs in another small bowl. Thoroughly combine the meat, herbs and eggs, Parmesan and breadcrumbs, the Worcestershire, vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil together in a large bowl using your hands, making sure not to overmix.
• Pack the meat mixture into an oiled loaf pan, if you do not have a loaf pan, form the meat mixture into a loaf shape on an oiled oven tray or baking dish. Top with the marinara making sure to spread evenly over the top.
• Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F in the middle of the meatloaf. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve.

CHEESE STUFFED ITALIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, stir together the egg, breadcrumbs (I whir herbed dry stuffing mix in my food processor to make these), garlic, and 1/2 cup pasta sauce until well-mixed.
• Add remaining ingredients (except the garnish), and mix together well (I do the whole thing in my sturdy KitchenAid mixer, which works quite well).
• Put into a large loaf pan, top/garnish with additional pasta sauce (I like a*lot* of sauce and so use about a half-cup, but three or four tablespoons would do, too), and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.
• Serve with rice, spaghetti, or scalloped potatoes.

PIZZA MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add 3/4 cup of pizza sauce, cheese, bread crumbs, garlic salt and pepper; mix well. Combine beef and sausage; add to egg mixture and mix well. Press into a 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 1-1/4 hours. Drain. Spoon remaining pizza sauce over meat loaf; bake 15 minutes longer or until no pink remains. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.