Italian Cheese-stuffed Meatloaf

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 cups soft french breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (2 ounces)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (8 ounce) can pizza sauce or 1 (8 ounce) can spaghetti sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded provolone cheese (or 6 ounces sliced)
• 1 (7 1/4 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped black olives

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 375º. line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
• 2 in large bowl, beat eggs. stir in ground beef, crumbs, parmesan, basil, salt, pepper, garlic and 1/2 cup pizza sauce until well combined.
• 3 on large sheet of foil, shape beef into 12x10 inch rectangle.
• 4 top evenly with provolone, roasted peppers and olives to within 1/2 inch of edges.
• 5 starting with one 10-inch side, roll up; press seam to seal. place seam side down in pan.
• 6 bake 40 minutes.
• 7 remove from oven; spoon remaining pizza sauce over loaf.
• 8 return to oven, bake 15-20 minutes longer or until loaf is thoroughly cooked in center and thermometer reads 160º. this may take longer, so please use the thermometer!
• 9 let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
• 10 serve with additional heated sauce, if desired.