Jan 8, 2009

Individual Pizza Meatloaves (Batch Cooking)

What do YOU do when you have an extra 12lbs of ground beef laying around?
Me? I make meatloaves & meatballs!

I make LOTS of Meatloaves!

Mountains of Meatloaves!

Today was Meatloaf Day
Pizza Meatloaves to be exact.

Individual-sized Pizza Meatloaves.
umm.. YUM!
These Pizza meatloaves are not your average meatloaves.
They are moist and tender.
Delicious!

This is a rather large recipe.
It is easy to cut in half but it's also easy to double, or even triple!
Today I tripled it.
Yep.. I made 26 meatloaves!

They are now safely tucked into the freezer and will provide my family with several hot, home-made meals in the coming months.
Also, they are perfect for the Man-of-My-Dreams who is still working out of town.
He can have them in his freezer and get a home cooked meal no matter how far away he is.
Not to mention those nights when you just don't feel like cooking....
Your covered! by your own food! not greasy, expensive, unhealthy drive-thru food....
A real honest-to-goodness Homemade meal!

Here we go...

Dana's Individual Pizza Meatloaves.

With Options!

Ingredients
  • 4lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 16 oz Pizza Sauce. (from a jar or homemade)
  • 6 slices bread , crumbed (I just pulse it in my food processor)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning (to taste)
  • 2 cups, (1- 8oz. package) Mozzarella cheese, shredded, or cubed
  • - for Topping & Serving. 16 oz. Pizza Sauce
--------------------------------------

Preheat oven to 350 f degrees

Now you have to decide what you want to do with the mozzarella cheese.
You have three options.... I have tried each of them with wonderful results.
So... whatcha wanna do?

Options

A. Blend the mozzarella cheese into the meatloaf mixture so you get some in every bite.

B. Stuff your meatloaves with mozzarella cheese so it oozes and stretches when ya cut into it.

C. Top with Mozzarella cheese for melted cheese & Pizza-like.


Directions

Option A "blended" =
  1. In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients, blend well. (I use my hands or my Kitchen aid mixer with the dough hook attachment)
  2. Shape handfuls of the meat mixture into individual sized loaves. I aim for approx 1/2 lb loaves, giving me 8-9 loaves from this recipe. make them as small or as big as you like.
  3. Bake for approx 30 - 40 minutes. or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
  4. remove from oven and top each meatloaf with a generous spoonful of warm pizza sauce
  5. Enjoy!
-------------------------
Option B "stuffed" =
  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients EXCEPT mozzarella cheese. Mix until well blended.
  2. Shape handfuls of the meat mixture into large flat ovals. Place some mozzarella cheese in the center, then roll the meatloaf mixture around the cheese, pinching to seal all seams. I aim for approx 1/2 lb loaves, giving me 8-9 loaves from this recipe. make them as small or as big as you like.
  3. Bake for approx 30-35 minutes. or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
  4. Remove from oven and top each meatloaf with a generous spoonful of warm pizza sauce
  5. Enjoy!
--------------------------
Option C "topped" =
  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients EXCEPT mozzarella cheese. Mix until well blended.
  2. Shape handfuls of the meat mixture into individual sized loaves. I aim for approx 1/2 lb loaves, giving me 8-9 loaves from this recipe. make them as small or as big as you like.
  3. Bake for approx 30 minutes.
  4. Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese, return to oven and continue cooking for an additional 10 min,or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
  5. Remove from oven and top each meatloaf with a generous spoonful of warm pizza sauce.
  6. Enjoy!
**TIP**
  • I usually bake these in a broiler pan, so any grease/drippings fall through the pan and my cute little loaves don't sit in it.
  • Add whatever you want to these little loaves...
  • Your family love mushrooms? Toss some in!
  • Gotta have pepperoni on anything "pizza"??
  • Chop up some peperoni and go with it! (yum! by the way!)
  • Anchovies?? ummm. no way now how!... Ok, if you really want em you can have em. (bleck!)
Freezing Instructions..
  • Let the meatloaves cool.
  • Seal in freezer bags removing all of the air that you can. (OR use your trusty vacuum sealer.. I would be lost without mine!)
  • Label those bags! no matter how sure you are that you'll remember whats in the bag.. it never fails... 2 months from now you won't have a clue!
  • Toss in the freezer.
  • To serve... Thaw in fridge, then toss in a 350 oven for 20 min. or Toss those puppies in the microwave and eat them in 4 minutes!
  • Have fun with it!


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13 amazing comments. Talk To Me!!:

Angie Mozilo said...

Must say...you are a culinary goddess! How do you manage to stay so on top of it? By the way....your meatloaf does look pretty! Saw your tweet about taking the pics.

Dana Clover said...

Oh, if you only knew how NOT "on top" of things I usually am!

Just about the ONLY area in my world that IS "together" is the food. :)

We won't even talk about the dust.. or the jam-packed closet I was supposed to clean out 8 months ago... or The three promised quilts that I haven't even started making! ugh!

Thanks tho!

Peggy said...

I have been making the stuffed meatloaf for several years and its a family favorite. The grandkids request it each visit.

Sonya said...

These sound GREAT!!
I'm thinking I would like to substitute half the ground beef for italian sausage, through in a couple handfuls of cubed pepperoni, maybe some mushrooms too.

You have a great blog!!

Jami said...

Great new take on meatloaf!!! Can't wait to try it!

Claire said...

Mmmmm, that looks good! I love my meatloaf, but I'd be willing to try yours, and my pizza-loving kid would probably like this a lot.

Doncha Wannano said...

As the current food goddess Rachel Ray would say, "Yum-o!" I loved this post.

AJ said...

I LOVE YOU!!!! I am so glad I found your page!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dana, you've got it all covered here! and I can't wait to run to the grocery and buy all the ingredients I need! Ive bookmarked your site and will keep coming back for more! I'd like to invite you to take some time to drop by at Foodista and share your delicious recipe with us. We have launched an online food and cooking encyclopedia ala wikipedia. Add a recipe and you can win a $100 gift card to Sur la table. Don't forget to register first so we know who to thank the recipe for. Thanks!

Blogger said...

Wow, I never heard of this twist on Meatloaf, yet if you think about it, it's a perfect pair!

Thanks for the yummy recipe with options, too, I must try these for my family one night!

Blogger said...

lol, I got so caught up in the meatloaf...I went back to drop on your EC, but I don't see your widget :(

Jenny said...

I feel so stupid. I've been to your blog multiple times since you posted this, but didn't look back far enough to find it. I even posted on other comments! When you promised this recipe in the burrito post, I knew it was a blog I went to enough that I should see the recipe when it posted, but apparently I missed the posting and never dug back to find it. I definitely want to try this recipe--especially after the week-long search I have had for it!
~Jenny~

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