Savory Italian Style Meatloaf

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In this post I am sharing a Savory Italian Style Meatloaf recipe.

I’ve always enjoyed meatloaf as much as the next person but it was always just, MEH for me! Of course a good meatloaf sandwich is hard to beat.

The constant search and trying new things to make meatloaf more flavorful always resulted in what I thought to be the same regular ole meatloaf. Not anymore! I have to say, even if I did make it, this was the best meatloaf I ever had.

Each bite of this meatloaf was flavorful and it had a little kick to it. The secret ingredient might surprise you.

Ingredients

  • Butter
  • Diced Onion
  • Diced Bell Pepper
  • Ground Mild Italian Sausage
  • Ground Beef (I use ground chuck)
  • Pepperoni Stick, ground (recommend Boar’s Head)
  • Cheddar Cheese, grated
  • Can Tomato Sauce (plain)
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Garlic Powder
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt
  • 2 Eggs, beaten
  • Tomato Paste for topping (optional)
Did you catch the “secret” ingredient? Yep, it’s pepperoni! You cannot believe the flavor boost it gives to meatloaf.
 
Preheat oven to 375℉.
 
Add butter to a small skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add diced bell pepper and onions. Sauté until peppers are softened and onions become translucent. This will take about 10 minutes.
 
 
 
While the onions and peppers are doing their thing, cut the stick of pepperoni into chunks and add to a food processor with the blade attachment. Pulse until ground consistency.
 

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

 
Use ground pepperoni in meatloaf for a flavor boost
 
In a mixing bowl add the ground pepperoni, ground beef, and ground sausage. Use a spatula to break the meat up and give it a stir to mix it up. If you like getting your hands dirty, don’t worry, that comes later.
 
Add the peppers, onions and that melted butter it cooked in over the meat mixture. Give a quick mix with the spatula to combine.
 
Add cheese, tomato sauce, seasonings, and beaten eggs. Give a stir to combine.
 
Here’s where it gets a little messy! Nothing mixes a meatloaf like your hands. Take off those rings and get your hands in there and mix it up good!
 
Add the meatloaf mixture to a large casserole dish and form into a loaf. I prefer baking in a larger dish so the meatloaf isn’t soaking in fat the whole cooking process. I feel like the result is a better texture loaf.
 

Spicy Meatloaf Recipe

 
Delicious meatloaf recipe
 
Place the meatloaf into your preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The last 15 minutes of baking add tomato paste topping if desired.
 
 
Italian Style Meatloaf with secret ingredient

Savory Italian Style Meatloaf

 
Meatloaf Recipe - Delicious with pepperoni added
 

Let’s make this Savory Italian Style Meatloaf!

Meatloaf Recipe - Delicious with pepperoni added
4 from 9 votes
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Savory Italian Style Meatloaf Recipe

A savory Italian style meatloaf recipe that has a kick of pepperoni.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 1 meatloaf
Calories: 590kcal
Author: Julia Jordan | Julia’s Simply Southern

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. Butter
  • 1 S/M Onion diced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper diced
  • 1 lb. Ground Mild Italian Sausage
  • 1 lb. Ground Beef I use ground chuck
  • 1 6.5 oz. Pepperoni Stick ground (recommend Boar’s Head)
  • 1 c Cheddar Cheese grated
  • 1 8 oz Can Tomato Sauce plain
  • 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 2 Eggs beaten
  • Tomato Paste for topping optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375℉.
  • Add butter to a small skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add diced bell pepper and onions. Sauté until peppers are softened and onions become translucent. This will take about 10 minutes.
  • While the onions and peppers are doing their thing, cut the stick of pepperoni into chunks and add to a food processor with the blade attachment. Pulse until ground consistency. 
  • In a mixing bowl add the ground pepperoni, ground beef, and ground sausage. Use a spatula to break the meat up and give it a stir to mix it up.
  • Add the peppers, onions and that melted butter it cooked in over the meat mixture. Give a quick mix with the spatula to combine.
  • Add cheese, tomato sauce, seasonings, and beaten eggs. Give a stir to combine. 
  • Use hands to mix everything until well combined.
  • Add the meatloaf mixture to a large casserole dish and form into a loaf.
  • Place the meatloaf into your preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The last 15 minutes of baking add tomato paste topping if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 590kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 653mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
Julia - author and publisher of Julia's Simply Southern Food Blog Recipes

About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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7 Comments

  1. Your Italian Style Meatloaf looks delicious with great seasons! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
    Miz Helen

    Reply