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!