One Loaf to Love

Makes 1 loaf, 8 slices

1 cup finely diced mushrooms
1/2 cup each finely diced red bell pepper, zucchini, and onions
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 lbs extra-lean ground beef
1 cup fresh whole wheat bread crumbs, or 1/2 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp barbecue sauce or ketchup
1 pkg hamburger seasoning mix, sloppy joe mix or meatloaf seasoning mix
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup packed shredded light Monterey Jack, provolone or mozzarella cheese

1.  Preheat oven to 375°F.  Spray a medium, non-stick skillet with cooking spray.  Add mushrooms, red pepper, zucchini, onions and garlic.  Cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.  Add basil and cook 1 minute more.  Remove from heat and set aside.

2.  In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, hamburger seasoning mix, egg, parsley and pepper.  Mix well using your hands.

3.  On a large sheet of waxed paper, form meat mixture into a 10 x 12-inch rectangle.  Make sure edges are nice and straight, not jagged.  Spread reserved vegetable filling over meat, leaving a 1/2-inch border.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up meat loaf from the shorter (10-inch) end, lifting the waxed paper to help get it started.  Roll it as tightly as possible.  Pinch seam closed.

4.  Transfer meat to a broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Remove from oven and spread remaining 2 tbsp barbecue sauce over meat loaf.  Return to oven and bake for 10 more minutes, or until meat is cooked through and a meat thermometer inserted in the center registers 160°F.

5.  Let meat loaf stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Recipe taken from