Italian Meats and Poultry Recipes - Sausage Pizza Sandwiches

Ingredients                      

• 1 egg

• 1 1/4 cups purchased meatless spaghetti sauce

• 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs

• 1/3 cup chopped onion

• 1 teaspoon dried basil or oregano, crushed

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage.

• 2 medium green, yellow, and/or red sweet peppers, cut into rings and halved

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking oil

• 8 kaiser rolls, split and toasted

• 1 6-ounce package sliced mozzarella cheese (8 slices)

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Method:

1. In a large bowl beat egg and 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce with a whisk. Stir in bread crumbs, onion, basil, and garlic. Add beef and sausage; mix well. Shape meat mixture into eight 1/2-inch-thick patties.

2. Tear off a 36xl2-inch piece of heavy foil; fold in half to make an 18x12-inch rectangle. Place sweet pepper strips in center of foil; drizzle with oil. Bring up two opposite edges of foil and seal with a double fold; fold in remaining ends to enclose the peppers, leaving space for steam to build.

3. Place patties and foil packet on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 10 to 13 minutes or until patties are done (160°F)* and peppers are tender, turning patties and foil packet once halfway through grilling.  

4. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 cup spaghetti sauce. Place patties on bottom halves of rolls; top with pepper strips and cheese.

5. Spoon some of the heated spaghetti sauce over patties. Top with roll tops. Pass any remaining spaghetti sauce.

*Note: The internal color of a burger is not a reliable doneness indicator. A beef or pork patty cooked to 160°F is safe, regardless of color. To measure the doneness of a patty, insert an instant-read thermometer through the side of the patty to a depth of 2 to 3 inches.