Italian Recipes - Pizza-Sauced Meat Loaf

Ingredients                     

• 1 beaten egg

• 8-ounce can pizza sauce

• 1/2 cup seasoned fine dry bread crumbs

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, or Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

---

Method:

1. In a large bowl combine egg, 1/2 cup of the pizza sauce, and the bread crumbs. Add ground beef and mix well.

2. On waxed paper, shape meat mixture into a 6-inch round loaf. Crisscross three 18x2-inch foil strips on a dinner plate. Place meat loaf in center of strips.

3. Bringing up foil strips, lift and transfer meat and foil to a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Press meat away from side of cooker to avoid burning.  

4. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

5. Using foil strips, carefully lift meat loaf from the cooker and transfer to a serving plate.

6. Spoon remaining pizza sauce over meat; sprinkle with cheese. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.