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Easy & Delicious Meat Lovers Pizza Bread

This Meat Lovers Pizza Bread takes everything you love about a hearty, meaty pizza and wraps it up in a warm, golden, pull-apart bread form. It's pure comfort food magic, and honestly, it’s way easier to whip up than you might think. Perfect for a cozy night in, movie marathon, or game day gathering.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Filling
  • 1/2 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano divided
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup pizza sauce from 1 jar, for filling
For the Pizza Bread Assembly
  • 1 tube refrigerated pizza dough 13.8 ounces
  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce from 1 jar, for dough
  • Remaining pizza sauce from 1 jar, for dipping
  • 4 slices provolone cheese
  • 2 oz thin-sliced pepperoni about 1/3 cup
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 Tbs butter melted
  • 2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment

  • Large Non-Stick Skillet
  • Baking Sheet
  • Knife or Pizza Cutter
  • Spatula or Spoon

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Get a baking sheet ready, preferably one with shallow sides.
  2. Step 2: In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, breaking it up. Drain any extra fat. Stir in 1/4 tsp dried oregano, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Let cool slightly, then stir in about 1/3 cup pizza sauce.
  3. Step 3: Unroll refrigerated pizza dough onto the prepared baking sheet to form a rectangle.
  4. Step 4: Spread about 1/2 cup pizza sauce down the center third of the dough rectangle, leaving room at the edges. Layer provolone slices, pepperoni, ground beef mixture, and shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
  5. Step 5: Using a knife or pizza cutter, make cuts about 1-inch apart along both long sides of the dough rectangle, stopping where the filling starts. Bring the dough strips up and over the filling, alternating sides to create a braid or mummy wrap effect. Tuck the ends in.
  6. Step 6: Brush the top and sides of the braided dough with melted butter. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese and the remaining 1/4 tsp of oregano over the buttered dough.
  7. Step 7: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the dough is puffed, golden brown, and baked through. Keep an eye on it; loosely tent with foil if edges brown too fast.
  8. Step 8: While baking, gently warm up the remaining pizza sauce for dipping.
  9. Step 9: Let the pizza bread cool for a few minutes before slicing (a serrated knife works well) and serving with the warm dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to customize toppings with sautéed veggies like onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, or black olives. Other meats like Italian sausage, bacon, or cooked chicken can replace or join the ground beef and pepperoni. Cheese swaps like cheddar or Monterey Jack also work. While best baked fresh, the cooked meat mixture can be prepped a day ahead and stored in the fridge to save time. Store leftovers wrapped tightly in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or regular oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes for best results.