Cheesy Basketball Meatloaves

Submitted by Jonathan Melendez

"Mini meatloaves cooked in bell pepper rings and covered in cheese. It's a hearty way to have fun with your food!"

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Yields: 6 mini meatloaves

ingredients

• 3 large orange bell peppers
• 1 1⁄2 lbs ground beef
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1⁄2 white onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard
• 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 slices cheddar cheese
• 1⁄2 cup olive tapenade

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.
2. Working with one bell pepper at a time, cut off the very bottom and the top step part of each pepper. Remove the seeds and ribs from the peppers and then cut each into 2 thick rings. Place the rings on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, milk, ketchup, mustard and parsley. Mix with your hands until well combined. Divide the mixture between the six bell pepper rings, packing it in as best you can. Drizzle the top with oil and then bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Cut the cheese slices into circles, using a large round cookie cutter. Remove from the meatloaves from the oven and top each with a slice of cheese. Bake until melted through, about 5 minutes.
5. Use store-bought tapenade or pesto to make the lines of the basketballs right before serving.