Description

All the savory goodness of a Philly cheesesteak—tender beef, sautéed peppers & onions, melted provolone—packed into a juicy, flavor-bomb meatloaf. This mashup delivers the best of both worlds: the hands-free convenience of meatloaf with the iconic tastes of South Philly’s favorite sandwich. Perfect for dinner with mashed potatoes or tucked into sliced rolls for an epic sandwich.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Veggie Filling

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small yellow onion, finely diced

1 green bell pepper, seeded & diced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

Salt & pepper, to taste

For the Meatloaf

1¼ lb ground beef (80/20)

½ lb ground pork (optional, for extra moisture)

1 cup plain breadcrumbs

½ cup whole milk

2 large eggs, beaten

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

4–6 slices provolone cheese

For the Glaze (Optional)

¼ cup ketchup

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp brown sugar

To Serve (Optional)

Sliced hoagie rolls

Sautéed extra peppers & onions

Extra provolone or Cheez Whiz

Instructions

1️⃣ Sauté the Vegetables:

Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
In a skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil.
Add onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms; season lightly with salt & pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are soft and just beginning to brown, about 6–8 minutes.
Stir in garlic; cook 1 more minute. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

2️⃣ Prepare the Meat Mixture:

In a large bowl, soak breadcrumbs in milk for 2–3 minutes.
Add ground beef, ground pork (if using), beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Fold in the cooled veggies until evenly distributed, being careful not to overmix.

3️⃣ Shape into a Loaf:

Line a baking sheet or shallow loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Transfer the meat mixture and shape into a 9×5-inch loaf, smoothing the top.

4️⃣ Add the Cheese & Glaze:

If using glaze, whisk together ketchup, Dijon, and brown sugar.
Brush half the glaze over the top of the loaf.
Arrange provolone slices to cover the loaf (they may overlap).
Brush remaining glaze over cheese.

5️⃣ Bake:

Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 160 °F (71 °C).
If you like extra browning, broil on high for 2–3 minutes, watching closely.

6️⃣ Rest & Slice:

Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes to lock in juices.
Slice and serve hot—either plated with sides or piled into rolls for sandwich mode!

Notes

Make-Ahead: Assemble loaf and refrigerate (covered) up to 24 hours before baking.
Cheese Swap: Use Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for a spicy kick.
Spice It Up: Stir ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes into the meat mixture.
Low-Carb Option: Replace breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds.
Sandwich Style: Slice thinner and press into toasted hoagie rolls; top with extra sautéed veggies and a drizzle of cheese sauce or Cheez Whiz for authentic Philly flair.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 55 min