Meat Lovers Pizza Bread with Pepperoni and Cheese (Print version)

Golden pizza bread stuffed with saucy beef, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella, and provolone, baked until crisp and served with warm pizza sauce.

# Ingredients:

For the filling

01 - 1/2 lb (225 g) lean ground beef
02 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, divided
03 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
06 - 3/4 cup (180 ml) thick pizza sauce, divided, plus more for serving if desired
07 - 2 oz (55 g) sliced pepperoni
08 - 1/3 cup (35 g) cooked crumbled bacon

For the bread

09 - 1 tube or ball refrigerated pizza dough, about 13.8 oz (390 g)
10 - 4 slices provolone cheese
11 - 1 cup (115 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
12 - 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
13 - 2 tablespoons (12 g) grated Parmesan cheese

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat with 1/4 teaspoon oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until no pink remains, then drain well.
03 - Let the beef cool for a few minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup pizza sauce until the meat is coated but not wet.
04 - Stretch the pizza dough on the prepared baking sheet into a rectangle about 10 by 14 inches. If it springs back, let it rest for 5 minutes and stretch again.
05 - Spread 1/2 cup pizza sauce down the center third of the dough. Layer provolone, pepperoni, sauced beef, bacon, and mozzarella over the sauce.
06 - Cut 1-inch strips along both long sides of the dough, stopping before the filling. Fold the strips over the center, alternating sides, then pinch the ends closed.
07 - Mix melted butter with Parmesan and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon oregano. Brush over the loaf and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crust is deep golden and baked through.
08 - Let the pizza bread rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with extra heated pizza sauce for dipping.

# Good to know:

01 - Resting the loaf before slicing helps the cheese settle and keeps the filling inside.
02 - Use a thick pizza sauce for the cleanest slices.

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