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Meat Lovers Pizza Bread: The Ultimate Stuffed Braided Loaf with Three-Meat Excellence

A savory, handheld twist on the classic meat lovers pizza. Lean ground beef is seasoned with oregano and garlic, then layered with spicy pepperoni, creamy provolone, and gooey mozzarella inside a soft pizza dough crust. Brushed with garlic-parmesan butter and baked until golden, it’s served with warm pizza sauce for the perfect "dip-and-eat" dinner.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main-course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Proteins: ½ lb lean ground beef 2 oz thin-sliced pepperoni.
  • Dough: 1 tube 13.8 oz refrigerated pizza dough.
  • Cheeses: 4 slices provolone 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 2 tbsp grated Parmesan.
  • Sauce: 1 jar pizza sauce divided.
  • Seasoning & Finishing: ½ tsp dried oregano divided, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp melted butter.

Method
 

  1. Brown the Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with ¼ tsp oregano, garlic powder, and salt until browned. Drain grease.
  2. Mix: Once slightly cooled, stir ⅓ cup of the pizza sauce into the beef.
  3. Prep Dough: Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll the dough onto a baking sheet.
  4. Layer: Spread ½ cup of pizza sauce down the center third of the dough. Layer with provolone slices, pepperoni, the beef mixture, and shredded mozzarella.
  5. Braid: Cut 1-inch strips along both sides of the dough toward the filling. Fold the strips over the meat mixture at an angle, alternating sides to create a braided look.
  6. Season: Brush the top with melted butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan and the remaining ⅛ tsp oregano.
  7. Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
  8. Serve: Heat the remaining pizza sauce in a bowl and serve alongside the sliced bread for dipping.

Notes

  • Soggy Bottom Fix: If you’re worried about the bottom crust getting soft, preheat your baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes before carefully unrolling the dough onto it.
  • Veggie Addition: This recipe is "meat lovers," but a few sautéed mushrooms or black olives tucked inside would add a nice texture.
  • Dough Tip: Ensure the ground beef has cooled slightly before adding it to the dough; if it's steaming hot, it may cause the dough to tear or become sticky.