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Family-friendly meals made easy!
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Helena Crutcher
Hazel Green, Alabama
Bake Off
Bake-Of
This Sloppy Joe Meatloaf, a finalist in the 40th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest, is a cozy, crowd-pleasing twist on two family favorites. Hearty ground beef simmered in an herbed tomato sauce is topped with melty mozzarella, then baked between layers of Pillsbury™ Original French Bread dough for a savory, sliceable hot supper sandwich that feels familiar but a little more fun. It’s hearty enough for weeknight dinners, casual gatherings, or anytime you want comfort food with a twist—no buns required.
These simple ingredients work together to deliver bold flavor, satisfying texture, and that unmistakable sloppy joe vibe.
Pillsbury™ Original French Bread: This acts as a crust, holds the filling in place, and gives the dish a sliceable structure.
Ground Beef: This forms the hearty base of the meatloaf; we use meat that’s 90% lean to keep it less greasy, which makes it easier to slice. If you’d prefer, you can substitute ground turkey.
Tomato Sauce: Creates the saucy, sloppy joe-inspired foundation that keeps the filling moist.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Flour helps thicken the sauce so the filling holds together, and melty mozzarella cheese adds delicious, gooey richness. Dried basil and oregano—simple pantry spices—bring subtle Italian-style flavor. Onion and fennel seed add depth and mild sweetness to the filling. If you’re not a fan of fennel, skip it! Your meatloaf will still turn out delicious.
Here’s a big-picture look at how this savory baked meatloaf comes together. Read on for the full recipe details!
Brown the ground beef and onion until fully cooked, then drain. Stir in tomato sauce, flour, and seasonings, letting the mixture simmer briefly so it thickens and the flavors meld.
Cut the Pillsbury™ French Loaf Dough in half lengthwise and roll each half to form a long rectangle—this is what you’ll use to create the base and top layers.
Mix 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella into the beef mixture, spread the filling evenly over one dough rectangle, sprinkle with another 1/2 cup of cheese, then top with the second dough layer.
Bake until the bread is deeply golden and the filling is hot and melty throughout. Let cool slightly, then use a serrated knife to gently cut into slices for easy serving.
Leftovers store well and reheat easily, making this meatloaf just as satisfying the next day as it is fresh from the oven.
You can store leftover meatloaf in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Be sure to store leftovers within 2 hours of finishing preparation.
We don’t recommend storing Sloppy Joe Meatloaf in the freezer, as the French bread may get dense and soggy when thawed.
Reheat in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, for 10 to 15 minutes—or microwave individual slices for about 1 minute—until the meatloaf is hot and the center is 165°F when measured with a food thermometer.
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray baking sheet and large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. In sprayed skillet, combine ground beef and onion; cook until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.
Add tomato sauce, flour, basil, oregano, and fennel seed; mix well. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, remove dough from can; place on lightly floured surface. Cut loaf in half lengthwise. Roll each half to form 16x4-inch rectangle. Place 1 dough rectangle on sprayed baking sheet, being careful not to change shape.
Stir 1/2 cup of the cheese into ground beef mixture. Spoon and spread mixture over dough rectangle on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining dough rectangle.
Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into slices.
You can make the meat filling a day or two before making the Sloppy Joe Meatloaf, storing it in an airtight container in the fridge.
To help cut individual slices of Sloppy Joe Meatloaf, put a toothpick in the slice you’re about to cut to hold the filling and bread together.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 55mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 680mg | 28% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugars | 4g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 25g | % Value Not Available |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 6% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
