Meat Lovers Bread
This Meat Lovers Bread recipe is a hearty and flavorful baked bread filled with assorted savory meats and melted cheeses inside a soft, golden crust. Perfect for quick meals, snacks, or gatherings, it features simple pantry ingredients and is easily customizable to suit your tastes or dietary needs.
- Author: Sophie
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (8-10 servings) 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Italian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Dough Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (around 110°F/43°C)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Filling Ingredients
- 1 cup assorted meats (ham, pepperoni, cooked bacon), chopped
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme mix)
- Prepare the Dough: Dissolve the active dry yeast and sugar in warm water and let it sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt, then slowly mix in the yeast mixture and olive oil until a sticky dough forms.
- Knead and Let Rise: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Prepare the Filling: While the dough is rising, chop the assorted meats and mix them together with shredded mozzarella, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian herbs.
- Assemble the Bread: Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down and roll it out into a large rectangle. Evenly spread the meat and cheese mixture over the dough’s surface, then roll it up tightly like a jelly roll.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the rolled dough seam-side down on a baking sheet, let it rest for 20 minutes, then bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
- Make sure your water is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast without killing it.
- Avoid overfilling the bread to prevent bursting during baking.
- Roll the dough evenly for consistent texture.
- Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors for neat slicing.
- Letting the rolled dough rest before baking improves oven rise and crumb.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/10 of loaf)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Meat Lovers Bread, savory bread, stuffed bread, cheesy bread, party appetizer, meat-filled bread, quick bread recipe