These mini sandwiches are amazing. Start with meatloaf packed with roasted red peppers, then make mini sandwiches topped with BBQ Sauce, Provolone Cheese and Red Pepper Pesto. Perfect for game day.
These sandwiches are freaking amazing. I cannot even begin to tell you how scrumptious they are. Plus they're just cute. I love meatloaf but let's be honest, it's not overly pretty. Pop  it inside tiny little sammies and it looks adorable. Cute, tasty food is just so much fun.
Today wraps up our Pepper Party with Divemex. It's been so much fun participating. I love parties like this. The pepper peeps involved are amazing. Make sure you stick around check out all their recipes.
This recipe is simple to make and seriously delicious. Â You MUST try these. They are divine. We've had them a gazillion times now. So good!
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Mini Meatloaf Sandwiches with Red Pepper Pesto #PepperParty
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
- 1 cup Roasted Red Peppers
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup milk
- 2 eggs
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Garlic salt/powder to taste
- Onion salt/powder to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoke paprika
- ½ cup of barbecue sauce
For the Red Pepper Pesto:
- 2 red peppers seeded
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot
- Fresh cilantro to taste (I used about 12 leaves)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ½ cup olive oil more or less to taste and how thick or thin you like yours
For the Sandwiches:
- Meatloaf already cooked
- Pesto made in advance
- 1 fresh baguette sliced
- 16 slices of provolone cheese
- 1 cup barbecue sauce more or less to taste
Instructions
For the Meatloaf:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix all the ingredients (except the barbecue sauce) in a large bowl by hand. Make sure you don't overwork it. Just mix it enough to combine it.
- Spray two loaf pans with non stick spray. Divide the mixture between the two loaf pans. You want to use two so the meatloaf is a good size for sandwiches, less cutting involved.
- Cover with foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Uncover, pour the sauce over top and place back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Allow to cool so it's easier to slice.
For the Red Pepper Pesto:
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse. I start with about half the oil then add more as I gauge the consistency. Pulse till combined but slightly chunky. Set aside till needed. It's best used that day, I make mine right before I need it.
For the Sandwiches:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- First thing I like to do is slice my baguette. Slice thinly so you have enough for 12 to 16 sandwiches. I like to toast mine so I butter both sides of each slice of bread. Then I cook them in a frying pan till they are golden brown. This serves two purposes, it adds flavour, but it also crisps up the bread so it will not get soggy.
- Now lay parchment paper on a rimmed cookie sheet. Lay one layer of bread down.
- Slice the meatloaf and lay one slice on each.
- Top with 1 tablespoon of barbecue sauce on top of the meatloaf.
- Now add 1 slice of cheese on each.
- Leave the top piece of bread off. Pop the cookie sheet into the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, just enough time to let the cheese melt.
- Remove from oven.
- You can optionally add more barbecue sauce. I did. Live large peeps!
- Top with fresh pesto.
- Add the top layer of baguette.
- You can tie them up with string if they are for a party. If not you can chow down immediately.
- Serve with a big old "I love my Mom's Meatloaf" smile!
Notes
Make sure you stop by to visit the other Pepper Party Peeps to see what they whipped up for you!
Roasted Bell Pepper Slow Cooker Soup by Cook the Story
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Stuffed Peppers by What Jew Wanna Eat
Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli {with Bacon} by Chocolate & Carrots
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
Texas Caviar by Juanita’s Cocina
Parmesan Soufflé with a Citrus Pepper Sauce by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage and Peppers by Mother Thyme
Shrimp & Garlic Rice Stuffed Peppers by White Lights on Wednesday
Canned Roasted Red Peppers by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Steak Fajita Bell Pepper Boats from It’s Yummi!
Balsamic Chicken & Pepper Sandwiches by Mom’s Test Kitchen
Kielbasa with Peppers and Onions by {i love} my disorganized life
Bacon Chili with Peppers by poet in the pantry
Red Pepper Sriracha Quiona Cakes by Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken and Peppers by Take A Bite Out of Boca
I have to tell you these sandwiches are so good they will become a family favourite. The meatloaf is super moist so it's perfect to make sandwiches with, or just eat, like right out of the pan.
Hubs and I were stealing pieces as I was trying to assemble these for the photos. I was so caught up stealing meatloaf from the pan that I forgot to close the door in my studio. By the time I went in to shoot these sandwiches my studio was flipping freezing. So the cheese didn't stay as hot and melty as I would have liked. The joys of fall. I was enjoying the nice cool weather and didn't realize the temperature had dropped significantly in the hour while I was cooking. That's what happens when you blare music and steal bites of meatloaf instead of rushing along like you should be. Thankfully these things are good hot and cold. I love recipes like that.
Toodles! xx
Jennie @themessybakerblog
Kim, these are the cutest freakin' meat sammies I've ever laid eyes on. Pass me 6, please. Pinned!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Jennie. I just love these. I've made them oodles of times the last couple of months. Perfect comfort food.
john@kitchenriffs
Great looking sandwiches! Tasting while you make things is so much fun - and so deadly! - isn't it? A lot of the fun of cooking. 😉 Good stuff - thanks.
Kim Beaulieu
Omg these are so good. I had so much fun with these.
Abbe@This is How I Cook
I just like to eat bell peppers! And I like to eat meatloaf. Maybe I will eat the meatloaf with the peppers.
Brooks
M'kay I'm dubbing you 'Bell Pepper Beaulieu' because you've been rocking these pepper recipes of late. These twine-bound sams are looking mighty tasty. You really shouldn't do this to a hungry man at lunch, but I'll overlook it—this time!
Coco in the Kitchen
These are the cutest. I could see myself gobbling up a bunch of them, KimBee! oxo
Dionne Baldwin
Roasted red peppers and I kind of have a thing. We really like each other. I'd like a rendevouz over this meatloaf with that pesto!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
These would suit me down to the ground - I love small sandwiches because I can never eat all of a big one. Love it!
Susan
So adorable! I know what I'm doing next time I make meatloaf and have leftovers. These sandwiches!
Emily @ Life on Food
These are so cute. I love eating meatloaf but sometimes the whole slice of beef wierds me out. I love stuffed peppers. I don't make them nearly often enough.
Ramona W
Omgosh... how cute are these!! They are like a perfect little parcel... love the ribbon touch. I would need to eat at least a dozen... so hand them over. 🙂
Jen @JuanitasCocina
Hand me over a dozen or so. 😀
Meghan
Meatloaf is my favorite comfort food & these are soooooo cute! I'll take a dozen, please!
Betsy Cohen
These look divine!!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
I love the red pepper pesto, Kim! And of course, the fact that these are minis!
Fran
Let me just say I stumbled on ur page and everything looks soooo good now I'm hungry wanting to make half of ur blog tonight!
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
These are too cute! And they look super tasty too!
Vivian H
So insanely delicious! I am obsessed with that pesto!
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you so much.
Toni
My family loved these mini sandwiches!! Perfect for our family day!
Kim Beaulieu
That's awesome. Thanks so much.