Stuffed Italian Meatloaf

Ingredients

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• 1 pound ground beef
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• ⅔ cup bread crumbs
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• 2 eggs, whisked
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• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
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• 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
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• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
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• 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese (Optional)
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• 3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
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• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
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• aluminum foil
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• 3 tablespoons barbeque sauce, or as needed
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• 2 tablespoons grated Cheddar cheese, or to taste (Optional)
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Instructions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. 2
   Mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl until combined. Press about 3/4 of the meat mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a loaf pan, leaving a well in the middle.
3. 3
   Mix together cream cheese, 1 cup Cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, garlic powder, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a separate bowl until combined. Press cream cheese mixture into the well of the meatloaf. Cover with remaining meat mixture, pressing along the edges to seal. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. 4
   Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 30 to 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Remove from the oven, brush with barbeque sauce, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons grated Cheddar. Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
5. 5
   Place meatloaf under the broiler and cook until barbeque sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.