Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a savory ground beef and vegetable filling mixed with creamy soup and melted cheddar cheese, all encased in a crusty French bread loaf. It’s a comforting and easy-to-make baked dish perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons dried minced onion (or freshly diced white onion)
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 can (10 ounces) cream of celery soup (or cream of mushroom or chicken soup)
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
For the Bread
- 1 loaf French bread
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the stuffed bread later.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until fully cooked. Drain any grease. Add the chopped celery and minced garlic to the skillet and cook a few minutes until the celery is tender. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir the mixture about 5 minutes until it is heated through.
- Prepare the Bread: While the filling cooks, slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise to create two equal pieces. Hollow out the soft center crumb from each half and tear it into small pieces. Add these bread pieces into the beef mixture in the skillet and stir well to combine.
- Assemble the Stuffed Bread: Place the two bread halves open side up on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly into the cavity of one of the French bread halves. Spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the filling, then top with the other half of the bread loaf.
- Bake and Serve: Bake the stuffed French bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy your hearty and cheesy stuffed bread!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or chicken soup based on preference.
- For a stronger flavor, use freshly diced onion instead of dried minced onion.
- If you want to add extra veggies, feel free to include chopped bell peppers or mushrooms in the filling.
- Make sure to drain the fat after browning the beef for a leaner dish.
- Leftovers can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to keep the bread crispy.
