Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a hearty ground beef mixture combined with sautéed vegetables, creamy soup, and melted cheddar cheese inside a crusty French bread loaf. It’s a comforting, easy-to-make meal perfect for feeding a crowd or serving as a flavorful snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons dried minced onion (or freshly diced white onion)
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Other Ingredients
- 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 loaf French bread
- 1/2 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C) to prepare for baking the stuffed bread.
- Cook Beef Mixture: Brown the ground beef and minced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease. Add chopped celery and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for a few minutes until the celery softens. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until hot throughout, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Bread: While the beef mixture cooks, slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise to create two equal pieces. Scoop out the soft bread from the center of each half and tear it into small pieces. Add these bread pieces into the hot beef mixture and stir well to combine.
- Assemble the Bread: Place the two French bread halves on a large baking sheet. Spoon and spread the warm beef and bread mixture evenly into the center of one half of the bread. Then, evenly sprinkle the freshly grated cheddar cheese over the beef mixture. Place the other half of the bread on top to close the sandwich.
- Bake: Bake the assembled sandwich in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bread is warmed through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Slice and serve warm. Enjoy your delicious stuffed French bread!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup depending on your preference.
- Using freshly grated cheddar cheese yields the best melting and flavor.
- This recipe is great for a casual lunch or dinner and can be paired with a simple green salad.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.
- Leftovers can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to 2 days; reheat in the oven for best results.
