Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe is a delicious and hearty baked dish featuring a savory ground beef mixture combined with celery, onion, and spices, all nestled inside a hollowed-out French bread loaf and topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect as a comforting main course or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, it offers a flavorful blend of textures and tastes with minimal prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 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 pepper
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the stuffed bread.
- Cook Beef Mixture: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the dried minced onion until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are softened. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings: Add the chopped celery and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for a few minutes until the celery becomes tender. Then stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare Bread: While the beef mixture is cooking, slice the French bread loaf lengthwise into two equal halves. Carefully scoop out the soft bread from the center of each half and tear these pieces into small chunks. Add these bread chunks to the beef mixture in the skillet and stir to combine well.
- Assemble the Bread: Place the two hollowed-out halves of French bread on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly into the cavity of one bread half, spreading it out smoothly.
- Add Cheese and Top: Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped parsley for garnish. Then place the second half of the bread on top to form a stuffed sandwich.
- Bake: Bake the assembled stuffed French bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Slice and Serve: Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes to set. Slice into portions and serve warm. Enjoy your comforting stuffed French bread!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup based on preference.
- For a softer texture, you can optionally toast the hollowed bread halves lightly before stuffing.
- Chopped parsley is optional but adds a fresh pop of color and flavor.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and calories.
- This recipe can be doubled or adjusted to feed larger groups.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
