Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a savory ground beef mixture combined with tender celery, creamy soup, and melted cheddar cheese, all nestled inside a crusty French bread loaf. Baked to perfection, it’s a comforting and easy-to-make meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
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 (175°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed bread.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: Brown the ground beef along with dried or fresh minced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease. Add chopped celery and minced garlic to the skillet and cook a few more minutes until the celery becomes tender. Then stir in cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until it’s heated through, 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 centers of each half, tearing it into small pieces. Add these bread pieces into the beef mixture in the skillet and stir to combine evenly.
- Assemble Stuffed Bread: Place the two half loaves on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly onto one half of the bread. Spread it out evenly, then top with the shredded cheddar cheese. Finally, place the other half of the bread on top to close the sandwich.
- Bake: Bake the stuffed French bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes to set. Slice into portions and serve warm. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley before serving for a fresh touch. Enjoy your hearty stuffed French bread!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup based on preference.
- For extra flavor, consider adding herbs like thyme or rosemary to the beef mixture.
- Use freshly grated cheese for best melting and flavor results.
- Leftover stuffed bread can be reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
- Optional parsley garnish adds color and a hint of freshness.
