Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a savory mixture of ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and creamy soup nestled inside crusty French bread, all baked until the cheese melts perfectly. Ideal for a hearty appetizer or a comforting meal, it’s easy to prepare and serves six.
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: Set your oven to 350° F to get it ready for baking the stuffed bread later.
- Cook the beef mixture: Brown the ground beef and minced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease to keep the dish lean. Add the chopped celery and minced garlic, cooking for a few more minutes until the celery softens. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Let this mixture cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the bread: While the beef mixture cooks, cut the French bread in half lengthwise to create two equal pieces. Scoop out the soft bread from the center of each half, tearing it into small pieces. Add the bread pieces to the beef mixture in the skillet, mixing well to combine.
- Assemble the stuffed bread: Place the two bread halves on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly onto one half of the French bread. Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese uniformly over the meat mixture, then cover with the other bread half.
- Bake and serve: Bake the stuffed bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted. Remove from oven and allow it to stand for 5 minutes before slicing into servings. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or chicken soup for variation.
- For a more flavorful dish, use freshly diced onion instead of dried minced onion.
- Make sure to drain the grease after browning the beef to keep the dish less greasy.
- Allow the stuffed bread to rest after baking to let the cheese set for easier slicing.
- Optional parsley adds a fresh pop of color and flavor.
