Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a savory blend of ground beef, celery, and creamy soup, all nestled inside a crispy French bread loaf and topped with melted cheddar cheese. A perfect hearty and comforting meal ready in just 30 minutes, ideal for family dinners or casual 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 the Oven: Set your oven to 350° F (175° C) to prepare it for baking the stuffed bread later.
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease. Add the chopped celery and minced garlic, cooking a few more minutes until the celery softens. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf lengthwise into two equal halves. Carefully scoop out the soft bread center from each half and tear it into small pieces. Add these bread pieces to the skillet with the beef mixture, stirring to combine evenly.
- Assemble the Sandwich: Place the two bread halves on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture onto one half of the bread, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the freshly grated cheddar cheese over the filling, then top with the other half of the bread.
- Bake and Serve: Bake the stuffed bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bread is heated through. Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy your delicious stuffed French bread!
Notes
- Substitute cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup for cream of celery soup if preferred.
- For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of smoked paprika or chili flakes to the beef mixture.
- Use freshly grated cheese for better melting and taste compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- The bread scooped out from the center helps absorb flavors and keeps the filling moist.
