Description
This Stuffed French Bread recipe features a savory mixture of ground beef, celery, and cream of celery soup, all baked inside a crusty French bread loaf topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal or appetizer, it combines rich flavors with a satisfying texture in a quick 30-minute prep and bake time.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 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)
Bread
- 1 loaf French bread
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the stuffed bread.
- Cook the Filling: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and dried minced onion until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease. Add chopped celery and minced garlic, cooking a few more minutes until the celery is tender. Stir in cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise to create two equal pieces. Carefully scoop out the soft bread from the center of each piece and tear it into small pieces. Add these bread pieces to the beef mixture and stir well to combine.
- Assemble the Bread: Place the two halves of French bread cut-side up on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly into the hollowed-out center of one half. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mixture. Place the other half of the French bread on top to cover the filling.
- Bake and Serve: Bake the stuffed French bread in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy this savory and cheesy treat!
Notes
- You can substitute the cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or chicken soup based on preference.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the filling mixture.
- Leftover stuffed bread can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven to retain crispness.
- Use freshly grated cheese for better melting and flavor.
- Optional parsley garnish adds a fresh, colorful touch.
