Description
A delicious and hearty stuffed French bread recipe featuring a savory mixture of ground beef, celery, and a creamy soup base, topped with melted cheddar cheese for a perfect party appetizer or easy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf French bread
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)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed bread.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and dried minced onion, then drain excess grease. Add chopped celery and minced garlic, cooking until celery is tender. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes until heated through.
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise to create two equal pieces. Scoop out the soft bread from the center of each half and tear it into small pieces. Add the bread pieces to the beef mixture in the skillet and stir well to combine.
- Assemble: Place the two bread halves on a large baking sheet. Spoon the warm beef and bread mixture evenly into the center of one bread half. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the meat mixture. Top with the other half of the French bread to form a sandwich.
- Bake and Serve: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted thoroughly. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy your stuffed French bread!
Notes
- You can substitute the cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup based on preference.
- Using lean ground beef reduces grease and makes the dish less fatty.
- For added flavor, consider sprinkling a little additional cheese on top before baking.
- Chopping parsley is optional but adds a fresh, colorful garnish.
- Allowing the stuffed bread to rest after baking helps the filling set for easier slicing.
