Description
Mouthwatering cheesy joe garlic bread blends Italian and American flavors in a comforting dish. Rich parmesan and melted mozzarella create an irresistible combination you won’t be able to resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for spice)
- 1 loaf French bread, cut in half lengthwise
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for extra cheesiness)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Thoroughly brown ground beef in a large skillet over high heat, developing deep caramelized flavors and rendering excess fat.
- Flavor Foundation: Incorporate onions and garlic into the meat, sautéing until aromatic and translucent, then blend in tomato sauce, paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and a complex spice mixture of salt, black pepper, paprika, and chili powder.
- Sauce Development: Simmer the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld and intensify while creating a rich, cohesive texture.
- Bread Transformation: Preheat oven to 375F and craft a garlic butter mixture by combining melted butter, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning.
- Bread Assembly: Brush French bread interior with herbed garlic butter, lightly toast to create a crisp base, then layer with prepared meat mixture and generously top with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
- Final Baking: Bake until cheese becomes fully molten with golden, bubbling edges, creating a decadent and visually appealing dish.
- Serving: Garnish with fresh parsley, slice into individual portions, and serve immediately while maintaining peak temperature and texture.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure high heat and avoid overcrowding the skillet to achieve proper caramelization and deep flavor development for the ground beef.
- Fat Management: Drain excess fat thoroughly to prevent greasy texture and maintain a clean, robust meat mixture.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Use a combination of mozzarella and cheddar for optimal meltability and flavor complexity, ensuring complete coverage of the bread.
- Bread Selection Strategy: Choose a sturdy French bread with a dense crumb to support the hefty meat and cheese topping without becoming soggy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg