Description
Lasagna Stuffed Garlic Bread is a hearty and flavorful Italian-American dish that combines the savory taste of classic lasagna ingredients baked inside a crusty garlic bread loaf. This recipe features a delicious mixture of ground beef, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and creamy ricotta cheese, all topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It’s perfect for a comforting main course that’s easy to prepare and great for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Toppings
- 1 large Italian loaf or French bread
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1/2 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Hollow out some of the inside of the bread halves to create a ‘bread boat’ that will hold the filling. Set the hollowed-out bread aside.
- Cook the meat sauce: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion. Cook and stir until the meat is browned and the onion is softened, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Stir in minced garlic, marinara sauce, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove the skillet from heat.
- Mix the cheese filling: In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and chopped parsley. Stir until smooth and well mixed.
- Assemble the stuffed bread: Spread the ricotta mixture evenly inside each hollowed bread half. Spoon the meat sauce over the ricotta layer. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese generously on top.
- Add garlic butter and prepare for baking: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush this garlic butter mixture all over the edges and exposed surface of the bread halves. Place the stuffed bread halves on a baking sheet and cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake the garlic bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes covered. Then remove the foil and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, slice into portions, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can use store-bought garlic bread for a quicker preparation; just hollow it out and fill as directed.
- To make ahead, assemble the bread and refrigerate it, then bake just before serving to save time.
