Stuffed Oven Baguettes with Italian Sausage and Melted Cheese Recipe
These Stuffed Oven Baguettes are a comforting and flavorful meal featuring crusty baguettes filled with a savory Italian sausage and bell pepper mixture, topped with a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses, then baked to golden, bubbly perfection. Perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner, this recipe combines rich tomato sauce with aromatic herbs and melty cheese inside a crispy bread shell.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Baguette and Cheese
- 2 large baguettes, preferably day-old
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces provolone cheese, shredded
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (sweet or hot, your preference!)
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Baguettes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice off the top lengthwise of each baguette, leaving one side attached as a hinge. Carefully hollow out the soft inner bread, leaving about a 1/2-inch thick shell. Place the hollowed baguettes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Make the Sausage Filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook the Vegetables and Sausage: Add the chopped red and green bell peppers to the skillet and cook for around 5 minutes until slightly softened. Then, add the ground Italian sausage. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Drain excess grease from the pan.
- Incorporate Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Simmer the Filling: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors meld together.
- Stuff the Baguettes: Remove the skillet from heat. Carefully spoon the sausage and vegetable filling evenly into the hollowed baguette shells.
- Prepare the Cheese Topping: In a large bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, provolone, and grated Parmesan cheeses. Mix well for even distribution.
- Add Cheese on Top: Sprinkle the mixed cheese generously over the sausage filling in each baguette.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the stuffed baguettes back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the Baguettes: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden, and the baguette shells are heated through and slightly crispy.
- Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool a few minutes. Slice each baguette into 1 to 2-inch thick pieces. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- Day-old baguettes work best for stuffing as they hold their shape better and get crispier when baked.
- Use sweet or hot Italian sausage based on your preferred spice level.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, omit the red pepper flakes.
- If you want extra crispiness, you can toast the hollowed baguette shells briefly before stuffing.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and re-heated in the oven for best texture.
Keywords: stuffed baguettes, Italian sausage recipe, baked stuffed bread, cheesy stuffed baguette, easy oven baked recipe
