Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine

This is my go-to po boy bread dough recipe from the bread machine. No way am I enough of a baker to make a dough from scratch without a bread machine. I could never make something as good as this dough. It makes for the perfect po boy. The bread gets a nice crunchy, but thin, exterior. The insides are light, soft and airy.

I’ve made this po boy bread from a bread machine at least 30 times and every time it has come out great. Well, or it did after I got the hang of rolling it into a nice loaf shape. I also learned that cutting the slits isn’t just for making it pretty, the bread seems to keep a better shape.

Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine

To get the slits just right you need to use a very, very sharp knife. You don’t want to manhandle the dough cutting it. You want the knife to go through it effortlessly.

Check out The Southern Po’ Boy Cookbook for ideas on how to use your po boy bread. I love making the ham and Swiss po boy from the cookbook, among others! (And you have to use this bread when making my Cajun Muffaletta poboys!)

Also try my bread machine Italian herb bread.

Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine
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5 from 2 votes

Po Boy Bread from the Bread Machine

This is my go-to po boy bread dough recipe from the bread machine. 
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Keyword bread, homemade, sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 1 loaf
Calories 1485kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the glaze

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water

Instructions

  • Place ingredients into your bread machine in the order listed.
  • Process on the dough settings. After 5-10 minutes check the consistency of the dough. It should be sticky but not stick to the sides. If it is too dry add water, but in 1/2 teaspoon increments. If it is too wet add more flour 1 teaspoon at at time.
  • When the dough cycle is completed remove the dough to a lightly floured surface.
  • Roll the dough out into a rectangle that is approximately 16″ wide and 12″ deep.
  • Roll up the dough along the long edge.
  • Pinch the seam and ends closed and place onto a lightly greased baking sheet, seam-side down.
  • Cover with a cheesecloth and place into a warm place to rise until doubled, about an hour.
  • After about 30 minutes of rising preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Uncover the bread and, using a very sharp knife, make a few 1/2″ deep slits along the top of the dough, about 2″ apart.
  • Whisk together the glaze ingredients and brush over the top of the dough.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Reduce the temperature to 350 F and bake another 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Let cool slightly before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 1485kcal | Carbohydrates: 283g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 3553mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

French Bread Pizza Rustica

Don’t let the fact that this French bread pizza rustica doesn’t have a sauce on it throw you off. Every bite is incredible. All of your favorite toppings, but with a little twist. Spinach. Yes, spinach. You can play around with the toppings, substituting whatever suits your fancy, but don’t leave out the spinach. For years I wasn’t a big spinach fan. Now I am. Now I say things like “don’t leave out the spinach”.

French Bread Pizza Rustica

I’ve found variations on this French bread pizza rustica online, and some have you cook the vegetables a bit before putting them onto the bread. I opted to skip that step. We found the slightly crunchy (they do cook a bit in the oven) vegetables to be perfect. If you do want to cook the vegetables, just add to the skillet after you cook the Italian sausage and saute for about 5 minutes.

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Also make my baked Italian sub pizza.

French Bread Pizza Rustica
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5 from 1 vote

French Bread Pizza Rustica

Don’t let the fact that this French bread pizza rustica doesn’t have a sauce on it throw you off. Every bite is incredible. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword French bread, pizza
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 949kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ small red bell pepper seeded, chopped
  • ½ small green bell pepper seeded, chopped
  • 1 small red onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 12 ounce spinach frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, squeezed dry
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups Ricotta
  • ½ cup Parmesan grated
  • ½ stick pepperoni chopped
  • 4 cups cheese Mozzarella and Provolone, shredded
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Split the bread lengthwise. Optionally, hollow out the loaf by removing some of the bread. Love toppings? Hollow it out. Want less topping? Don’t hollow it out. (You might have topping left over).
  • Crumble sausage into a large skillet with the oil and cook until done.
  • Remove and let cool. Optionally, transfer sausage to a food processor and pulse a few times to make the meat finer.
  • Transfer meat to a large bowl.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Spread mixture out onto the bread halves.
  • Place bread on baking sheets and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the bread is crunchy and the cheese starts to melt. Place under the broiler to brown lightly if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 949kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 64g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 1623mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1463IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 875mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Stuffed French Bread

We’ve been enjoying a somewhat mild winter here so far. We did have a few nights where it got a little cold, which means time to make comfort food. This simple stuffed French bread really packs a lot of great flavor in every bite, and it is definitely what I’d call comfort food. The meat filling is really quite incredibly yummy. It sort of reminds me of the flavors of a beef stroganoff. The French bread holds up well to the mixture. A lesser bread just isn’t going to do here, unless you want to serve it open-faced (which is actually a pretty good idea now that I think about it).

Stuffed French Bread

I love the extra sharp cheddar melted on top of these stuffed French bread sandwiches, but you could certainly use any other good melting cheese. A nice smoky provolone would be perfect also, as would Swiss or mozzarella.

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Also try my shrimp-stuffed bread.

Stuffed French Bread
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4 from 1 vote

Stuffed French Bread

This simple stuffed French bread really packs a lot of great flavor in every bite, and it is definitely what I’d call comfort food. The meat filling is really quite incredibly yummy. It sort of reminds me of the flavors of a beef stroganoff.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword French bread, stuffed
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 403kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread split horizontally, most of the center removed
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons sweet onion minced
  • ½ cup celery chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ cups extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • ½ tablespoon parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Place bread halves on a baking sheet.
  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet.
  • Add the onion and saute for 2-3 minutes.
  • Drain any excess fat.
  • Add celery and cook until it starts to soften.
  • Add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the soup, milk and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook until mixture is heated through.
  • Pour mixture into bottom bread half and spread out evenly.
  • Add cheese and add bread top.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden and crispy.
  • Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 718mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 269IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 196mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza

I needed a break from grilling burgers or hot dogs, so I threw together this really easy southwest grilled chicken French bread pizza. You can make the entire pizza on the grill, or just toss it in the oven. Pizzas like this one are a great way to use leftover chicken, too.

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza

French bread pizzas like this one are also an excellent way to use up leftover vegetables. I had some sliced onion and green bell pepper on hand, so I threw them in. Fresh sliced jalapenos would also be great.

Also try my New Orleans French bread pizza.

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza
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4 from 1 vote

Southwest Grilled Chicken French Bread Pizza

 needed a break from grilling burgers or hot dogs, so I threw together this really easy southwest grilled chicken French bread pizza. You can make the entire pizza on the grill, or just toss it in the oven.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, French bread, grilled, pizza, southwestern
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 571kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound chicken breasts boneless, skinless, split horizontally then cut into thin strips
  • ½ medium sweet onion sliced
  • ½ medium bell pepper sliced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 loaf French bread split horizontally
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheese I used an Italian blend

Instructions

  • Toss the chicken, onion, pepper, chili powder and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
  • If cooking on the grill, preheat grill to high and add chicken mixture. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is done and the vegetables are tender. (A grill basked will help keep you from losing any veggies between the grates.)
  • If cooking indoors, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken mixture. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is done and the vegetables are tender.
  • Place the bread on the grill over indirect heat for a few minutes until it starts to get crispy. If using the oven, place the bread under the broiler for a minute or two until crispy. Remove.
  • Spread sauce over both cut sides of the bread.
  • Add cooked chicken mixture.
  • Top with cheese.
  • Place back on the grill over indirect heat until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy.
  • Or, place on a baking sheet under the oven broiler until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 571kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 1468mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1548IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Shrimp-Stuffed Bread

I’ve been a subscriber of Chile Pepper magazine (sadly, no longer publishing) for quite some time now. Every issue has not only great recipes, but also articles on peppers, products and cuisines. Even if you aren’t a fan of heat or spice, Chile Pepper is well worth the subscription price. Why? Because it’s packed with awesome recipes like this one for shrimp-stuffed bread.

Shrimp-Stuffed Bread

The original recipe called for crawfish tails, which would also make for an amazing dish. But, all of the crawfish around here are imported. I can get Louisiana shrimp thankfully. So that’s why I made shrimp-stuffed bread instead.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my shrimp-stuffed potato skins and stuffed French bread.

Shrimp-Stuffed Bread
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4 from 1 vote

Shrimp-Stuffed Bread

The original recipe called for crawfish tails, which would also make for an amazing dish. But, all of the crawfish around here are imported. I can get Louisiana shrimp thankfully. So that’s why I made shrimp-stuffed bread instead.
Course Side or Main
Cuisine Creole
Keyword bread, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 662kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Chile Pepper Magazine

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup white onion diced
  • ½ large red bell pepper diced
  • ½ large green bell pepper diced
  • 1 pound shrimp 26-30 count, shelled and cleaned
  • 6 ounces Habanero cheddar cheese cut into chunks
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Slice the bread in half lengthwise and remove some of the insides.
  • Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, peppers, and salt and pepper to taste. Saute until soft, 10-12 minutes.
  • Stir in the shrimp and saute for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Place the cheese, pepper flakes and mayonnaise into a blender or food processor and blend until combined. Add to the bowl with the shrimp and fold to mix.
  • Scoop mixture into the bread. Close bread halves and wrap in foil.
  • Place bread onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Cut into 4 pieces and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 662kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 313mg | Sodium: 1579mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.