Garbage bread isn’t the most appetizing title for a recipe, but it tastes much better than the name implies!
It’s a lot like Stromboli, and some even call it cheeseburger Stromboli! It’s hearty, satisfying, and so full of flavor.
Stuffed with ground beef, cheddar cheese, and bacon, it’s impossible to resist.
Serve it for parties, game days, or whenever the mood strikes you.
Why You’ll Love This Garbage Bread
Comfort Food: With its warm, gooey interior and crispy exterior, garbage bread delivers a satisfying comfort food experience
Party Pleaser: It’s perfect for gatherings and can be sliced into portable, mess-free portions for easy serving and eating.
Meal Prep-Friendly: Prepare garbage bread in advance and freeze it for quick, satisfying meals on busy weeknights.
Great for Leftovers: It transforms odds and ends from your fridge into a delicious, cohesive meal, reducing food waste and saving money.
Ingredients
- Refrigerated pizza dough: Be sure to let it thaw before using it. I like Pillsbury Classic Crust, but you can use whatever brand you enjoy most.
- Butter: Spread the butter evenly across the crust and melt it first. Use salted or unsalted as you prefer.
- Cheddar cheese: Hand-shred the cheese yourself. The bagged kind contains an anti-caking agent that makes it harder to melt.
- Ground beef & bacon: Ensure both ingredients are fully cooked before adding them to the bread. They won’t have time to cook while the bread is baking.
- Onion: Because onions make every savory dish taste a little better.
- Sauces: Use a mixture of ketchup, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. They’ll help give the bread its cheeseburger-like flavor.
- Seasonings: I use garlic powder, salt, and pepper. For a more pizza-like flavor, add oregano and onion powder.
How to Make Garbage Bread
The steps for making garbage bread are even shorter than the ingredient list!
1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Assemble. Spread the pizza dough and cover it with melted butter and half the cheese. Then, mix up the filling and add it. Top the filling with the rest of the cheese.
3. Roll. Roll the dough up to form a log, starting with the long side. Gently pinch the seam to seal it. Then, place the roll on the baking sheet.
4. Bake. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Enjoy! Let the bread cool slightly. Then, cut it into thick slices and enjoy!
Tips and Variations
Want to mix things up a bit? Try one of these tips and variations.
- No ground beef? Use pre-cooked sausage or fully-cooked diced chicken instead.
- Make it spicy. Drizzle a bit of hot sauce over the top. Or mix some red pepper flakes or cayenne into the filling.
- Want a more pizza-like flavor? Use marinara sauce instead of ketchup and mustard. You can also add Italian seasoning or individual seasonings you often find on pizza.
- Add additional “toppings.” These include mushrooms, peppers, jalapenos, pickles, lettuce, and more. Add them after the filling and before the last round of cheese.
- Make it extra garlicky. Instead of plain melted butter, use garlic butter. You can buy it or make your own.
- Swap up the cheeses. This version of garbage bread is a cheeseburger garbage bread. For that reason, I like to use cheddar. If you want more of a pizza flavor, try mozzarella. You can also experiment with other cheeses to see what you like best. Mixing and matching is okay, too!
- Have it for breakfast. For a breakfast-themed treat, use sausage and bacon instead of ground beef. You can also add scrambled eggs and leave out the ketchup and mustard.
- Make it vegetarian-friendly. Simply leave out the meat and add your favorite veggies. You can experiment with everything from carrots and zucchini to eggplant and mushrooms.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Good news! This recipe is perfect for making ahead and storing leftovers.
Make-Ahead Option 1: Make the whole thing: Prepare the garbage bread according to the recipe card below. Let it cool, then pop it in the fridge until it’s almost time to serve. Before serving, heat it in the oven for 15-20 minutes until warm. Note: Don’t make it more than 24 hours beforehand.
Make-Ahead Option 2: Make just the filling: Cook the meat and mix it with the other filling ingredients. Store the filling ingredients in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then, use it to make the garbage bread when you’re ready.
To Store: Place the leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge. You can refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Warm them in the microwave or the oven.
To Freeze: Let the garbage bread cool completely. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe, air-tight container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
To Reheat: Let frozen leftovers thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat them in the oven until they are warmed through.
More Game Day Recipes
Looking for more party-worthy foods to serve for Game Day? Try some of these:
- Pigs in a Blanket (with Cheese!)
- Quick and Easy Nachos
- Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
Garbage Bread
6
servings15
minutes25
minutes421
Garbage bread might have a funny name, but it’s over-the-top delicious! With ground beef, bacon, and plenty of cheese, it’s a guaranteed winner.
Ingredients
1 (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza dough, thawed
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 pound ground beef, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup chopped cooked bacon
1/4 cup diced onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unroll the pizza dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it into an even rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
- Spread the butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese over the top.
- In a large bowl, mix the cooked ground beef, bacon, onion, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This will be the filling.
- Spread the filling evenly over the prepared dough. Leave a small border around the edges. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
- Starting from a long side, carefully roll up the dough to form a log. Pinch the seam to seal. Place the roll on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove the bread from the oven. Let it cool slightly before slicing it into thick pieces. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Bake the bread on a pizza stone for a crispier crust.
Can I do these in the air fryer?
Hi, Amanda!
Okay, so I’m not 100% sure, but yes. I definitely THINK you could! Here’s how I would personally adjust the recipe:
1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
2. Unroll the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll it into an even, 1/4-inch-thick rectangle.
3. Spread the melted butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese over the top.
4. Mix the cooked ground beef, bacon, onion, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl to create the filling.
5. Spread the filling evenly over the prepared dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar on top.
6. Starting from a long side, carefully roll up the dough to form a log. Pinch the seam to seal.
7. Cut the roll into 2– to 3-inch sections, depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
8. Place the sections in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each piece for air circulation. Cook in batches rather than overcrowding.
9. Air fry for about 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through. You may need to flip them halfway through cooking for even browning.
10. Remove the rolls from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.
Now, I’m not Kim, and I’m not nearly as skilled at adjusting and creating recipes as she is, but I’m…. let’s call it 92% sure it would work. Haha. Don’t hate me, please, if it doesn’t! <3 And also, let me know how it turns out if you try it.