Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Super Easy & Versatile: Brown beef, fry bacon, mix with cheese, roll it up—done! Plus, you can add nearly anything you like.
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Incredible Flavor: Melty Velveeta, sharp cheddar, savory seasonings, and crispy bacon create a cheesy explosion in every bite.
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Perfect for Sharing: Ideal for game days, parties, family dinners, or any occasion you want an easy, filling meal.
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Customizable: Swap meats (chicken, sausage, turkey), cheeses (mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss) or add veggies like mushrooms, peppers, pickles—as creative as you want.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
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Pizza dough (refrigerated French bread or pizza dough)
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Ground beef
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Bacon, cooked and chopped
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Onion, diced
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Seasonings: hamburger seasoning or steak seasoning, salt, pepper
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Velveeta (or other melty cheese)
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Shredded cheddar or cheddar‑jack cheese
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Optional fillings: mushrooms, bell peppers, pickles, jalapeños, etc.
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Egg wash and toppings: beaten egg, sesame or everything‑bagel seasoning
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Sauce for dipping: mayo, ketchup, mustard mix or Thousand Island dressing
Directions
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Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 375–425 °F (190–220 °C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Cook Bacon: Fry bacon until crisp; set aside.
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Brown Beef: In the same skillet, sauté onion and beef until cooked through; drain grease.
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Combine Filling: Reduce heat, add bacon, seasonings, and cubed Velveeta. Stir until cheese melts into the meat.
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Roll Dough: Roll dough into a rectangle (~15 × 10 in.). Spread filling over, leaving a border. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar.
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Shape: Roll from the long side into a log, seal edges, and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
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Top & Bake: Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame or everything-bagel seasoning. Bake 20–25 min (at 375 °F) or 15–20 min (at 425 °F) until golden.
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Rest & Serve: Let cool 5–10 min, slice, and serve with dipping sauce.
Servings and timing
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Yield: 4–6 servings
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Prep time: 15–20 minutes
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Cook time: 20–25 minutes
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Total time: Approx. 40–45 minutes
Variations
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BBQ Chicken: Swap beef and bacon for cooked shredded chicken and BBQ sauce. Top with red onions and mozzarella.
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Pizza Style: Add pizza sauce, pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.
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Breakfast Bread: Fill with scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, and green onions.
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Veggie Option: Mix in mushrooms, peppers, jalapeños, Swiss cheese, or spinach.
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Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free dough and ensure all seasonings and cheeses are GF.
Storage/Reheating
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Refrigeration: Store leftovers airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Freezing:
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Unbaked: Wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months; thaw and bake at 400 °F for 25–30 minutes.
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Baked: Cool, wrap, and freeze up to 4 months; reheat in oven, air fryer, or microwave.
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Reheating Tips: Best crispiness returns with oven or air fryer; microwave works but softens crust.
FAQs
1. Can I use different meats instead of ground beef?
Yes! Ground turkey, chicken, sausage, or even plant-based meats work wonderfully.
2. What cheeses can I use?
Besides Velveeta and cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone, or Monterey jack are great options.
3. Do I have to use refrigerated dough?
No—store-bought pizza dough, french loaf dough from a can or homemade dough all work.
4. How do I avoid soggy bread?
Drain meat well, press filling on dough leaving a clean border, roll tightly, seal edges, and bake seam side down.
5. Can I prepare it ahead?
Yes—assemble it, refrigerate until ready to bake. For freezing, follow instructions in the Storage section.
6. What topping goes best?
Egg wash with sesame seeds is classic. Everything-bagel seasoning adds flavor and crunch.
7. What sauces pair well?
Try mayo-ketchup-mustard mix, Thousand Island, ranch, marinara, BBQ sauce, or blue cheese dressing.
8. Can I freeze leftovers?
Absolutely—see freezing instructions in Storage. Freeze before or after baking; reheat in oven for best results.
9. How do I slice it neatly?
Let it cool for about 10 minutes, then use a sharp serrated knife and slice gently to maintain shape.
10. Is it healthy?
It’s a rich comfort-food dish—delicious but indulgent. Customize with leaner meats, extra veggies, or lighter cheeses to lighten it up.
Conclusion
Garbage Bread transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful, customizable crowd-pleaser. With endless filling possibilities and easy prep, it’s perfect for game day, family meals, or casual gatherings. Follow the tips and variations to make it your own, then slice, dip, and savor every cheesy, meaty bite.

Garbage Bread
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- Author: Amina
- Total Time: Approx. 40–45 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings
Description
Garbage Bread is a delicious, comfort-food twist on stromboli. It features pizza dough rolled around a flavorful mix of seasoned ground beef, bacon, cheese, and any favorite fillings. Bake until golden, slice, and enjoy this crowd-pleasing, customizable treat.
Ingredients
Pizza dough (refrigerated French bread or pizza dough)
Ground beef
Bacon, cooked and chopped
Onion, diced
Seasonings: hamburger seasoning or steak seasoning, salt, pepper
Velveeta (or other melty cheese)
Shredded cheddar or cheddar‑jack cheese
Optional fillings: mushrooms, bell peppers, pickles, jalapeños, etc.
Egg wash and toppings: beaten egg, sesame or everything‑bagel seasoning
Sauce for dipping: mayo, ketchup, mustard mix or Thousand Island dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375–425 °F (190–220 °C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Fry bacon until crisp; set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onion and beef until cooked through; drain grease.
- Reduce heat, add bacon, seasonings, and cubed Velveeta. Stir until cheese melts into the meat.
- Roll dough into a rectangle (~15 × 10 in.). Spread filling over, leaving a border. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar.
- Roll from the long side into a log, seal edges, and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.
- Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame or everything-bagel seasoning. Bake 20–25 min (at 375 °F) or 15–20 min (at 425 °F) until golden.
- Let cool 5–10 min, slice, and serve with dipping sauce.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Wrap tightly and freeze unbaked up to 2 months; thaw and bake at 400 °F for 25–30 minutes. Baked leftovers can be wrapped and frozen up to 4 months.
- Reheating: Best in oven or air fryer for crispy texture. Microwave softens crust.
- To avoid soggy bread, drain meat well, press filling on dough leaving a clean border, roll tightly, seal edges, and bake seam side down.
- You can customize with different meats, cheeses, and fillings.
- Prep Time: 15–20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
- Category: Comfort Food, Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (based on 6 servings)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg