Bread Stuffed with Macaroni & Cheese, Ham, & Broccoli
A Cooking Experiment Gone Tasty!
I concocted this recipe on a whim. It was one of those days that groceries were running low, but I just didn't feel like going to the grocery store. So I decided to get creative instead!
I went rummaging through my cupboards and came up with the following ingredients: Macaroni & Cheese, Bread Dough, Turkey Ham, Frozen Broccoli, and Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.
This recipe actually ended up to be a combination of two recipes that I love: My Dad's Ham & Broccoli Shells Casserole and my recipe for Cheesy Braided Spaghetti Bread. I was going to make a rendition of Dad's casserole, until I spotted the frozen bread dough...and I had an epiphany! Join the two!
My husband and I really enjoyed this recipe and I will definitely be making it again! See below for step by step photo instructions to take you every step of the way.
Image Above Appears Courtesy of...Myself!
Unless otherwise noted, all photos below were taken by me and belong to me. Please ask permission before using.
Ingredients
1 Box of Your Favorite Brand of Macaroni & Cheese
1 Cup of Cooked or Steamed Broccoli Florets
1 Cup of Cubed Ham
(I prefer Turkey Ham; less fat and cholesterol)
A Loaf of Bread Dough
1 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Photo Instructions to Take You Step by Step Through this Recipe
All Photos Below Were Taken By Me and Belong to Me, Please Ask Permission Before Using.
Gather Your Ingredients
Preparation
Once you've gathered your ingredients, you will need to prepare them.
Prepare your favorite box of macaroni & cheese, per the box's instructions. Cook or steam the broccoli, whichever way you prefer. Cut up the ham into small cubes, roughly 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch in size.
The beauty of this recipe is that I threw it all together on a whim. So if you are missing one of these ingredients or if you think the addition of another ingredient would make this recipe better, go for it! That is why this recipe is so much fun; it's very flexible and open for creativity.
**Since you will only use a portion of each of these ingredients, you can always mix the remaining macaroni & cheese, broccoli, and ham to make a nice little casserole for lunch the next day.
Roll the Dough into a Roughly Rectangular Shape
Place Several Scoops of Macaroni & Cheese in the Middle. Use a Pizza Cutter to Cut 1 1/2" Strips into the Dough on Each Side.
Add the Cubed Ham
Add the Cooked Broccoli
Sprinkle on the Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Criss Cross the Strips of Dough Across the Filling to Create a Loaf
Carefully Transport the Braided Loaf to a Cookie Sheet and Bake at 350 Degrees (F) for 35 Minutes
Let the Bread Cool for About 5 Minutes, Then Slice, and Serve!
Image Appears Courtesy of...Myself!
Ingredients
- 1 Box of your Favorite Brand of Macaroni & Cheese
- 1 Cup of Cooked or Steamed Broccoli
- 1 Cup of Cubed Ham (I prefer Turkey Ham)
- 1 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- A Loaf of Bread Dough
Instructions
- Begin by preparing your macaroni and cheese, according to the directions on the box, cook the broccoli with your method of choice (I prefer to steam mine), and cut the ham into small cubes.
- Then, sprinkle some flour on your counter and roll the bread dough flat, until it is in a roughly rectangular shape. After dough is flat, use a ruler to make indentations in the dough from one side to the other, approximately 1 1/2 inches apart. (I didn't take this step in the pictures above, I estimated distance instead.)
- Take 3 big scoops (2-3 cups) of the prepared macaroni & cheese and place it in the middle of the dough. Mac & cheese should take up about 3" of space, almost the entire length of the bread dough, leaving 2" at each end empty.
- On top of the mac & cheese, add a layer of cubed ham, then a layer of broccoli, and a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese. Get creative! Can you think of any other toppings you'd like to add?
- Now, use a pizza cutter and cut the dough on the indentations created with the ruler in the dough, all the way up to the filling.
- Before starting to braid the dough, the ends of the loaf need to be created. Beginning on one side of the loaf, take the end section and fold it over, toward the middle.. Press the end section down onto the next section of dough, creating a pocket at the end. Repeat this process on the other end of the dough.
- Once the ends of the loaf have been created, you will start to braid the dough. Begin on one side of the loaf and work your way to the other end. Take the section of dough closest to the end pocket you created, pull across the filling, and stick it to the bread dough on the other side of the loaf. Now on the opposite side of the loaf, take a section and cross it over the center and stick it to the opposite side. Repeat this process until there are no dough sections remaining.
- Carefully transfer your braided loaf to a cookie sheet and bake at 350 (F) for about 35 minutes, until the bread is golden brown.
- Allow to cool about 5 minutes, cut the stuffed bread into as many sections as you like, and serve!
