Taco Stuffed Bread

Taco Stuffed Bread is the kind of easy, crowd-pleasing meal that disappears fast. Seasoned taco meat, melty cheese, and all your favorite Tex-Mex flavors are tucked inside soft, golden bread and baked until perfectly warm and gooey. It’s everything you love about taco night, wrapped up in a sliceable, shareable loaf that’s perfect for weeknights, game days, or casual get-togethers.

Easy Taco Stuffed Bread Recipe

Those inexpensive loaves of bread at the local grocery store are good for so much more than just sandwiches. Slice them up for homemade garlic bread or warm them with a little butter for dipping into a steaming bowl of soup. But this open-faced taco stuffed bread might be the best use of all.

It’s perfect for customizing with your favorite taco fixings. Pile it high with shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream, green onions, olives, whatever your family loves. Every slice can be a little different, which makes it just as fun to make as it is to eat. The best part? No dough making required.

Key ingredients to make Taco Stuffed Bread: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Bread – One long 20-22-inch French Baguette for the base.
• Beef – Lean ground beef for the taco filling.
• Onion and Garlic – Onion and garlic cloves enhance the flavor.
• Pepper – Poblano pepper or jalapeno pepper adds texture.
• Salsa – Salsa adds to the flavor of the taco stuffing.
• Cream Cheese – Cream cheese stabilizes the filling mixture.
• Oil– Olive oil for sautéing the beef.
• Spices – Taco seasoning, lemon pepper and salt.
• Cheese – Shredded colby jack cheese or cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.

How to Make the Best Taco Stuffed Bread Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prep the Pan – Preheat oven and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Hollow French Bread – Use a sharp knife to remove the center of the bread, leaving the bottom and sides intact.
• Make Taco Meat – Cook together ground beef, onion and jalapeno over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Add garlic then drain excess grease from pan.
• Add Salsa and Seasonings – Add salsa, cream cheese, taco seasoning, salt and lemon pepper. Simmer to combine. .
• Assemble – Sprinkle cheese evenly into bottom of bread. Fill evenly with taco beef. Top with remaining cheese.
• Oven – Bake per the recipe until heated through and cheese has melted and is lightly golden brown.
• Let stand for 5 minutes, slice and served with your favorite taco toppings.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Stuffed Taco Bread

• Sheet pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Knife and chopping board.
• Large skillet.
• Cheese grater.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Bread – For this Mexican bread recipe, I use a long French baguette found in any grocery store bakery. You can use a shorter fluffy loaf of Italian bread, if preferred. Please note that the baguette holds up best to the taco filling.
• Cheese – You can use cheddar cheese, colby jack cheese, monterey jack cheese or spicy pepper jack cheese. I like to grate my own cheese but for a timesaver you can use a Mexican blend of pre-shredded cheese.
• Beef – You could make the filling using ground chicken or ground turkey. You could also replace some of the ground beef with chorizo.
• Salsa – You can use mild, medium or hot salsa or picante sauce. It’s best to use one with a thick texture to avoid adding too much liquid to the filling. 
• Bake the Centers – The top and middle of the bread that you’ll removed from the baguette can be drizzled with butter and baked along with the taco bread, if desired. You can also pop it into the to make a breadcrumb topping for casseroles or as an ingredient for meatloaf.
• Customize – Set-up a toppings bar for taco bread including cilantro, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onion, olives, olives, salsa, guacamole, sour cream or any of your favorite taco toppings.
• Side Dishes – You could add a side of Mexican rice or refried beans for a complete meal.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – To save time, the taco beef filling can be prepared in advance and chilled in an airtight container until assembling. It also freezes well if you’re a meal planner. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Leftovers – Store leftover Mexican stuffed bread wrapped in foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat single servings gently in the microwave to prevent drying out the bread. You can also reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer.

More Bread Recipes to Make

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Stuffed Bread can be sliced and served family style.
• Sausage Bread wraps up everything in pizza dough.
• Cinnamon Roll French Bread recipe was the result of a lightbulb moment and it’s become a family favorite.
• Cheese Garlic and Herb Bread has a melty cheesy flavor that’s addictive.
• Barbecue Chicken and Bacon French Bread Pizza is a delightful warm sub to make.
• Supreme Pizza Pull Apart Bread is terrific for game day and casual dining.
• Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed French Bread from Eating on a Dime

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Skillet
• Sheet Pans
• Silicone Spatulas
• Measuring Set