Easy Garbage Bread Stuffed Goodness

Featured in Hearty Main Courses.

Easy Garbage Bread is a flavorful, stuffed bread filled with layers of cheese, cooked meat, and optional veggies. Rolled into a log, seasoned with Italian spices, and baked to golden perfection, it’s a savory delight perfect for meals or snacks. An egg wash ensures a glossy finish, and it’s served best with marinara or ranch for dipping. Customize with various meats, vegetables, or spices for your twist—all without the hassle. Quick to prepare, it’s versatile and satisfying.

Ranah
Updated on Tue, 20 May 2025 22:29:43 GMT
A slice of pizza with cheese and meat. Pin it
A slice of pizza with cheese and meat. | yummyflavorsrecipes.com

This garbage bread recipe transforms simple ingredients into an impressive meal that's perfect for weeknight dinners, game days, or anytime you need to feed a hungry crowd with minimal effort. The concept is brilliantly simple: roll up your favorite pizza toppings in store-bought dough, bake until golden, and slice into portable, flavor-packed portions.

I started making garbage bread when my teenage son brought friends over unexpectedly. What began as a panic meal has become our most requested dish for movie nights and football Sundays.

Ingredients

  • Pizza dough: Provides the perfect sturdy yet tender base for all the fillings
  • Cooked ground beef or sausage: Adds hearty protein and savory depth
  • Mozzarella cheese: Creates that stretchy, gooey texture everyone loves
  • Cheddar cheese: Adds sharp flavor contrast to the mild mozzarella
  • Pepperoni or salami: Brings that classic pizza flavor and slight spice
  • Diced vegetables: Add nutrition, color and textural contrast
  • Garlic powder and Italian seasoning: Infuse aromatic flavor throughout
  • Egg wash: Ensures a beautifully golden, shiny crust

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Your Workspace:
Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This temperature creates the perfect balance between cooking the filling through and achieving a golden crust without burning.
Roll Out The Dough:
On a lightly floured surface, roll your pizza dough into a large rectangle approximately 10x14 inches. Aim for even thickness throughout to ensure consistent baking.
Add Your Filling:
Layer your ingredients starting with the cheeses, then meat, then vegetables. Leave a one-inch border around all edges to allow for proper sealing. The order matters here, as placing cheese directly on the dough creates a moisture barrier that prevents sogginess.
Season And Roll:
Sprinkle your seasonings evenly across the fillings, then carefully roll the dough from the long edge into a tight log shape, jelly roll style. Pinch the seams and ends firmly to seal in all the goodness.
Egg Wash Application:
Beat one egg until smooth and brush generously over the entire surface of your bread log. This step is crucial for achieving that bakery quality golden finish that makes everything look more appetizing.
Bake To Perfection:
Position your bread log seam side down on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. You want the exterior deeply golden and the center fully cooked through. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to let the filling set.
A slice of pizza with cheese and meat. Pin it
A slice of pizza with cheese and meat. | yummyflavorsrecipes.com

My family's favorite variation uses taco meat with Mexican cheese blend and a side of sour cream for dipping. The first time I served it, my daughter declared it "better than actual tacos" which is high praise from a twelve-year-old taco enthusiast.

Storage Solutions

Your garbage bread will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap. For best results when reheating, place slices in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. You can also microwave individual slices for 30 seconds, though the crust will be softer. For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Creative Variations

The basic garbage bread formula opens up endless possibilities for customization. Try a breakfast version with scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, and cheddar cheese. For Meatless Monday, load it with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, roasted red peppers, and feta. Buffalo chicken garbage bread combines shredded rotisserie chicken tossed with buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and a ranch drizzle after baking. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility whatever you have in your refrigerator can likely find a home in garbage bread.

Serving Suggestions

While delicious on its own, garbage bread truly shines when paired with complementary sides. Serve with a simple green salad dressed with vinaigrette to balance the richness. For game day presentations, arrange slices on a platter surrounded by various dipping sauces including marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or even honey mustard. If serving as a main course, consider adding a vegetable side dish like roasted broccoli or sautéed zucchini to round out the meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What kind of meat can I use in garbage bread?

Any cooked meat works, such as ground beef, sausage, rotisserie chicken, or ham. You can even use leftovers to add variety.

→ How do I prevent the bread from unrolling during baking?

Make sure to pinch the seam and ends of the rolled dough securely. Place the seam-side down on the baking sheet.

→ Can this bread be prepared ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the bread, wrap it tightly, and refrigerate it. Bake it fresh when you're ready to serve.

→ What dipping sauces pair well with garbage bread?

Marinara sauce and ranch dressing are popular options, but you can also try garlic butter or a creamy cheese sauce.

→ Can I make a vegetarian version of this bread?

Absolutely! Replace the meat with more vegetables like bell peppers, onions, olives, spinach, or mushrooms for a delicious meat-free option.

Easy Garbage Bread Stuffed Cheesy

Stuffed cheesy bread with golden crust packed with delicious flavors.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Ranah

Category: Hearty Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 refrigerated pizza dough, or homemade
02 1 cup cooked ground beef or sausage, or any cooked meat
03 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
04 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
05 1/4 cup sliced pepperoni or salami, optional
06 1/4 cup diced onions, optional
07 1/4 cup diced bell peppers or olives, optional
08 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
09 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 Salt, to taste
11 Pepper, to taste
12 1 egg, for egg wash
13 Marinara or ranch dressing, for serving

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 02

On a lightly floured surface, roll the pizza dough into a large rectangle, about 10x14 inches.

Step 03

Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Add your cooked meat, pepperoni, veggies, and any extras. Sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Step 04

Starting from the long edge, roll the dough up jelly-roll style into a log. Pinch the seam and the ends to seal. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 05

Beat the egg and brush it over the top of the dough for a glossy, golden finish.

Step 06

Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Step 07

Slice into thick pieces and serve with warm marinara or ranch dressing for dipping.

Notes

  1. Use up leftovers such as taco meat, rotisserie chicken, ham, or veggies.
  2. Make it spicy by adding jalapeños, crushed red pepper, or spicy sausage.
  3. You can prep it ahead, wrap it, and bake when ready.

Tools You'll Need

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Rolling pin
  • Pastry brush

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy
  • Contains gluten
  • Contains eggs

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 357
  • Total Fat: 20.3 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 28.5 g
  • Protein: 16.7 g