Name: Luigi's Pizza & Pastas Garlic Bread With Meat Sauce Recipe
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 whole French baguette or Italian loaf; 0.5 cups unsalted butter, softened; 2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, finely minced (about 3–4 cloves); 2 tbs fresh parsley, finely chopped; 1 tsp dried oregano; 0.25 cups grated Parmesan cheese; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tbs olive oil; 0.5 whole yellow onion, finely diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 8 oz lean ground beef; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 cups crushed tomatoes (canned); 1 tbs tomato paste; 0.5 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity); 0.5 tsp salt; 1 tbs fresh basil, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried); 1 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Method

Garlic Bread

Preheat

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Prepare garlic butter

In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, minced garlic (4 cloves), chopped parsley, dried oregano, grated Parmesan, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth and evenly combined.

Slice bread

Cut the baguette in half lengthwise. If you prefer individual pieces, make 1-inch diagonal slices without cutting through the bottom crust (pull-apart style).

Spread butter

Generously spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread, making sure to cover edges for even flavor.

Initial bake

Place the buttered bread cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, until butter is melted and edges start to turn golden.

Meat Sauce Topping

Cook aromatics

While bread bakes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes. Add the minced garlic (2 cloves) and sauté 30–45 seconds until fragrant.

Brown beef

Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.

Simmer sauce

Stir in Italian seasoning, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar (if using), 1/2 tsp salt, and chopped basil. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 6–8 minutes to meld flavors and thicken slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Assemble and finish bake

After the initial garlic-bread bake (8–10 minutes), remove the baking sheet from the oven. Spoon the warm meat sauce evenly over the cut sides of each bread half, leaving a small border. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly on top. Return to the oven and bake 5–7 more minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and edges are golden brown.

Garnish and serve

Remove from oven and let rest 2 minutes. Sprinkle additional chopped parsley or a light dusting of Parmesan if desired. Slice into portions and serve warm.