Christmas Leftovers Bread Bowl Sandwich

Name: Christmas Leftovers Bread Bowl Sandwich
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 loaf bread loaf, round or oval; 300 g (10 oz) cooked meat slices, ham, turkey and other cooked meats; 1 cup antipasto, roughly chopped; such as olives, sun-dried tomato, chargrilled peppers, artichokes or feta; 4–6 slices cheese, of choice; 3 handfuls (75 g) baby spinach, big; approximately 75 g / 2.5 oz; 50 g (3 tbsp) salted butter, melted; 1 clove garlic, minced

Golden, sliced bread bowl sandwich resting on foil. — The browned loaf, sliced to show its filling.

A hollowed loaf filled with cooked meats, antipasto, spinach and cheese, brushed with garlic butter, then pressed and baked until crisp.

By Cookin' KitchenOctober 23, 2026

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Total: 45 minutes
Makes: 4 people

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Makes: 4 people

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Recipe

Christmas Leftovers Bread Bowl Sandwich

A hollowed loaf filled with cooked meats, antipasto, spinach and cheese, brushed with garlic butter, then pressed and baked until crisp.

Cookin' · https://cookin.club/recipes/christmas-leftovers-bread-bowl-sandwich

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Makes: 4 people

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Ingredients

4 people

For 4 people

1 loaf bread loaf, round or oval
300 g (10 oz) cooked meat slices, ham, turkey and other cooked meats
1 cup antipasto, roughly chopped; such as olives, sun-dried tomato, chargrilled peppers, artichokes or feta
4–6 slices cheese, of choice
3 handfuls (75 g) baby spinach, big; approximately 75 g / 2.5 oz

Garlic butter

50 g (3 tbsp) salted butter, melted
1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
Step 2: Mix the butter and garlic.
Step 3: Cut the top off the loaf. Pick out bread from the loaf and the lid, leaving a wall and floor about 1.5 cm / 3/5 inch thick.
Step 4: Place the bread on a large sheet of foil on a baking tray.
Step 5: Dab or brush the inside with butter. Layer in half the spinach, the turkey, antipasto, the remaining spinach, the ham and the cheese.
Step 6: Tuck any flappy bits inside the loaf and top with the lid.
Step 7: Brush butter all over the loaf, then wrap it with foil.
Step 8: Weigh the loaf down with something flat and heavy; a cast-iron skillet works well.
Step 9: Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the skillet and foil.
Step 10: Bake for a further 10 minutes, until golden.
Step 11: Cut into thick slices and serve immediately.

Notes

Artisan-style breads such as sourdough or ciabatta hold together well and develop a good crust.

To make it ahead, bake the sandwich, wrap it in foil while warm, let it cool, then refrigerate. Serve at room temperature. The hollowed-out bread can be used to make meatballs.

Nutrition per person

Calories: 574 kcal
Fat: 27 g
Saturated fat: 13 g
Carbohydrates: 52 g
Sugar: 2 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 29 g
Sodium: 1,401 mg
Cholesterol: 82 mg

Estimated values; they will vary with the exact ingredients and brands you use.

About this recipe

Hollow a round or oval loaf and fill it with cooked meats, antipasto, spinach and cheese. Garlic butter coats the inside and outside before the loaf is pressed and baked into a crisp, shareable sandwich.