Soccer Ball Chopped Cheese Pull Apart Bread

Chopped cheese stuffed pull apart bread is coated in alternating white and black sesame seeds so that it resembles a soccer ball.

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Yes, another soccer themed recipe! This time I finally made something savory for watching the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina game tonight. Will we make it to the round of 16? Will we make it to the quarter finals for the first time in over 20 years? I guess I shouldn’t get ahead of myself given how Ecuador already upset Germany and I had them going all the way in my bracket – whomp.

But first, what is chopped cheese? The name comes from the ground beef and onions being chopped together while cooking and then mixed with cheese until gooey. It’s an iconic New York City sandwich which is usually served on a toasted hero roll topped with lettuce and tomatoes. It’s like a sloppy joe and a Philly cheesesteak has a baby.

While this chopped cheese pull apart bread is not as messy as it’s original form, it’s still just as delicious and easier to share while watching the game.

First you chop up the ground beef and onion in a cast iron skillet, making sure you get the pieces nice and small. Once the beef is no longer pink, four slices of American cheese singles are placed on top and allowed to melt before stirring into the beef mixture. Yes, American cheese is essential for supreme gooeyness. You could try regular cheddar but it won’t be as juicy. But the most important part is the strategic arrangement of alternating black and white sesame seed toppings to resemble a classic soccer ball in the form of chopped cheese pull apart bread.

If you want to serve this chopped cheese pull apart bread as a meal and not just an appetizer, I threw on a side of broccoli salad but would also be great with slaw, pasta salad, or go simple with French fries.

Looking for more soccer inspired recipes for your watch party? My soccer layer cake is a stunner with it’s surprise inside, which takes a little skill but has a huge payoff. My trionda soccer ball cookie cake is like playing with edible play-dough. For a simpler and smaller option you can try world cup soccer cookies, or make soccer brookies if you want something super easy.

SOCCER BALL CHOPPED CHEESE PULL APART BREAD

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Yield: 4-6 Servings Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 40 Minutes 40 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (~1/2 cup)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 4 slices American cheese
• 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup black sesame seeds*
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 (16.3 oz.) can refrigerated biscuits**

Directions

1. Place a 12-inch cast iron or oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onions, using a metal spatula or wooden spoon to break apart the meat while cooking. Season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Once the beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes, lay the slices of American cheese in a single layer over the top, cover the skillet for 1–2 minutes to melt the cheese, then uncover and stir until evenly distributed. Remove from heat, transfer beef mixture to a bowl, wipe skillet clean, and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place sesame seeds into two separate small bowls. In another small bowl place the egg and lightly beat; set aside.
3. Slice the biscuits in half like a bun, creating 16 thin biscuits. Flatten one at a time, add a spoonful of beef mixture, and pinch closed. Brush top with egg, dip egg-side down into black sesame seeds, and place seam-side-down in the center of the skillet. Repeat with remaining dough balls: dip the next 5 stuffed dough balls into white sesame seeds and arrange around the central black sesame dough ball. Dip another 5 in black sesame seeds around the ring of 5 white sesame seeds. Dip the final 5 stuffed dough balls into white sesame seeds, and place between the outer 5 black sesame seed coated dough balls - you are adding alternate black and white to make a soccer ball design in the skillet using, 6 black and 10 white.
4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked all the way through. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Notes

*Use poppy seeds if you cannot find black sesame seeds. **8 biscuits in a can.

Source: Inspired by Taylor Likes and Savor Recipes.