Mini Chili Football Bread Bowls (Printable Version)
Bite-sized hollowed rolls stuffed with seasoned beef chili and topped with melted cheese for the perfect party appetizer.
# What You'll Need:
→ Bread Bowls
01 - 12 small dinner rolls (unsliced)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Chili Filling
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 9 oz ground beef
05 - 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
07 - 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
08 - 7 oz canned diced tomatoes
09 - 5 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
11 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Toppings & Decoration
16 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons sour cream (for football laces)
18 - 1 green onion, thinly sliced (optional, for garnish)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - Slice a thin layer off the top of each dinner roll. Hollow out the center, leaving a 1/2 inch shell. Brush the insides with olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet.
03 - Bake for 5–7 minutes until lightly crisped. Set aside.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned (about 5 minutes).
05 - Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper; cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
06 - Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Fill each bread bowl with warm chili. Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top.
08 - Return filled bread bowls to the oven for 5–7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Remove from oven. Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with a small tip to pipe sour cream laces on each bread bowl to resemble footballs. Garnish with green onions if desired.
10 - Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything you love about chili night gets packed into adorable handheld portions that disappear faster than you can refill the platter
- The bread soaks up all those spiced juices while staying crisp enough to hold together through three quarters of touchdowns
02 -
- Don't skip the pre-bake step for the bread bowls or you'll end up with soggy bottoms that fall apart in people's hands
- Let the chili cool slightly before filling so the cheese doesn't melt instantly and slide off the top
03 -
- Use the bread you scooped out to make homemade croutons instead of wasting it
- Grate your own cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded bags for superior melting