Mini Chili Football Bread Bowls (Printable Version)
Bite-sized bread bowls filled with savory chili and melted cheese, decorated like footballs for game day entertaining.
# What You 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
18 - 1 green onion, thinly sliced
# How to Make It:
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 -
- These mini bread bowls disappear faster than you can say touchdown, making them the ultimate crowd pleaser for any gathering
- The edible vessel means less cleanup and more flavor in every single bite
02 -
- Over-hollowing the bread rolls causes filling to leak through the bottom, so leave at least a half-inch thick shell
- The chili must be thickened adequately before filling or the bread becomes soggy within minutes
03 -
- Use a small melon baller or teaspoon to hollow out the bread rolls without puncturing the sides
- Fit a piping bag with a small round tip or snip a tiny corner from a zip-top bag for the cleanest lace designs