Mini Chili Football Bread Bowls (Printable)

Bite-sized bread bowls filled with hearty chili, topped with cheese and 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, for football laces
18 - 1 green onion, thinly sliced, optional garnish

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice a thin layer off the top of each dinner roll. Hollow out the center, leaving a 1/2 inch thick shell. Brush the insides with olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake for 5–7 minutes until lightly crisped. Set aside.
02 - 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. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper; cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
03 - 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.
04 - Fill each bread bowl with warm chili. Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top. Return filled bread bowls to the oven for 5–7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
05 - 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. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Bite sized means no utensils required and happy guests mingling freely
  • The football laces make everyone smile before they even take a bite
  • Everything bakes in one go leaving you free to enjoy the game
02 -
  • Hollow the bread bowls gently to avoid creating holes in the sides
  • Let the chili cool slightly before filling or the bread gets soggy fast
  • Room temperature sour cream pipes cleaner than cold from the fridge
03 -
  • Use a small melon baller to hollow rolls quickly and evenly
  • Warm your sour cream slightly for smoother piping lines

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