Mini Chili Football Bread Bowls (Printable)

Hollowed dinner rolls filled with spiced beef chili, topped with cheddar and sour cream laces for festive football presentation.

# 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)

# How-to Steps:

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. Bake for 5-7 minutes until lightly crisped. Set aside.
03 - 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).
04 - Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the skillet; cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
05 - 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.
06 - Fill each bread bowl with warm chili. Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top.
07 - Return filled bread bowls to the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - 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.
09 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Bite sized portions mean guests can grab one between plays without missing a moment
  • The combination of crispy bread, hearty chili, and melted cheese creates that perfect comfort food trifecta
  • These look impressive on a platter but come together in under an hour with mostly pantry ingredients
02 -
  • Over hollowing the bread bowls is the most common mistake, leaving them too fragile to hold the filling without collapsing
  • Let the chili cool for just a few minutes before filling, as piping hot filling can make the bread soggy faster
  • The sour cream laces will start to slide if the bread bowls are too hot, so wait about 2 minutes after they come out of the oven before decorating
03 -
  • Use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to hollow out the bread bowls quickly and evenly
  • Pre shred your cheese from a block rather than buying pre shredded cheese, which melts better and tastes fresher

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