Mini Chili Football Bread Bowls (Printable)

Bite-sized bread bowls filled with seasoned chili and melted cheese, decorated as footballs for the ultimate game day 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)

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

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • The bread bowls keep everything contained so guests can mingle without balancing plates
  • They are adorable and disappear faster than you can bake them
02 -
  • The bread bowls soften quickly once filled, so time the final bake carefully
  • Piping the laces takes practice, so have extra sour cream ready for mistakes
03 -
  • Use a small melon baller or spoon to hollow out the rolls more easily
  • Let the chili cool slightly before filling so the bread does not get soggy

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