Chili is one of my very favorite meals to eat this time of year and I’m sure I can’t be alone in that either. Making a big, huge pot is not too much more work than making a small batch and I have eight great ideas for you today of ways to stretch that chili out and use it eight different, delicious ways. It’s time to think outside the box and get creative with leftovers from your favorite chili recipe.


1. Cornbread Chili Poke Cake

Bake your favorite cornbread recipe in a 9x13 inch baking dish. After that is baked, poke 35 holes in cornbread with the handle of a wooden spoon, making sure the hole pokes all the way to the bottom of the pan. Take a hot pot of chili and spoon big spoonfuls all over cornbread, making sure to press the chili into the holes. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, dollops of sour cream and sliced green onions. Cut into squares and serve immediately. 


2. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is the perfect way to use up some leftover chili. Shepherd’s pie is such a great recipe because you can feed a crowd with it, or you can just easily make a small batch for two people. Add a good layer of chili at the bottom of your baking dish, add peas or any other vegetables you would like, top with mashed potatoes and bake at 350 degrees F until brown and bubbly, and dig in!

3. Empanadas

Empanadas are a very easy and adaptable recipe and making them with chili is a really easy and delicious idea. All you need is a ready-made pie crust (you could also use puff pastry sheets or empanada wrappers)--make circles and fill with leftover chili, top with a bit of cheese and crimp to seal. Bake according to package instructions on your dough until golden. Serve with sour cream for dipping.

4. Chili Mac and Cheese

One way to make delicious mac and cheese even better is adding in chili. Add your leftover chili into your favorite mac and cheese recipe and serve as is. Or you could use it to top hot dogs for a tailgate-type feast.


5. Chili Enchiladas

Do a different and easy take on enchiladas by gently frying corn tortillas and roll them around shredded cheese before tucking into a pan. Top with leftover chili and bake until everything is heated through.

6. Chili Eggs Benedict

Take your weekend meal of eggs benedict up a notch by spooning warm leftover chili over toasted English muffins before topping with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Hash-browns or sweet potato hash would make a perfect side dish.

7. Twice-Baked Potatoes

This is a perfect idea to change up the beloved twice-baked potatoes by baking your potatoes, halve them, scoop out the filling, mash and swirl chili in. Spoon back in the potato skins, top with shredded cheese and bake until warm and golden. Top with sour cream and chopped green onions.

8. Tamale Pie

Make delicious tamale inspired pie by pouring chili into a baking dish, top with dollops of your favorite cornbread batter and bake until golden and bubbling. To kick it up a notch, add cheese and fresh corn to the batter.

Do you have any other ideas for how to use leftover chili in a different way? Please share your ideas in the comments below.