Pahrump is home to The Silver State Chili Cookoff this weekend so I’m guessing you may be inspired to make a great big batch of chili yourself. I hope you do because on the “Frugal and Fabulous” scale of one to ten; chili is an eleven.
But are you wondering what to do with all those leftovers? No worries, just try these creative uses for leftover chili.
Chili Spaghetti
Just add leftover chili to your favorite spaghetti recipe for a delicious change. This is a great thing to do with leftover spaghetti also.
Chili Scramble
Add a big spoonful of chili to almost done scrambled eggs along with some salsa. Or cook eggs in your favorite way, serve on a warm corn tortilla and then top with heated chili. Sprinkle on some shredded cheese, salsa and cilantro for added zing.
Chili Meatloaf
Just add some chili to your meatloaf mixture and bake as usual. You can glaze the loaf with a mix of ketchup, salsa and hot sauce. This is also great because you can use less hamburger than is usually needed for meatloaf.
Chili Burrito Bake
Spoon chili into tortillas, roll up, place in a baking pan and top with enchilada sauce and/or salsa. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle grated cheese on the top and bake until cheese melts. Serve with a garnish of sour cream, chopped tomato and shredded lettuce.
DIY Chili Hot Pockets
Place a spoonful of leftover chili and a bit of cheese between two refrigerated biscuits and seal with a fork. Bake the biscuit to golden brown. Or you can press a biscuit into a muffin pan and spoon in chili over it, top with cheese and bake until done.
Walking Taco
Pour some chili into a single serving size bag of Fritos, mix it up and eat with a fork. Great for kids’ parties, picnics or camping.
Mexican Lasagna
Spray a casserole pan, layer tortillas or tortilla chips on the bottom. Add a layer of chili and seasoned hamburger, if you wish, follow with cheese, another layer of tortillas or chips, more chili and finish with a layer of cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until heated through. Serve topped with sour cream, olives, scallions and chopped tomatoes.
Chili Stuffed Bell Peppers
Make a mixture of seasoned ground beef, chili and cooked rice and stuff in a bell pepper. Bake at 375.
You can also make chili dogs, baked potatoes smothered with chili, taco salad substituting chili for ground beef, make French fries and cover them with chili and cheese and broil until gooey and melty, add some BBQ sauce and make sloppy Joes and chili freezes beautifully.
Frugal Fare contributed by Patti Diamond author of Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous!, www.divasonadime.com Join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom.