Name: 20 Ways to Repurpose Leftover Chili
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Biscuit or Cornbread Topping Chili Bake; 4 cups or more of leftover chili; 1 small package of biscuit or cornbread mix to package instructions ( your brand you choose should make around 8 biscuits or scattered cornbread dumplings; Note: we have also topped the chili with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits; See under notes for optional mix-ins for the cornbread or biscuits below; Homemade cornbread recipe:; 1/4 cup butter, melted; 1 cup milk; 1 large egg; 1 1/4 cups cornmeal; 1 cup flour; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; Optional additions: diced chilies, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped black olives; Homemade Biscuit Recipe:; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 8 tablespoons cubed butter; 3/4 cup milk

If you've ever made a big pot of homemade chili, you know the leftovers can be just as delicious as the first bowl.

Instead of reheating the same meal over and over, why not transform that flavorful chili into exciting new dishes your family will love?

From hearty casseroles and loaded baked potatoes to tacos, pasta, nachos, dips, and comforting soups, there are countless ways to give leftover chili a fresh new life.

This collection of 20 Ways to Repurpose Leftover Chili is packed with easy meal ideas that help reduce food waste, save money on groceries, and make weeknight dinners faster than ever.

Whether you have beef chili, turkey chili, chicken chili, vegetarian chili, or spicy homemade chili, these simple recipes and serving ideas will inspire you to turn yesterday's leftovers into brand-new family favorites.

If you're looking for the best leftover chili recipes, what to do with leftover chili, easy chili meal ideas, or creative ways to use homemade chili, you've come to the right place.

These budget-friendly recipes are perfect for busy families, meal prep, game day gatherings, and cozy comfort food dinners that everyone will enjoy.

Easy Leftover Chili Remakes

Top baked potatoes with leftover chili
Make a taco salad bowls
Top chili refrigerator biscuits, cornbread mix, or broken-up tortilla chips (see recipe card below for cornbread topping recipe or biscuit recipe)
Make a chili cheese dip
Fill enchiladas or burritos
Make corn tacos or flour tortilla tacos
Pour over cooked pasta for a chili mac or make a taco rice
Make a layer of chili and tortilla lasagna
Topping for chili hamburgers and chili hotdogs
Chili top cheese fries
Nachos
Make hot pockets filling tortillas and bake or air fried
Pour hot chili over hard-crusted bread, English muffins, or refrigerator-baked biscuits
Make a white chicken chili version of goulash using elbow macaroni
Make a Frito pie
Use as a filling for Stuffed Peppers or, Stuffed Chili Pasta Shells
Use as a filling for Eggplant Boats or Stuffed Zucchini topped with cheese
Use it as a topping for pizza
Use as a topping for polenta (pizzettes)
Use as a filling for empanadas
Add as a filling to omelets

Garnish and Serving Suggestions

blue cheese dressing
ranch dressing
sour cream
lettuce
crackers, tortilla chips, pita bread points, garlic toast, potato chips
crumbled cooked crispy bacon
tomato diced
chopped onions
diced jalapeno peppers or other peppers
cayenne pepper for extra heat
thickly sliced or shredded sharp cheddar cheese
sliced black or green olives
chopped pickle slices
cilantro
diced green onion
green chilies
whole kernel corn
chopped green peppers
shredded carrots
finely chopped radishes
taco sauce
enchiladas sauce
salsa

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Repurpose That Leftover Chili It Has Endless Possibilities

Whether you use this as a topping or filling, leftover chili can be another amazing, delicious meal, and so easy.

Even a little Chicken Chili or our Southwest Chicken Chili, or our Merlot Chili will be delicious in this dip. Or try our Old-World Chili, Texas Beef Skillet, and Buffalo Chicken Chili.

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American

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

20 Ways to Repurpose Leftover Chili

20 ways to repurpose leftover chili ideas plus homemade cornbread or biscuit topping recipes

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 50 Min

Ingredients

Biscuit or Cornbread Topping Chili Bake
4 cups or more of leftover chili
1 small package of biscuit or cornbread mix to package instructions ( your brand you choose should make around 8 biscuits or scattered cornbread dumplings
Note: we have also topped the chili with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
See under notes for optional mix-ins for the cornbread or biscuits below
Homemade cornbread recipe:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
Optional additions: diced chilies, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped black olives
Homemade Biscuit Recipe:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons cubed butter
3/4 cup milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to the instructions below or on the package of mix you're using. Grease a 10 x 10 casserole dish.
Pour the chili into the greased baking dish.
After mixing the desired topping for the chili, place the cornbread or biscuits on top and bake until golden brown either to the package instructions or by using the homemade instructions for each topping below.
Directions for Cornbread Topping:
Whisk the butter, milk, and egg until evenly blended.
Fold in the dry ingredients.
Add tablespoons randomly over to the top of the chili.
Bake in the oven in a preheated oven at 400 degrees until the cornbread looks dry in the center of the biscuits around 20 minutes.
Directions for Homemade Biscuit Topping:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
In a large bowl mix the sugar, salt, baking powder, and flour with a whisk.
Add the butter and with a fork blend the soft butter into the flour mixture until it look like cornmeal.
Make a well in the center then add the milk and mix until well blended.
Roll out the dough and make a round biscuit using a floured glass or biscuit cutter.
Place on top of the chili.
Using a pastry brush, add melted butter on each biscuit, with shredded cheddar cheese, granulated garlic powder, and any other topping you prefer.
Bake at 450 degrees until biscuits are golden brown around 15 minutes or more.

Notes

Easy Leftover Chili Remakes

Make a layer of chili and tortilla lasagna
Topping for chili hamburgers and chili hotdogs
Chili top cheese fries
Nachos
Make hot pockets filling tortillas and bake or air fried
Pour hot chili over hard-crusted bread, English muffins, or refrigerator-baked biscuits
Make a white chicken chili version of goulash using elbow macaroni
Make a Frito pie
Use as a filling for Stuffed Peppers or, Stuffed Chili Pasta Shells
Use as a filling for Eggplant Boats or Stuffed Zucchini topped with cheese
Use it as a topping for pizza
Use as a topping for polenta (pizzettes)
Use as a filling for empanadas
Make a taco salad bowls
Top chili refrigerator biscuits, cornbread mix, or broken-up tortilla chips (see recipe card below for cornbread topping recipe or biscuit recipe)
Make a chili cheese dip
Fill enchiladas or burritos
Make corn tacos or flour tortilla tacos
Pour over cooked pasta for a chili mac or make a taco rice
Top baked potatoes with leftover chili