Description
This fun and spooky Cauldron of Chili with Spider Breads is perfect for Halloween! A hearty and flavorful chili is topped with cheesy, spider-shaped breadsticks, creating a festive and delightful meal that will thrill both kids and adults. It’s an easy-to-make dish that’s ideal for cozy fall nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef (at least 80%)
- 3/4 cup chopped onions
- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) spicy chili beans, undrained
- 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained
- 1 can (11 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Breadsticks (12 count)
- 1 egg white, beaten
- 3–4 small pimiento-stuffed olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
Instructions
- Cook the Chili:
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onions over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently until the beef is fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the stewed tomatoes, chili beans, and corn to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the Spider Breads:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Unroll the Pillsbury breadstick dough and separate it into 12 breadsticks. Cut 4 of the breadsticks in half lengthwise. Shape these 8 pieces into coils to form the spider bodies on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Take the remaining breadsticks and cut each lengthwise into 3 strips (24 long strips). Then, cut each strip in half crosswise to make 48 short strips.
- Attach 3 short strips to each side of the coils, placing the ends under the coil and pinching them to attach. Bend the strips in the center to resemble spider legs. For extra detail, you can crumple small pieces of foil to place under the legs to give them a lifted appearance.
- Brush the spider breads with the beaten egg white, and place two olive slices on each spider to create eyes.
- Bake the Spider Breads:
- Bake the spider breads for 12-15 minutes, or until the bodies are golden brown and the legs are lightly browned.
- Serve the Chili:
- Top individual servings of chili with shredded cheddar cheese and place the warm spider breads on top for a fun and festive presentation.
Notes
- Vegetarian Option: Substitute the ground beef with a plant-based meat substitute or add more beans and vegetables for a meatless version.
- Spice Level: Adjust the heat by using mild or extra spicy chili beans based on your preference.
- Cheese: Substitute cheddar cheese with other types of cheese like Monterey Jack or pepper jack for a different flavor profile.
- Breadstick Shape: Use a different breadstick dough or even pizza dough to create variations on the spider shape.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for breadsticks) + 20 minutes (for chili simmering)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl of chili with 1 spider bread
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg