Description
A spooky and fun Halloween-themed meal featuring a hearty cauldron of chili paired with adorable spider-shaped breads. This recipe combines a flavorful, protein-packed chili with savory biscuit-based spider breads, perfect for family dinners or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chili:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
For the Spider Breads:
- 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (8 count)
- 16 pretzel sticks
- 8 black olive slices (for eyes)
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chili: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot. Cook for 3–4 minutes or until the vegetables have softened and become fragrant.
- Add Ingredients and Simmer: Stir in the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let it cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine flavors and thicken the chili.
- Prepare Spider Breads: While the chili simmers, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Assemble Spider Breads: Separate the biscuit dough into 8 individual rounds. Cut each pretzel stick in half and gently insert four halves on each side of a biscuit round to form spider legs. Press two black olive slices onto each biscuit to serve as eyes.
- Finish and Bake: Brush each assembled spider bread with melted butter and optionally sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Ladle the hot chili into bowls or small cauldrons and serve alongside the spider breads for dipping and enjoying a festive meal.
Notes
- For extra fun, serve the chili in small black cauldrons or ramekins to enhance the Halloween theme.
- Add shredded cheese or a dollop of sour cream on top of the chili for extra richness and flavor.
- Vegetarian option: Substitute ground meat with extra beans or a meat substitute.
- Use vegetable broth to keep the chili suitable for vegetarians.
- Spider breads can be customized with different seeds or colored olives for creative looks.
