• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Food Blogging Resources
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Pip and Ebby

Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Dinner » Dinner Ideas With Leftover Chili

    Dinner Ideas With Leftover Chili

    Published: Nov 26, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Most chili recipes make large batches, which means.. LEFTOVERS! Use this post as your guide for dinner ideas with leftover chili so nothing goes to waste.

    Spoonful of chili being lifted from a bowl.

    You all know how obsessed I am with this delicious bowl of comfort. My favorite recipe for chili is at the top of the popularity list here on Pip and Ebby. A lot of love and testing went into this recipe and people from all around the world love it, too.

    That particular recipe makes a huge batch of chili, as do most others of its kind. I like to freeze extras when I know we won’t be able to eat everything before it goes bad. Freezing isn’t the only option, though! There are many dinner ideas with leftover chili so nothing has to go to waste. It’s like the most delicious kind of repurposing!

    This post details everything you need to know about creating dinners using your leftovers, including favorite recipes and sides. Enjoy!

    FAQ About Chili

    How to thicken chili?

    If you prefer thick chili, it is easy enough to transform any version to fit your liking. Decrease the amount of tomatoes (juice and diced) used by half (or more) and simmer for 30 additional minutes.

    Why chili is hot?

    The ingredients in chili that typically make it spicy are chili powder, peppers and pepper (or cayenne pepper). To decrease the amount of heat in the recipe, reduce the amount of chili powder used and omit peppers (aside from bell peppers, which are very mild) and cayenne or black pepper.

    What to top chili with?

    A bowl of chili is the perfect template for delicious toppings! Consider any or all of the following: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions or oyster or saltine crackers.

    What to serve with chili?

    Serve chili warm with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. A few good options to serve alongside it include chopped salad, dinner rolls and cornbread.

    Can chili be frozen?

    Chili lasts up to 5 days in the fridge after it has been cooked and cooled. Beyond this timeframe, chili will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. Store in an airtight container or double-bagged freezer bags.

    Ground Beef Dinner Recipes

    Make dinner EASY with these delicious recipes that use ground beef as a main ingredient. Ground beef does not need to be boring!

    Bowl of chili loaded with toppings and cheeses.

    Flavor Boosters and Recipe Hacks

    • Favorite toppings: sour cream, sliced green onions, saltine crackers, crispy bacon pieces or pickled jalapeno peppers.
    • Cheese toppings: monterey jack cheese, feta cheese, shredded cheddar, mozzarella or provolone.
    • For a spicy chili, add extra jalapenos, diced green chilis, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or black pepper.
    • To thicken, replace the diced tomatoes with crushed tomatoes and reduce any tomato juice called for by half. Another option is to add a can of tomato paste to the pot.
    • For a different flavor, replace some or all of the pinto or kidney beans with black beans.
    • Flavor boosters: garlic powder, onion powder, extra chili powder
    • Use ground pork or ground beef (or a combination of the two) for a flavor boost. Even lean ground beef provides more flavor than other ground meat such as chicken or turkey.
    • When hosting a large gathering or putting together a game day spread, create a chili bar with toppings in separate bowls for a serve-yourself, customizable meal.

    Appetizers For Chili

    Chili dinners are the best in those cold winter months! If you are looking to round out your meal, peruse this roundup for ideas about what to serve as appetizers for chili dinner.

    How To Thicken Chili

    If you make a delicious batch and find that it is not thick enough for your liking, we have some simple methods that will fix it! Read on for tips about how to thicken chili.

    Substitute For Beans In Chili

    Whether you can’t eat beans or you just don’t have any on hand, learn what to substitute for beans in chili!

    How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge

    If you are wondering how long this soup lasts in the fridge or if your batch is still fresh, click over for all the info!

    Dinner Ideas With Leftover Chili

    Below you will find a ton of ideas about how to put an entirely new meal together using chili leftovers.

    Recipes and Sides

    • Click over for side dish ideas for your next chili dinner.
    • Healthy Turkey Chili
    • Instant Pot Chili
    • Hot Dog Chili
    • Instant Pot Turkey
    • Beanless Chili
    • Slow Cooker Style (My personal favorite chili recipe of all time!)
    • Easy 5-Ingredient
    Hand holding a hot dog in a bun topped with chili and onions.

    What To Do With Chili Leftovers

    • Use as a baked potato or sweet potato topping.
    • Throw a few heaping spoonfuls over hot dogs in buns.
    • Combine it with mac and cheese to make chili macaroni.
    • Replace a portion of the sauce with it in lasagna to create a hearty chili lasagna.
    • Add it to your morning eggs.
    • Replace it with the beef mixture in shepherd’s pie.
    • Use as an enchilada, taco or burrito filling/topping.
    • Add as a filling for stuffed peppers.
    • Serve over corn chips to create a tasty batch of nachos.
    • Spoon over a batch of French fries and top with shredded cheese to create chili cheese fries.
    • Serve with tater tots for a super hearty side or snack.
    • Throw on top of cooked spaghetti squash.
    • Combine with sloppy joe mixture for a yummy sandwich spin.
    • Roll up in flour tortillas with refried beans and shredded cheese.

    Chili Mac Recipe

    Skillet of Chili mac and cheese.

    This chili mac recipe is the perfect marriage of two of the most comforting comfort foods of all time. Delicious way to use up leftovers!

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Nachos

    Sheet pan filled with chili topped nachos.

    Unless I’m stuffing it into sweet potatoes or using it as a love nest for eggs, the last bits of a pot of chili often make their way onto tortilla chips. Baked with cheese and topped with fresh salsa, canned beans, and avocado, nachos (from The Dinner Shift) for dinner is often my kids’ vote when it comes to using up the leftover chili.

    Read More

    Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes

    Baked potatoes cut in half with leftover chili topping them and a dollop of sour cream.
    exc-59f7d7f364265fbaeb993e8d

    Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes are a great way to use up Chili or Chili Mac leftovers! Smother the potato with the delicious flavors of your chili and sour cream and cheese! It’s piling comfort food on top of comfort food for a warm, delicious meal.

    Read More

    Cheesy Leftover Chili Burritos

    One cheesy leftpver chili stuffed burrito on a plate.

    Leftover chili? Turn it into something fresh by stuffing it inside burritos (from Mighty Mrs)!

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Dogs

    Top view of 3 hotdogs in buns with leftover chili, onions and cheese topping them.
    exc-59e0043b7131a5157587cbcb

    Chili Dogs are not just ballgame fare. Use leftover Chili to easily make your very own hearty Chili Dog! This is a simple recipe, you just throw them in your oven! Top the chili with cheesy goodness for a super comforting and delicious meal. Great for parties or family dinner!

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Pot Pie

    Pot pie using leftover chili.

    Holiday Leftover Chili Pot Pie (from Reluctant Entertainer) is an easy and delicious dinner idea using leftover chili (or your favorite chili recipe) for a quick meal!

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Tortilla Stack

    Leftover chili stack tortillas on a  spoon, hovering over a plate.
    e

    Use up your chili leftovers in this fun and EASY tortilla stack (from Sweet Peas and Saffron). These are ready in under 25 minutes, and make for an awesome work lunch!

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Stuffed Peppers

    Half of a red pepper stuffed with leftover chili and melted cheese over it on a plate with some tortilla chips.

    This chili stuffed peppers recipe (from Bean Bites) makes stuffed peppers easy and repurposes leftover chili from the fridge or the freezer. It’s a no-nonsense super easy midweek meal or weekend lunch.

    Read More

    Leftover Chili Cornbread Bake

    Partial view of a glass casserole dish with chili cornbread bake.

    The only thing better than chili is 2 or 3rd day chili.  I ALWAYS make a huge pot because we absolutely love having chili cheese dogs or chili cheese nachos with the leftovers.  But this right here is our ALL time FAVORITE way to use leftover chili.  This casserole (from Aunt Bee’s) is absolutely DELICIOUS! Give it a try and see what’cha think! 

    Read More
    Four chili-related dinners with text overlay reading, "Dinner ideas using leftover chili."
    « Chili Recipe Without Beans
    Alfredo Sauce Recipe With Cream Cheese »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Megan and I am so happy you are here! Whether you are looking for a healthy salad, easy dinner or indulgent dessert, I've got you covered! Let's dig deeper →

    Web Stories Library

    Dominate Your Instant Pot!

    Food Blogging Resources

    Yummy Desserts

    Lemon Curd With Egg Yolks Recipe

    What To Eat With Lemon Curd – 21 delish ideas!

    Best Instant Pot Cheesecake Recipe

    Easy Banana Bars Recipe

    Baked Cinnamon Apple Slices Recipe

    cropped-0818OreoBalls511B9431post.jpg

    3 Ingredient No Bake Oreo Balls Recipe

    Comforting Soups

    World’s Best Chili Recipe

    How To Freeze Chili

    Chicken and Dumplings Recipe With Canned Biscuits

    Easy Crab Soup Recipe

    Ham Bone Bean Soup With Potatoes

    How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As Featured In

    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 Pip and Ebby on the Foodie Pro Theme