Two hearty heroes meet in this mighty recipe. Baked potatoes are the starchy vessels for a thick and savory chili, which can be vegetarian or meaty, and baked with a layer of cheese to lock in the flavors. It’s a great dish for a crowd-pleasing dinners and casual get-togethers. The toughest decision will be: spoon or fork?
Short on time or supplies? Use a warmed, pre-made canned chili for an even easier meal! And, while this recipe is vegetarian, you can add cooked ground beef to the chili mixture for extra protein if you wish.
Chili-Stuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes
| Yield |
|---|
| Serves 4 |
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10 min | 85 min | 91 min |
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can (15-oz) kidney or black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14.5-oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley, for garnish (optional)
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Scrub potatoes, pierce with a fork, rub with olive oil, and bake directly on oven rack until tender, about 45-60 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, if using, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large skillet over medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
- When potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice each in half lengthwise and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a thin shell.
- Mash the scooped potato flesh lightly and stir it into the chili mixture.
- Spoon a generous amount of the chili filling back into the potato shells and place on a baking sheet. Top each with shredded cheese.
- Return filled potatoes to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, about 8-10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley, if using, and serve.
- Photo and recipe: Dish Works
