Beef Chili Shooters (in baked potatoes!)

Oh my gosh, these are amazing! Savory beef chili, spooned into halved baked potatoes and topped with cheddar cheese. The chili is rich, and the potatoes are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. It's an incredible combination of flavors and textures. Oh, and scooped-out filling from the potatoes makes the BEST creamy mashed spuds on the side!

Originally, I was going to name this recipe Chili-Stuffed Potatoes, but I decided to cut the baked potatoes crosswise (instead of lengthwise, which would have made boats). Because of the cute, hand-held size, we ended up eating with our hands! I instantly thought, "These are more like shooters than boats!" I hope you love them as much as we did!

Beef Chili Shooters (in baked potatoes)

2 baking potatoes, scrubbed clean
Olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Rub olive oil all over the potatoes and place directly on the oven rack (in the preheated oen). Bake for 1 hour, until the potatoes are tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Meanwhile, brown the beef in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. If necessary, drain any fat that accumulates in the bottom of the pan.
Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute, until the spices are fragrant.
Add the tomato sauce and beef broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, halve them crosswise. Using a small spoon, scrape out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch border of flesh attached to the skin. Transfer the flesh to a medium bowl and add the butter and milk. Mash with a fork until blended and smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a small, oven-proof bowl or ramekin. Place the bowl in the center of a shallow baking dish.
Use a sharp knife to slice a tiny bit from the end of each potato half, so it can stand up on its own. Arrange the potatoes next to the mashed potatoes. 
Fill the potatoes with the chili and sprinkle the cheese over the potatoes and mashed potatoes. 
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese melts and the potato skin is crispy.
Serves 4


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