Easy Chili Board Idea (Perfect for Game Day!)

Easy, cheesy, and delicious black bean chili served with a simple heart-shaped corn dog muffins recipe makes this a perfect addition to your game day chili board, meal prep or a delicious school lunchbox option.

I’m going back to work tomorrow and my heart is a little sad. As a teacher, I find myself soaking up every minute I can with my kids over the summer and then I blink, and it’s over. One thing I am looking forward to is getting back into a routine which includes making fun and delicious lunchboxes for my kids.

Because this is my first lunchbox going into the new school year, I knew it had to be something special. So I took my kids’ favorite things: Chili and corn dogs and combined them into one fabulously delicious lunch that my kids loved for their first week of school.

We also made this fabulously easy chili and corn bread muffins recipe as part of our weekend chili board when hosting family. Everyone, including the kids, could not get enough of this fun food board option!

As a busy mom and a teacher, I am always looking for creative and delicious ways to make my kids’ lunchboxes fun and exciting for them. And nothing can beat the classic comfort foods like an infamous corn dog!

One bite of this goodness is a seriously blast from the past for me. My kids love when they serve them for lunch at school, so I decided to make an easily transportable version of these beloved corn dogs in muffin form. And yes! I took that classic little smokie and turned it into a heart!

The other thing my kids go completely crazy for is a good chili recipe. As a family who loves chili, sometimes I get a little over the top with my recipes and I’ve noticed the ones that my kids love are the simplest as they come. So here it is in all its glory: The easiest and cheesiest chili recipe that you’re whole family will love!

why your whole family will love this chili board

• Flavorful Variety: The cheesy, easy to make black bean chili offers a hearty, rich flavor that’s complemented perfectly with cute heart-shaped cocktail sausage corn bread muffins. This unique twist not only tastes great, but also adds a fun, festive touch to your game day spread.
• Customizable Experience: With a chili board, everyone can personalize their bowls! Let your family and friends select their favorite toppings for a wide array of options, ensuring that both picky eaters and adventurous tasters can find something they’ll love,
• Easy to Prepare: This meal allows for super easy preparation. You can spend more time enjoying the game and less time cooking. Additionally, this chili recipe is easy to make ahead of time, so you can simply warm it up when needed. The cornbread muffins are quick and easy to bake.
• Comfort Food Togetherness: Chili is classic comfort food that brings people together–perfect for sharing during the excitement of game day. The heart-shaped corn bread muffins add a touch of love and fun that everyone will appreciate!

ingredients for a chili board

To make this fun and delicious cheesy chili + corn dog muffins recipe, you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!

This will make 4 lunchbox containers. I love these 2 compartment food containers that I found on Amazon!

Here’s what we are working with:

for the (heart shaped) corn dog muffins

• buttermilk
• yellow cornmeal
• granulated sugar
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• baking soda
• salt
• melted butter
• eggs
• cocktail sausages, cut in half to form hearts
• olive oil + honey, optional to brush over

for the cheesy black bean chili

• olive oil
• ground beef
• onion
• black beans
• crushed tomatoes
• garlic powder
• italian seasoning
• smoked paprika
• ground cumin
• chili powder
• apple cider vinegar
• cheddar cheese

additional add-ons for your chili board

• Fritos/Doritos: For that extra crunch and flavor!
• Corn: Sweet corn can add a vibrant pop and sweetness to contrast the chili.
• Olives: Black or green olives can provide a salt, briny flavor.
• Green Onions and/or Cilantro: For a fresh, crisp taste and pop of color.
• Sour Cream: A creamy addition helps mellow the heat of the chili.
• Avocados: Slices or diced, for a creamy texture and healthy addition.
• Jalapeños: Fresh or pickled for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
• Fresh Salsa: An added freshness and brightness to every bite.
• Cheddar Cheese: Because YUM!

how to make easy cheesy chili and corn dog muffins

for the heart shaped corn dog muffins

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a muffin pan with cooking spray (I used cupcake lines for easier transportability). Set aside.
2. In a bowl whisk together dry ingredients.
3. In another bowl, whisk together wet ingredients
4. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour wet ingredients in the center. Whisk together until well combined.
5. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter into each of the muffin tins; cut each cocktail sausage in a slanted half, turning the right-side up to form a heart and place it in the center.
6. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Test with a toothpick to make sure the center comes out clean. Remove to a cooling rack.

for the cheesy black bean chili

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef; cook and stir until slightly browned. Add onion and cook until onion has softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in beans, tomatoes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, and apple cider vinegar. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until flavors are well blended, about 20-30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Turn off heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until fully combined and melty.
4. Drizzle over melted queso or additional cheddar cheese, if desired.

why prep lunches for school?

To make meal planning more consistent and practical in my house, I aim to include four school lunch preps for my two kids in our weekly meal prep rotation. This helps us save money. Additionally, we can ensure that two days of the week, the kids have well balanced meals. Moreover, these lunchboxes are fun and festive, yet simple enough to put together in less than 15 minutes. 

In these lunch preps I try to include a variety of colors as well as a good balance of the essential food groups so that my kids are getting exposure to different foods in a fun and exciting way!

I love these 2-compartment containers that I found on Amazon to prep my kids’ lunches. I then send the kids to school with this heated thermos so that their lunches stay warm and place any fruits or sides into this snack container set. This lunchbox is my absolute favorite for school lunches! It’s just the right size and comes with everything you need for a great lunch!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s definitely one of those recipes worth saving. There’s nothing better than having what looks and tastes like a gourmet meal on the table, but one that saves you time behind the scenes. 

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Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!

ENJOY!

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