When winter arrives, a good, hearty chili is already on our minds. There are few dishes quite as warming as a luscious bowl of steaming, meaty chili. Although it's difficult to improve on perfection, our recipe for chili hash browns adds a whole new layer of comfort to what is already regarded as one of the world's most comforting dishes!
This recipe calls for preparing your own quick-and-easy chili, which can be made in advance and frozen before assembling the dish (just be sure to heat it up beforehand). You can also speed up the process by opting for premade or canned chili, although we always recommend preparing your own whenever possible. Once you try your hand at it, you will surely be inclined to agree. Serve this dish simply with a side of roasted veggies and a dollop of sour cream. Yum!
Chili Hash Brown Casserole
3-5
35 minutes
40 minutes
1 hour 25 minutes
1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
1 onion, small dice
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons tomato paste
14-ounce (400-gram) can diced tomatoes
14-ounce (400-gram) can red kidney beans, drained
16 ounces (450 grams) frozen hash brown potatoes, shredded
8 ounces (225 grams) cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 green bell pepper, small dice
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent.
Add in ground beef and cook for 5-8 minutes. Add in bell pepper, cumin, red chili flakes, salt, pepper, and chili powder.
Once the beef has completely cooked, add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and kidney beans. Continue to cook for 15-20 minutes until everything has cooked and sauce has thickened.
Pour the chili into the bottom of a greased 2- to 3-quart casserole dish. Spread the frozen hash browns over the top and sprinkle cheddar cheese over the hash browns. Place the casserole into the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Pro tip: If you don't have access to shredded hash browns, feel free to substitute frozen tater tots and follow the cooking directions as normal.