A hearty, make ahead and freezer friendly meal with loads of veggies snuck in for those picky eaters! A meal the whole family is sure to love!
Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this about half a million times, but I am a bit of a picky eater.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t eat healthy most of the time or that I live off toast and mac and cheese or anything like that. It just means I’ve gotten smarter about where I can put those veggies I don’t really like to eat.
Maybe you have a picky eater in your house (maybe one of your children and not you, because you surely eat salads and stuff like a totally responsible adult), and maybe you’re looking for healthy, hearty meals that those picky eaters will enjoy. As I’ve learned to cook Real Food over the last 10 or so years (and yes, I started with Shake ‘n’ Bake and boxed pastas back in my first year at University…), I’ve also learned the best places and flavors to hide those vegetables in.
Barbecue sauce, chili and cheese?
This is one of those places.
I made this recipe twice, and the first time I really loaded the chili up with all kinds of vegetables. The second time, and really only because of the time involved (and the whole cooking-with-a-one-year-old-wrapped-around-my-legs thing) in the peeling/shredding/chopping off the veggies, I cut out a few. I’ll be the first to say you’ll never really notice a difference in flavor, so load this baby up with all that good stuff.
I used kale because I had a huge amount in the fridge, but spinach would be a find substitute. You could also add in mushrooms, corn or other vegetables your family likes (or doesn’t like but you want them to eat!).
And because I’m all about options, here are a few ways to make this recipe a little quicker if you’re in a time crunch:
- You can buy refrigerated biscuit dough and plop it on top of the chili instead of making your own, though the biscuit dough in this recipe comes together easily in the 10 minutes you simmer the chili on the stove.
- If you’re really in a time crunch, you can use canned chili or chili you’ve made ahead and frozen.
BBQ Chili Cheese Biscuit Casserole
Ingredients
Chili:
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 large onion finely diced
- 1 large carrot peeled and shredded
- 1/2 bell pepper diced
- 2 stalks kale chopped (or a few handfuls of spinach)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 19 oz can black or kidney beans, drained and rinsed 540ml
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, drained 796ml
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
Biscuits
- 2 cups flour all purpose or whole wheat
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder optional
- 1/2 cup cold butter
- 1/2-3/4 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- ChiliIn a large oven safe skillet or dutch oven, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until browned. Add in carrot, pepper, kale and chili powder and cook 2-3 minutes until veggies are softened. Add beans, tomatoes, ketchup and barbecue sauce. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes so the flavors can come together. Meanwhile, make your biscuits.
- BiscuitsIn a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and garlic powder. Cut butter into ½” cubes and add to the flour mixture, cutting in until crumbly. Stir in milk gradually, stirring in just enough that the dough comes together. Roll out on a floured surface and cut into biscuit rounds if desired (or just leave it as one piece).
- Place biscuits on top of chili mixture, lay a piece of tin foil over top (don’t tighten around the dish — this is only to prevent splatter in the oven. You don’t want it too steamy or your biscuits will be soggy) and bake for 10 minutes until light golden brown. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve.
Notes
To freeze, assemble completely, minus the cheese, and freeze. To bake, thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter for 2-3 hours. May require additional baking time if still partially frozen when you bake, but it will be fine! Sprinkle on cheese just before it’s finished baking.
**NOTE: Nutrition information is estimated and will vary depending on exact serving size, types and brands of products used.
Nutrition Information
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norma says
WOW!! Amazing casserole, the combination of the flavour and the vegetables make this dish one the best casserole, my friends enjoy a lot .Good job and thank you for sheering your delicious recipes.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you so much Norma! I’m glad you liked it!
Joy says
Can you use Pillsbury Grands biscuits
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, definitely!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh mah gooooosh! This casserole is EVERYTHING! Seriously, ALL the swooning going down right now because this looks just too good! Really, there is just no beating biscuits chili, bbq, and cheese all hanging out in one pan!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sarah! I love your enthusiasm! Lol. It was a BIG hit here 😉
Brielle @ Breezy Bakes says
This looked so good on Instagram that I had to come check it out. Looks even better on the bigger screen. Yum! I love a good old BBQ chili. And topped with biscuits??? Doesn’t get much better.
I love that you load it with veggies. Get them where you can!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Brielle! I totally agree! I try to sneak them in everywhere 😉
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
What great comfort food! This casserole would disappear in a hurry around here!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica! I know it did here!
Natasha @ Salt and Lavender says
Mmmm comfort food… looks delicious! Veggies snuck in = winning.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Natasha!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says
Chili with bbq sauce sounds delicious! Yum!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Laura! I add barbecue sauce to everything! Lol
Kelly says
This casserole looks SO flavorful and amazing! My son is definitely starting to become a picky eater so I am loving all the veggies you snuck in here! Yes to the cheese, bbq sauce and chili! It’s the perfect comforting dish!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kelly! Sometimes it’s the only way I can get them all in — and you never taste them!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
oh my gawd, Ashley!!!! this looks amazing!!! damn, I want a biscuit now!!! Happy New Year!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, thanks Alice! Happy New Year to you!
The Duo Dishes says
It’s definitely the season for this type of food, especially with football on every week. Chili is at the top of the list when it comes to comfort food!
Ashley Fehr says
I totally agree! This would be perfect for those game days!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! Had to come back – we had snow (if you looked really close) a couple of weeks ago, but today it was cold for here – 34 degrees! I have a few chili recipes that are my own concoctions that I would be happy to share with you to see what you think. I can e-mail them to you if you are interested. Let me know. 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Dorothy! I’d love for you to send me some of your chili recipes to try! thereciperebel@gmail.com — thanks!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! Everything in one bowl is my kind of comfort food! In fact, I’m making one of my chili dishes for supper tonight and my timing is good – it snowed here today! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Was that your first snow?!? We only got snow about the middle of December which is really late for us, but I’d been waiting for it for so long! Now I’m almost ready for Spring 😉 I wish we were having chili for supper tonight!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
This chili is mouthwatering. I love that vegetables are hidden throughout. And the biscuits are the perfect way to top chili! Happy New Year, friend!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jen! I’m wishing we had some for dinner tonight! Happy New Year to you 🙂
Summer says
These must be incredibly yummy! They look so nice ♥
summerdaisy.net
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Summer!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love how you snuck some veggies in here, Ashley! My husband is sort of picky too, so I bet he wouldn’t even notice the kale and carrots in here. And I love any kind of chili, so this biscuit casserole sounds amazing! This looks like the perfect comfort food for the snow that headed my way!