Description
This Chili Mac recipe combines hearty chili and creamy mac and cheese in a one-pot wonder. Made with ground beef, tender pasta, beans, tomatoes, and melty cheddar, it’s a comforting, easy, and family-friendly dinner perfect for busy nights.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
2. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute to release flavors.
4. Pour in diced tomatoes and beef broth. Stir and bring to a simmer.
5. Add elbow macaroni and stir well. Cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Stir in kidney beans and shredded cheddar cheese until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.
Notes
Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
Add extra chili flakes for more heat.
You can double the recipe and freeze half for easy meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg