Published: April 23, 2015Updated: January 3, 2022Author:Amy
Two favorite comfort foods come together in this super easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese the whole family will go crazy for!
We like to serve this with homemade garlic bread and a simple side salad for a complete meal.
One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
What’s better than macaroni and cheese and chili? When you combine them! Put them together to make Chili Mac and you have one killer mash-up.
Not only does it taste great, but it only requires one pot and pantry staples. One of my favorite trifectas in cooking! Bonus, it comes together in 30 minutes for a satisfying meal. Leftovers are great the next day, too.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this chili mac recipe. (Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
Ground beef – Lean ground beef 80/20, so there’s not excess fat.
Onion and Garlic – For aromatics and flavor.
Elbow macaroni pasta – Dry macaroni is used for mac n cheese, so that’s what we use here, but Ditalini would work, too.
Chicken broth – We prefer low-sodium to control the saltiness of the dish.
Pasta sauce – Use either traditional or marinara
Rotel – This is canned diced tomatoes with mild green chilis. Choose from mild, medium, or hot depending on your preference.
Chili beans – Canned chili beans. Do NOT rinse and drain them before adding them.
Cheddar cheese – Freshly shredded for optimal flavor.
Seasonings – Chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley
Olive oil – Used to sauté the vegetables.
What Goes with Chili Mac
With ground beef, pasta, and tomatoes, and beans, this dish is very filling on its own. But we usually enjoy it with a side salad and either homemade garlic bread, 7 Up Biscuits, or Dutch oven bread to round out the meal.
Storing Leftovers
If you’ve got leftovers, allow them to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The noodles will absorb a lot of the liquid and tend to get mushy once defrosted, so freezing leftovers is not our preference, but you can. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
More One Pot Meals:
Rice and Beans
Pasta e Ceci
Easy Jambalaya
Minestrone Soup
Mexican Rice Skillet
Broccoli and Bacon Pasta
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onTikTok,Facebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!
Chili Mac
5 from 1 Rating
Two favorite comfort foods come together in this super easy, one-pot Chili Mac dish that the whole family will go crazy for!
10ouncecan mild diced tomatoes with mild green chilis
16ouncecan mild chili beans(do not drain or rinse)
1teaspoonchili powder
1teaspooncumin
1 1/2cupsuncooked elbow macaroni pasta
3/4cupshredded cheddar cheese
1/4cupchopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high. Add onion, garlic, and beef; cook until browned, breaking up into crumbles, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain excess fat.
Stir in chicken broth, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes with mild green chilis, beans, chili powder, and cumin. Season with a bit more salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to a boil and stir in pasta; cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until pasta is al dente, about 14 minutes, stirring a couple times near the end to prevent sticking.
Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese and parsley.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional cheese and parsley, if desired.
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Other Notes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chili Mac, Chili Mac Recipe
Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!
What's the Difference Between Chili Mac and Goulash? Chili mac is very similar to American goulash — a one-pot meal made with ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. American goulash, however, doesn't call for evaporated milk, and also isn't made with beans.
In a pot of chili, just a few strips of bacon add a smoky, meaty depth. And it's not just the bacon itself that adds flavor, it's the bacon fat, too. Before you start your recipe, cook 3 to 4 strips of thick-cut bacon until they're as crispy as you like.
Basic versions may be prepared using chopped meat, tomato, spices, and elbow macaroni. Another basic preparation method incorporates boxed, prepared macaroni and cheese and canned chili. Some recipes incorporate all of the ingredients together, while others are prepared with the ingredients separately layered.
It's subtle but if you've been making Goulash without Worcestershire sauce and feel like it's been missing something, this just might be what's missing! A tablespoon of sugar. Because that's what grandma did and that's because it perfectly balances out the acidic tomatoes and peppers.
American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.
Hot sauces are low in carbohydrates and calories, making them a great way to add flavor and variety without compromising the goals of a keto diet. The capsaicin found in hot sauce is known to boost metabolism, suppress appetite, and increase fat burning capabilities, which can help with weight loss on a keto diet.
Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.
Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.
Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.
American Chop Suey (Macaroni, Beef, and Cheese Skillet Casserole) Recipe. Beefaroni, chili mac, Johnny Marzetti: whatever you call it, this stuff is delicious.
Goulash (Hungarian: gulyás) is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.
Hungarian Goulash is a thick meat and vegetable stew with a broth that's heavily seasoned with paprika, while American Goulash is a quick dish made from ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni noodles. It also goes by the name of American Chop Suey.
Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.
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