Chili Mac Recipe (One Pot)

My 30-minute chili mac recipe is a speedy, satisfying dinner! Tacky, beefy, and somewhat spicy, this Tex-Mex spin on traditional macaroni and cheese comes collectively in a single pot, which makes weeknight cooking straightforward.

Chili mac in a pot, garnished with sour cream, jalapeños slices, shredded cheese, and cilantro.

In the present day, we’re combining hearty beef chili with do-it-yourself mac and cheese to make this straightforward weeknight chili mac recipe. It’s Tex-Mex consolation meals at its peak! Tender elbow macaroni combined with gooey melted cheese, seasoned floor beef, juicy tomatoes, inexperienced chilies, and black beans. The seasoning jogs my memory loads of my taco pasta, with chili combine and paprika, and can also be prepared in a single pot in half-hour.

The Finest Issues About This Chili Mac Recipe

One-pot magic. This chili mac joins the ranks of goulash and my copycat Hamburger Helper recipe as a family-friendly, one-pan surprise with little or no effort.
Raid the pantry. With easy substances and a ready-made chili combine, this chili mac recipe is the right dinner to throw collectively on a weeknight.
Daring flavors. The nice factor right here is that you could customise this recipe to be as spicy or as gentle as you’d like.

Components You’ll Must Make This Recipe

Chili mac recipe ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Olive Oil – For sautéeing. Be happy to make use of any cooking oil you favor.
Onion and Garlic – Freshly chopped and minced. If wanted, substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic powder for every contemporary clove.
Lean Floor Beef – You may make this chili mac recipe with one other sort of floor meat, resembling hen, turkey, or pork.
Seasonings – You’ll want a packet of chili combine or taco seasoning, plus further paprika.
Diced Inexperienced Chilies – One small can. In the event you substitute the canned tomatoes with Rotel, you may omit the additional canned chilies.
Canned Diced Tomatoes – Use fire-roasted tomatoes for a smokier taste. You can too use a can of Rotel, which comprises diced tomatoes and chilies.
Broth – I take advantage of a mixture of vegetable broth and vegetable bouillon. Beef broth and bouillon are additionally okay to make use of.
Tomato Paste – Equal elements tomato sauce works, too, however it doesn’t have the identical depth of taste.
Black Beans – In the event you’re utilizing canned black beans, rinse and drain them properly first.
Elbow Macaroni – The traditional selection for mac and cheese. You may make this recipe with any brief pasta form, resembling small shells, cavatappi, rotini, or penne.
Shredded Cheese – My favourite cheese for macaroni and cheese recipes is cheddar. Substitute cheddar with one other melty cheese, like Monterey Jack.
Lime Juice – A squeeze of contemporary lime juice goes an extended method to brighten up the wealthy, beefy flavors.

Optionally available Toppings

Bitter cream
Pickled jalapeños
Additional shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled Cotija cheese (feta is an efficient swap)
Chopped cilantro or parsley

Recipe Suggestions and Variations

Use freshly shredded cheese. If potential, grate the cheese on your chili mac and cheese contemporary from the block, because it melts far more easily than the pre-shredded variety.
Regulate the consistency. To skinny out chili mac that’s too thick, add somewhat extra broth. For a thicker dish, let it simmer for a further 2-3 minutes after you add the pasta.
Add corn. Stir in roasted or grilled corn kernels. You possibly can shave the kernels off leftover grilled corn on the cob.

A spoon lifting up chili mac from a bowl.

What to Serve With Chili Mac

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Brown the meat. Warmth the olive oil in a Dutch oven or cooking pot over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and cook dinner, stirring for 3-4 minutes, or till delicate. Add garlic and cook dinner for 15 seconds or till aromatic. Add the meat and cook dinner till browned, breaking down the lumps, about 6 to eight minutes.
Season the meat. Add the chili seasoning and smoked paprika. Prepare dinner, stirring for 1 minute.
Add the remainder of the substances. Stir within the diced inexperienced chilies, canned diced tomatoes, broth, bouillon powder, and tomato paste.
Prepare dinner. Carry to a boil, then cut back the warmth and proceed to cook dinner for 10 minutes.
Add the beans and macaroni. Stir within the black beans and macaroni. Give it a superb stir, then cook dinner till the pasta is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir a couple of instances whereas it cooks so the pasta doesn’t stick with the underside of the pot. Season to style with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese. Stir within the cheddar cheese and take away the pot from the warmth. As soon as the cheese is melted, stir within the lime juice.
Serve. Serve your chili mac heat, topped with pickled jalapenos, bitter cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro.

In the event you really feel your chili mac is simply too thick, add some further broth. If you’d like it to be thicker, then cook dinner it for an additional 2-3 minutes as soon as the pasta is cooked.
You should use Monterey Jack as an alternative of cheddar cheese.
A bouillon substitute might be made with a mixture of your favourite dried herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and a splash of soy sauce.
For further taste, add roasted corn kernels or serve chili mac with Cotija cheese on prime.

Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ in accordance with the substances and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.

Learn how to Make Chili Mac and Cheese

Taco seasoning added to a pot of browned ground beef. — Prepare dinner the meat and add seasonings.

Vegetable broth added to a pot with browned beef, canned tomatoes, and green chilies. — Prepare dinner the meat and add seasonings.

Brown the meat. To start out, sauté the onion in a big pot. After 3-4 minutes, add the garlic, adopted by the bottom beef. Break up the lumps and cook dinner till the meat is evenly browned. Subsequent, stir within the seasoning and paprika.
Add the remainder of the substances. Stir within the diced inexperienced chilies, canned tomatoes, broth, bouillon, and tomato paste. Carry the pot to a boil, then decrease the warmth and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Elbow macaroni and black beans in a pot of chili. — Add the beans and noodles.

A pot of chili mac with a wooden spoon stirring through it. — Add the beans and noodles.

Add the beans and macaroni. Now, add the black beans and macaroni to the pot. Stir properly and let the pasta simmer till it’s cooked (test the bundle instructions for approximate cooking instances). Lastly, season to style with salt and pepper.
Soften the cheese. Lastly, add the shredded cheese and stir till it melts. Squeeze in some lime juice, stir once more, and your chili mac is able to serve together with your favourite toppings.

Bowls of chili mac garnished with sour cream, jalapeños, shredded cheese, and cilantro, surrounded by more toppings.

Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

Refrigerate. Retailer leftover chili mac in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Reheat. Heat up servings within the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freeze. You possibly can freeze this chili mac for as much as 2 months. As soon as it’s utterly cooled, retailer the leftovers in a freezer-safe container to freeze. Thaw the chili mac within the fridge earlier than reheating.