Chili Mac Recipe (One Pot)
My 30-minute chili mac recipe is a speedy, satisfying dinner! Tacky, beefy, and a little bit spicy, this Tex-Mex spin on traditional macaroni and cheese comes collectively in a single pot, which makes weeknight cooking simple.

At present, we’re combining hearty beef chili with home made mac and cheese to make this simple 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 a variety of my taco pasta, with chili combine and paprika, and can be prepared in a single pot in half-hour.
The Greatest 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 elements 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 which you could customise this recipe to be as spicy or as delicate as you’d like.
Elements You’ll Must Make This Recipe


- 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 can also make this chili mac recipe with one other kind of floor meat, comparable to rooster, turkey, or pork.
- Seasonings – You’ll want a packet of chili combine or taco seasoning, plus further paprika.
- Diced Inexperienced Chilies – One small can. If you happen to change the canned tomatoes with Rotel, you may omit the additional canned chilies.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes – Use fire-roasted tomatoes for a smokier taste. You may as well use a can of Rotel, which accommodates 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 components tomato sauce works, too, but it surely doesn’t have the identical depth of taste.
- Black Beans – If you happen to’re utilizing canned black beans, rinse and drain them properly first.
- Elbow Macaroni – The traditional selection for mac and cheese. You can also make this recipe with any brief pasta form, comparable to 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.
Elective Toppings
- Bitter cream
- Pickled jalapeños
- Further 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 attainable, grate the cheese in your chili mac and cheese contemporary from the block, because it melts way more easily than the pre-shredded type.
- Modify the consistency. To skinny out chili mac that’s too thick, add a little bit extra broth. For a thicker dish, let it simmer for an extra 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.


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 gentle. 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.
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Season the meat. Add the chili seasoning and smoked paprika. Cook dinner, stirring for 1 minute.
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Add the remainder of the elements. Stir within the diced inexperienced chilies, canned diced tomatoes, broth, bouillon powder, and tomato paste.
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Cook dinner. Deliver to a boil, then scale back the warmth and proceed to cook dinner for 10 minutes.
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Add the beans and macaroni. Stir within the black beans and macaroni. Give it a very good stir, then cook dinner till the pasta is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir just a few instances whereas it cooks so the pasta doesn’t follow the underside of the pot. Season to style with salt and pepper.
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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.
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Serve. Serve your chili mac heat, topped with pickled jalapenos, bitter cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro.
- If you happen to really feel your chili mac is just too thick, add some further broth. In order for you it to be thicker, then cook dinner it for an additional 2-3 minutes as soon as the pasta is cooked.
- You should utilize Monterey Jack as a substitute of cheddar cheese.
- A bouillon substitute could 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.
Energy: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 39g | Fats: 15g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 1244mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 640IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 6mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could fluctuate in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Easy methods to Make Chili Mac and Cheese




- Brown the meat. To begin, 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 elements. Stir within the diced inexperienced chilies, canned tomatoes, broth, bouillon, and tomato paste. Deliver the pot to a boil, then decrease the warmth and simmer for about 10 minutes.




- 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 (verify 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 along with your favourite 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 fully cooled, retailer the leftovers in a freezer-safe container to freeze. Thaw the chili mac within the fridge earlier than reheating.
