Chili Mac
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Winner, winner, kid-friendly dinner! This one-pot chili mac belongs in your weeknight recipe rotation.
Photo by Johnny Miller (Clarkson Potter, 2021)
A regular menu item in the school cafeteria when I was growing up, chili mac is one of those nostalgic dishes that reminds me of my childhood. This tasty mash-up of mac and cheese and chili is a comforting one-pot dish that you can have on the table in less than 45 minutes. When my kids were younger, it was one of my go-to weeknight dinners. Nowadays, I make a big batch when my nephews, Max, Leo and Remy (ages 10, 8, and 3), come for dinner. I mean, with pasta, cheese, and ground beef, how can you go wrong with kids? Serve it with tortilla chips for dipping or crushing over the top.
Table of Contents
“This is a surprisingly simple meal….but so much more. It is full of familiar flavors, but miles away from school cafeteria fare.”
What You’ll Need To Make Chili Mac
- Onion and Garlic: These aromatics form the flavor foundation.
- Ancho Chile Powder, Ground Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper & Oregano: This spice and herb blend gives the dish its distinctive chili flavor.
- Lean Ground Beef: The protein component, adding richness and texture. Leaner beef keeps the dish from being too greasy.
- Chicken Broth: The liquid base that cooks the macaroni and integrates all the flavors.
- Canned Tomato Sauce: Adds tomato flavor and acidity, balancing the richness of the beef and cheese.
- Macaroni: The classic pasta choice for chili mac.
- Evaporated Milk: Adds creaminess to the dish without the heaviness of cream.
- Mexican Cheese Blend: Melts into the dish, adding creaminess and a rich, cheesy flavor.
- Scallions: Adds a fresh, oniony crunch and a pop of color when serving.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Cook, stirring often, about 1 minute more.
Add the beef.
Cook, stirring and breaking apart the meat, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, oregano, sugar and pasta.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring every so often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, until the pasta is tender, 9 to 12 minutes. Use a soup spoon to skim any grease off the top, if necessary.
Off the heat, add the evaporated milk and cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Ladle the chili mac into bowls and sprinkle with scallions. Serve with more cheese and tortilla chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chili mac is best enjoyed fresh as it contains pasta, which can become overcooked and mushy if left to sit for an extended period.
Yes, you can substitute other medium pasta shapes such as rotini or shells. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time based on the type of pasta you use, as different shapes may require more or less time to cook to al dente.
The recipe has a pretty mild level of spiciness. If you prefer an even milder flavor, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper. For extra heat, you can increase the cayenne pepper, add diced jalapeños, or shake on hot sauce to taste.
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Beef Chili Mac
Winner, winner, kid-friendly dinner! This one-pot chili mac belongs in your weeknight recipe rotation.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Ancho chile powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional; omit for less heat)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 pound 85 or 90% lean ground beef
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) elbow macaroni
- 1 cup (8 oz) evaporated milk
- 1½ cups (one 6-oz package) shredded Mexican cheese blend, plus more for serving
- 3 medium scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), and salt and cook, stirring often, about 1 minute more. Add the beef and cook, stirring and breaking apart the meat, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, oregano, sugar, and macaroni and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring every so often so the macaroni doesn't stick to the bottom, until the pasta is al dente, 9 to 12 minutes. Use a soup spoon to skim any grease off the top, if necessary.
- Off the heat, add the evaporated milk and cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Ladle the chili mac into bowls and sprinkle with the scallions. Serve with more shredded cheese and tortilla chips.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 918
- Fat: 46 g
- Saturated fat: 20 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Sugar: 18 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 55 g
- Sodium: 1489 mg
- Cholesterol: 155 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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As a resident of the Pacific Northwest for the last 25 years, and having been born in the Midwest, this was like taking a bite out of my early (long ago) childhood.
Tasty comfort food, kiddos enjoyed it also. As always, Jenn, your recipes are easy and impressive.
I left out the cumin, (my spouse has a weird sensitivity around it,) but added a bit to each of the bowls for the rest of us. Going to try it with whole wheat noodles, (and add a bit more cook time as a result,) the next time we make it. Thank you again!
I made this for the first time a few days ago. We love this recipe. My husband said it’s the best comfort food ever and I agree. I have tried several recipes from your site. Each dish has been 5 stars. I’m learning so much from your step by step instructions. Thank you so much Jen.
This is our favorite way to eat chili, my go-to recipe when I have hamburger on hand, and one of the best to reheat and enjoy the next day. I’ve made it several times and it never gets boring! Once I had to use heavy cream as I was out of evaporated milk and it was still just as creamy. I have also added American cheese slices to give it a stronger ‘mac and cheese vibe’ on the nights when we really need comfort food…they melt beautifully, blending in just right. We live in Scotland but are American – we’ve been here seven years – so Jenn’s recipes are always perfect for us to enjoy a taste of home!
This recipe is easy to veganize! And is a huge hit with the kiddos.
I use Incogmeato to replace the beef, veggie stock for the chicken broth, a plant based shredded cheese (Chao makes the best ones in my opinion, youngest that likes to cook agrees!), and extra creamy -unflavored- oat milk (it is what I have on hand typically for cooking, have not tried others in this recipe!).
Adding a little extra oil helps compensate for the less greasy meat if you need a little more mouthfeel. I like the flavor of olive oil and Earth Balance more than plain vegetable oil in this.
Definitely a fun and easy recipe!
I love this recipe! My mom used to make Goulash and it was similar to this but not nearly as good.
This recipe has such a depth of flavor. Really really good!
Well another hit recipe, fantastic after a cross country ski with some crusty bread and a beer. My husband loves this combination of the mac plus chili plus melted cheese, and a few nice crunchy tortilla chips. We have had this three times already this winter, and it is being requested again. I do add a can of red kidney beans for even more “chili-ness”.
Perfect family supper! Quick, easy, affordable and the kids love it! We made huge amounts of this and froze family sized foil pans of it to give.to struggling families during this pandemic. It was a hands down favourite.
So easy and hearty! Makes a ton so it’s good for groups!
I had never made, or even heard of, Chili Mac before. Now, whenever I want to do something special for my husband, or if I want him to do something special for me, I make Beef Chili Mac! Comfort food at it’s finest, and a new staple on my dinner menu rotation. Thanks for a truly yummy recipe!
I made this a few nights ago. There’s just Sweetie and I now, so this recipe made enough for at least 3 meals for us! Good, inexpensive and fairly easy.
Sweetie doesn’t do dairy, so I left out the cheese. She pronounced this dish among the top 5 dishes I’ve cooked……and, believe me, I’ve been cooking for her for over 20 years and for her to say that? Wowzers!
Thank you!