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5.0 from 9 votes

Baked Chili Mac Casserole Recipe

This baked chili mac casserole is easy to make and loaded with flavor, the perfect mix of comforting macaroni noodles, meaty chili, and lots of cheese.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 10
Calories: 353 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

FOR THE CHILI
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or use ground turkey for a lighter meal
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 Jalapeno peppers chopped
  • 1 small bell pepper or sweet pepper, chopped
  • 1 spicy chili pepper chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 cans red kidney beans
  • 28 ounces fire roasted tomatoes (2 14-ounce cans)
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder (I love a mix of ancho powder and guajillo powder)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
FOR THE BAKED CHILI MAC CASSEROLE
  • 8 ounces dry weight elbow pasta noodles or use macaroni or any other smaller noodles
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or use any melty cheese, like pepper jack, or a mixture of cheeses
  • FOR SERVING: Sliced roasted peppers spicy chili flakes, fresh chopped parsley or cilantro

Instructions

FOR THE CHILI
    Cup of Yum
  1. First, heat the oil in a large pot and add the ground beef or turkey, onion and peppers. Cook them down about 10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened.
  2. Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
  3. If using fresh tomatoes, chop them and add them to the pot. Cook about 10 minutes to let them break down. If using canned fire roasted tomatoes, just add them to the pot and go to the next step.
  4. Add the kidney beans and seasonings and give it all a good stir.
  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the chili on low for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop, stirring every now and then. Adjust for seasonings if you wish.
FOR THE CHILI MAC
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C)
  2. Boil the noodles in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain.
  3. Mix the noodles with the chili, then pour the mixture into a large baking dish or casserole dish.
  4. Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes until the cheeses are nice and melted.
  5. Garnish and serve!

Notes

  • NOTE: This is an easy one-pot meal. I usually use a simple casserole dish for this recipe, but you can easily make it in a Dutch oven or any large oven-safe pan, like a cast iron pan.
  • CHILI POWDERS: If you have a hard time finding ancho and guajillo powders, use your favorite chili powder blend instead.

Nutrition Information

Calories 353kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 18g (36%) Fat 19g (29%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 56mg (19%) Sodium 1111mg (46%) Potassium 332mg (9%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 2156IU (43%) Vitamin C 28mg (31%) Calcium 229mg (23%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 353

% Daily Value*

Calories 353kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 18g 36%
Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 56mg 19%
Sodium 1111mg 46%
Potassium 332mg 7%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 2156IU 43%
Vitamin C 28mg 31%
Calcium 229mg 23%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.