Chili Mac

User Reviews

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    35 mins

  • Servings

    8 servings

  • Calories

    344 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    American

Chili Mac

This easy one-pot Chili Mac has tons of melty cheese, filling protein, and the perfect amount of spice. It is ready in under 40 minutes or great to prep ahead of time!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (450g)
  • 1 onion diced (263g)
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced (161g)
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • cups chicken broth (600mL)
  • 1 (15.5-ounce/439g) can Kidney Beans drained
  • 1 (14.5-ounce/411g) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (8-ounce/227g) can tomato sauce
  • tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8- ounces elbow macaroni pasta (225g) (uncooked)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (168g)
  • Sour cream, fresh parsley to serve

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is brown and onion is tender, about 6 minutes.
  2. Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, tomato paste, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender but still has a little bite, about 12 minutes.
  3. Remove the pot from heat. Sprinkle the cheese over top and cover with the lid until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with sour cream and chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Use freshly grated cheese. Use a grater to shred the cheese straight from the block for the best flavor. Freshly grated cheese melts much better than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents. The meltiness of freshly shredded cheese is essential for this creamy chili mac!
  • Stir the pasta throughout the cooking time. The pasta is prone to sticking to the bottom of the pot, so be sure to stir it frequently as it cooks to prevent this.
  • Cook pasta al dente. When you add the pasta noodles to the chili mixture, cook them until just tender. They will continue to cook and absorb the sauce as the dish sits. If you cook the noodles too long, they will become mushy.
  • Allow the pot to sit covered before serving. Don’t skip this key step! The chili and pasta mixture will appear saucy before you cover the pot with a lid, but it will thicken as it sits and the pasta finishes cooking. It also melts the cheese on top for that decadent finish.
  • Add toppings. Whatever you like on chili, you’ll probably like it on this mac! I love it with a dollop of sour cream, pico de gallo, and fresh chopped parsley, cilantro, or green onions. You can also add avocado, sliced green onion, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Additionally, spice it up by topping it with sliced jalapenos or hot sauce.
  • Optional variations. Swap kidney beans 1:1 with black beans, or omit the beans altogether. You can also make this recipe vegetarian by omitting the ground beef, adding extra beans, and using vegetable broth. If you want to sneak in extra veggies, add corn kernels or spinach. Additionally, you can add onion powder or garlic powder for extra flavor or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 344kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 29g (10%) Protein 23g (46%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 65mg (22%) Sodium 1197mg (50%) Potassium 523mg (15%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1005IU (20%) Vitamin C 21mg (23%) Calcium 246mg (25%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 344 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 344kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Protein 23g 46%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 65mg 22%
Sodium 1197mg 50%
Potassium 523mg 11%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1005IU 20%
Vitamin C 21mg 23%
Calcium 246mg 25%
Iron 3mg 17%

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

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent

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