One Pot Chili Mac

User Reviews

4.8

236 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    35 mins

  • Servings

    6 (1 cup each)

  • Calories

    471 kcal

  • Cuisine

    American

One Pot Chili Mac

One Pot Chili Mac combines ground beef, onions, garlic, chili spices, tomato sauce, and broth with uncooked macaroni for a hearty skillet meal. The sauce thickens with flour and spices, coating pasta as it cooks directly in the liquid. Finished with shredded cheddar cheese, this dish offers a rich, savory, and slightly smoky flavor suitable for a comforting dinner.

Description

In this One Pot Chili Mac, diced onion and minced garlic are sautéed in olive oil until soft, then ground beef is cooked thoroughly, with excess fat drained if needed. Flour and chili spices are added to build a seasoned base, preventing clumping by stirring for a couple of minutes before adding tomato sauce and beef broth.

Uncooked macaroni noodles are incorporated directly into the simmering liquid, cooking through absorbingly while developing a thick, flavorful sauce. The seasoning combination of chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and oregano imparts warmth and subtle smokiness. Once the pasta is tender, shredded cheddar cheese is stirred in, adding creamy richness and binding the dish together.

This one-skillet meal is convenient for an all-in-one preparation, delivering a filling, meaty pasta dish with bold, layered flavors. It pairs well with simple sides or a green salad to balance the hearty main course.

Using lean ground beef can reduce excess fat, and low-sodium broth may require seasoning adjustments at the end for optimal flavor.

I Made This!

22 people made this

Save this

113 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 yellow onion $0.70
  • 2 cloves garlic $0.08
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.22
  • 1 lb. ground beef $4.98
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour $0.03
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder $0.30
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp oregano $0.05, dried
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce $0.56
  • 3 cups beef broth $0.39
  • 1/2 lb. macaroni $0.59, uncooked, about 2 cups
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese $0.98, shredded

Instructions

  1. Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion and garlic to a large deep skillet or Dutch oven with the olive oil and sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent (about 5 minutes).
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet and continue to stir and cook until the beef is cooked through. If using a higher fat content ground beef, you may want to drain off the excess fat at this point.
  3. Add the flour, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and oregano to the skillet with the beef and onions. Continue to cook and stir for about two minutes, allowing the flour and spices to coat the bottom of the skillet, but not burn.
  4. Add the tomato sauce and beef broth to the skillet and stir well to combine, making sure to scrape and dissolve any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet.
  5. Add the uncooked macaroni and stir to combine. Place a lid on the skillet and turn the heat up to medium-high. Allow the broth to come up to a full boil. Once boiling, give the pasta a quick stir to loosen any that is stuck to the bottom, turn the heat down to medium-low, and place the lid back on top.
  6. Allow the macaroni to simmer, stirring every few minutes and always replacing the lid, until the macaroni is tender and the broth has reduced to a rich red gravy (about 10 minutes).
  7. Stir half of the shredded cheese into the sauce until melted, and sprinkle the remainder on top. Place a lid on the pot, turn the heat off, and allow the residual heat to melt the cheese on top. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • Choose 85% or 90% lean ground beef to minimize fat draining and retain flavor.
  • If using low-sodium broth, taste and add salt at the end to enhance the seasoning.
  • Better Than Bouillon can be used to make beef broth for a richer flavor depth.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1cup Calories 471kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 25g (38%) Sodium 825mg (34%) Fiber 3g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6(1 cup each)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 471 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cup
Calories 471kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 25g 38%
Sodium 825mg 34%
Fiber 3g 12%

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

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.8

236 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

American
5.0 (33 reviews)

Crispy Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Irish
5.0 (639 reviews)

Easy Baked Sweet Potatoes

American
5.0 (15 reviews)

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad

American
5.0 (12 reviews)

Candied Yams

American
5.0 (21 reviews)

Olive Garden Chicken Scampi Pasta

Italian
5.0 (108 reviews)

Buffalo Wings

American
5.0 (63 reviews)

Lamb Stew

Irish
5.0 (18 reviews)

Broccoli Casserole

American
5.0 (36 reviews)

Filipino Adobo Chicken

Filipino
5.0 (84 reviews)

Crab Cake Sandwich

American
5.0 (15 reviews)

S'mores Bars

American
5.0 (21 reviews)