Description
This hearty Chili Mac recipe combines ground beef, pasta, beans, and a rich tomato sauce with warm spices for a comforting one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. Topped with melted cheddar cheese and optional fresh garnishes, it’s a flavorful, filling American classic that’s both easy to make and sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Liquids and Canned Goods
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups beef broth or water
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Garnish
- Green onions or chopped parsley
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon to create crumbled pieces.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the beef, cooking for 2–3 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Add Spices: Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, letting the spices toast slightly for a deeper flavor.
- Combine Liquids and Beans: Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, kidney beans, and beef broth. Stir well to combine all ingredients, then bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the boiling mixture, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 12–15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure the pasta cooks evenly and absorbs most of the liquid.
- Incorporate Cheese: Once the pasta is tender, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy, evenly distributing it throughout the chili mac.
- Serve: Serve the chili mac warm, garnished with chopped green onions or parsley if desired for added freshness and color.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter alternative.
- Add chopped bell peppers or jalapeños to the skillet with onions and garlic for an extra layer of flavor and heat.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator and often taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
