Quick And Easy One Pot Chili Mac
This quick and easy one pot chili mac recipe is a dish the whole family will love! It combines the flavors of homemade chili and macaroni and cheese for a delicious and comforting weeknight meal.
Easy One Pot Chili Mac
If you want to learn how to make this Easy One Pot Chili Mac, then keep reading below and check out my YouTube video tutorial over here.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel here for weekly recipes!
Homemade Chili Mac
If you’re a fan of hamburger helper’s Chili Macaroni, then you’ll love my homemade version! It’s simple, delicious, and can be made start to finish in under 30 minutes time.
It’s also made in just one-pot, which means less dishes – yay!
Cara’s Tips:
- Combine your seasonings first – Before you start cooking, go ahead and get all your seasonings out and combine them in a bowl. This makes life a whole lot easier.
- Shred your own cheese – For the most Creamy Mac and Cheese (or in this case chili Mac) shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese tastes SO much better and melts to a creamy consistency, as opposed to the pre-shredded kind which never fully melts down. I recommend this box grater.
- Top with Fritos corn chips – You could totally serve this chili Mac as-is with no toppings. But our family LOVES to eat it with Fritos on top. It adds the perfect crunch and can’t be beat! Don’t like Fritos? Try Doritos for a delicious variation!
How do I make homemade chili mac seasoning?
In a small bowl combine 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Use a whisk and stir until combined. You could even prepare this seasoning in advance and store in an airtight container.
Chili Mac Storage, Re-heating, and Freezer Instructions
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Re-Heat: Re-heat by placing individual servings in the microwave. Microwave for 30 seconds – 1 minute or until heated as desired.
Freeze: Let chili mac fully cool before placing in a freezer safe bag or container. You can freeze it up to 3 months. Once ready to eat, thaw in the fridge and re-heat as instructed above.
How to Make Easy Chili Mac
Ready to make this easy one pot chili Mac? Below you’ll find a helpful list of all the kitchen tools.
As always, the detailed ingredients and step-by-step instructions are listed in the printable recipe below.
Be sure and save this recipe for later, and check out the full video tutorial over here!
Kitchen tools you’ll need
Quick And Easy One Pot Chili Mac
This quick and easy one pot chili mac recipe is a dish the whole family will love! It combines the flavors of homemade chili and macaroni and cheese for a delicious and comforting weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (I used 93/7)
- 3 cups beef broth or 3 cups water + 1 1/2 tsp beef bouillon
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tsp salt (add more to taste, if desired)
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 15 ounce canned beans, drained and rinsed, (We used navy but you can use any type)
- 2 cups (8 oz block) freshly shredded cheese (I used 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of pepper jack, but you can use just cheddar if you want)
- Frito corn chips, recommended for serving on top
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Use a whisk and stir until combined.
- In a saucepan, begin cooking 1 lb of lean ground beef over medium-high heat and cook until no pink remains. Drain the meat and set aside.
- Next sauté 1 small diced onion over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent. This will take 3-5 minutes.
- Add the cooked ground beef back to the pot and stir to combine. Next add in the seasonings and stir until the meat is fully coated.
- Pour in a 15 ounce can of crushed tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. Stir until combined.
- Next pour in 3 cups beef broth and 2 cups elbow macaroni and stir until combined. Lastly add in a 15 ounce can of drained and rinsed beans. I used navy beans but you can use any kind.
- Stir until the beans are fully submersed in the liquid, then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat up to medium-high until it comes to a boil.
- Once boiling, stir the mixture, and reduce the heat to medium/low so that it continues to simmer.
- Put the lid back on and cook the macaroni for 7-10 minutes until tender, stirring a few times to ensure the macaroni doesn’t stick.
- Once the macaroni is fully cooked, add in 2 cups of freshly shredded cheese and stir until combined. I used 1 cup of cheddar and 1 cup of pepper jack.
- Place the lid on the pot and remove from heat, allowing the chili mac to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- If desired, top with frito corn chips and a sprinkle of freshly shredded cheese. Hope you enjoy!
Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Re-Heat: Re-heat by placing individual servings in the microwave. Microwave for 30 seconds – 1 minute or until heated as desired.
Freeze: Let chili mac fully cool before placing in a freezer safe bag or container. You can freeze it up to 3 months. Once ready to eat, thaw in the fridge and re-heat as instructed above.
More One Pot Recipes You’ll Love
I hope you enjoyed today’s recipe for my Quick and Easy One Pot Chili Mac and will give it a try soon!
Thanks for stopping by! – Cara