Description
Chili Mac and Cheese is a hearty and comforting one-pot meal that combines seasoned ground beef, beans, diced tomatoes, and elbow pasta with a generous amount of melted cheddar cheese. This dish is flavored with warming spices like cayenne pepper, cumin, and chili powder, creating a perfect balance of spice and richness. Ideal for a quick weeknight dinner, it feeds a crowd and can be ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Veggies
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Spices & Seasonings
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Liquids & Pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 26 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth (or beef broth)
- 10 ounces uncooked elbow pasta
Cheese & Garnish
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the beef: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the extra lean ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. For fattier beef, drain excess fat.
- Sauté aromatics: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for about 3 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add spices and beans: Stir in cayenne pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Then add black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and uncooked elbow pasta. Mix everything together.
- Simmer the chili mac: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the elbow macaroni is tender.
- Add cheese and melt: Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the pot. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese evenly over the top. Cover the pot again and let it sit for about 1 minute to allow the cheese to melt.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top as a garnish. Serve warm and enjoy your comforting Chili Mac and Cheese.
Notes
- Chili Mac and Cheese is a combination of two beloved comfort foods — chili and macaroni and cheese — merged into one satisfying dish.
- This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, ready in about 30 minutes.
- Using extra lean ground beef reduces the need to drain fat, making the dish slightly healthier.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the cayenne pepper to taste.
- Make sure to stir occasionally while simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 496 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 964 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 69 mg
