This chili mac is my family’s favorite one-pot meal! Tender pasta, homemade beef chili, and plenty of ooey-gooey cheese. You know this is in our regular dinner rotation! Two of my favorite foods combined. Fusion food never tasted so good!
This is an absolute must-try recipe. Don’t take just my word for it, just check out the comments below. This has been one of my most popular recipes on Pinterest for almost a decade! Pinterest people know.
Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also super quick and easy to put together so it’s fabulous for a busy weeknight dinner. All made on the stovetop in one-skillet. No packet of taco seasoning here, this recipe combines a simple blend of spices that knock this recipe out of the park!
Pasta recipes like this are perfect when you need a satisfying meal without a lot of fuss. Chili mac uses pantry ingredients to spice up a beloved, classic meal. Once your family tries our chili mac recipe, you’ll be making it on repeat!
If you love a one-pot meal as much as I do, I hope you try a few more of my favorites:
Easy Chili Mac Ingredients
- Noodles: We use elbow macaroni because the hollow shape allows the sauce to nestle inside each noodle. Any short pasta with ridges will work, though. Be sure to keep the same ratio of noodles to the sauce if you’re adjusting the recipe. You want to be sure the pasta has enough liquid to cook properly.
- Tomato Sauce: Some types of tomato sauce also have added herbs like basil. We recommend the plain sauce so you can control which flavors go into the dish.
- Cheese: If you don’t have a Mexican cheese blend on hand, shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey jack, or Colby cheese are great substitutes. If your family likes spicier chili, pepper jack cheese would be a fun addition too.
- Meat: Because this dish is so flavorful, ground turkey or a plant-based substitute will be just as delicious as chili mac with beef.
- Onion: Yellow onions have a mild flavor that most kids don’t mind.
- Chili Powder: This is a blend of aromatic dried chiles. My favorite is McCormick-the regular one, not the dark.
- Vegetable Oil
- Cumin
- Salt
- Garlic
- Brown Sugar
- Water
- Black Pepper
- Parsley Or Cilantro
Tips
- Toasting the Spices: Don’t forget to add the spices while you’re cooking the onion. Doing it at this point enhances the flavors of the spices and mellows any harshness in the chili powder.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? According to Still Tasty, macaroni in tomato sauce can safely last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days once cooked.
- Can You Freeze This? Most chefs agree that freezing pasta can lead to soggy noodles when they’re reheated. You can avoid this by undercooking the elbow macaroni if you plan to freeze the whole batch for 1-2 months. Try cooking the noodles for just 5 minutes. They will finish cooking when you thaw the chili mac and cheese
- Another option is to freeze the meat sauce by itself and add the noodles and cheese after you’ve defrosted it. If you’re making this recipe as part of your meal prep, either method will work to ensure that your chili mac comes out delicious every time.
- Make-Ahead Tips: If you’re short on time and would like to make this in advance, you can brown the meat and make the sauce ahead of time. Cook the noodles in the sauce right before you’re ready to serve your chili mac recipe.
- Cooking the noodles too far in advance could lead to them getting mushy when you reheat them. Don’t forget to add the cheese – it brings the dish together.
- Food Safety: Here’s an article you might want to check out.
Variations
- Add Beans: As written, this is a chili mac no beans version. Beans do indeed taste great in this, so feel free to add a can of drained and rinsed pinto beans, kidney beans, or black beans.
- Add Some Freshness: I like to add a little more nutrition and freshness by adding some fresh diced tomatoes and chopped fresh cilantro. It’s the perfect way to add some vitamin c and lots of phytonutrients. You can also drain a can of diced tomatoes if you don’t have fresh tomatoes. Add them to the top or stir them into the dish right after the pasta is cooked.
- Make it Spicy: As written this cheesy chili mac is fairly mild because I want to keep it kid-friendly. If you want to spice it up you can add a diced jalapeno (include the seed if you want a lot of heat) and or cayenne pepper.
- Different Cheese: If you don’t like to use prepackaged cheese because of the added cellulose, substitute it with shredded Monterey jack cheese or pepper jack cheese.
Serving Recommendation
I serve this with a simple green salad, garlicky sautéed asparagus, roasted broccoli, or my brown sugar carrots.
What Is The Difference Between Chili Mac And American Goulash?
Chili Mac has a thicker consistency and more typical “chili” spices and flavors than its brothier cousin American Goulash.
Is Chili Mac A Midwest Thing?
It is very common to find chili mac throughout the midwest like it’s common to find Johnny Marzetti Casserole. Everyone has their own variation of the recipe.
How To Make One-Skillet Chili Mac
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Saute onion, chili powder, cumin, and salt in a large skillet (I like to use one with high sides).
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Add the garlic and brown sugar and cook.
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Add the ground beef and brown lightly. Remove excess grease it there’s any.
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Add the water, salt, and tomato sauce to the skillet and stir to mix.
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Stir in the pasta and cover, increasing the heat.
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Cook the mixture, stirring often. Continue to cook until the pasta is tender.
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Take the skillet off the heat and add 1 cup of the cheese mixture. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
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Top the skillet with the remaining cheese and rest the mixture off the heat for a few minutes or until cheese melts.
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Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
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Serve.
See full instructions below.
More One-Pot Macaroni Recipes
Chili Mac
This chili mac is my family’s favorite one-pot meal! Tender pasta, homemade beef chili, and ooey-gooey cheese. Add this to your regular dinner rotation!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- salt
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups water
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 8 ounces about 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1-8 ounce package shredded Mexican cheese blend
- black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- In a 12 inch nonstick skillet, add oil (1 tablespoon) and heat until it's shimmering. Add onion (1), chili powder (1 tablespoon), cumin (1 tablespoon), and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat until onion is soft, stirring often so spices don't burn, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic (4) and brown sugar (1 tablespoon) and cook, continuing to stir, so garlic doesn't burn, for about 30 seconds. Add the ground beef (1 pound) and brown lightly, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until there is no pink in the meat.
- Add the water (2 cups), 3/4 teaspoon salt, and tomato sauce (1 (15-ounce) can) to the skillet and stir to mix. Stir in the pasta (8 ounces) and cover, increasing the heat to medium-high. Cook the mixture, stirring often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer (not a boil). Continue to cook until the pasta is tender, about 9-12 minutes.
- Take the skillet off the heat and add 1 cup of the cheese mixture. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Top the skillet with the remaining cheese and rest the mixture off the heat for a few minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with chopped parsley (2 tablespoons). Serve.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Noodles: We use elbow macaroni because the hollow shape allows the sauce to nestle inside each noodle. Any short pasta with ridges will work, though. Be sure to keep the same ratio of noodles to the sauce if you’re adjusting the recipe. You want to be sure the pasta has enough liquid to cook properly.
- Tomato Sauce: When choosing a tomato sauce for this recipe, be sure to check the label. Many varieties have added salt, so you may want to decrease the amount of salt you add. Adjust the seasoning after you’ve tasted it. Some types of tomato sauce also have added herbs like basil. We recommend the plain sauce so you can control which flavors go into the dish.
- Cheese: If you don’t have a Mexican cheese blend on hand, shredded cheddar cheese, or Colby cheese are great substitutes. If your family likes spicier chili, pepper jack cheese would be a fun addition too.
- Meat: Because this dish is so flavorful, ground turkey or a plant-based substitute will be just as delicious as ground beef.
- Onion: Yellow onions have a mild flavor that most kids don’t mind. If you like a more pronounced onion flavor, red or white varieties will work nicely here.
- Chili Powder: Most pre-mixed chili powders have added salt as one of the first ingredients. However, there are a few brands on the market that don’t contain any salt. Be sure to check the label so you can adjust your added salt accordingly.
- Toasting the Spices: Don’t forget to add the spices while you’re cooking the onion. Doing it at this point enhances the flavors of the spices and mellows any harshness in the chili powder.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 of the recipe | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 890mg | Potassium: 928mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 825IU | Vitamin C: 5.6mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg
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I made this casserole was delicious.my son and his Family were coming for a visit.I Made alarge casserole dish.When they started eating it was Quiet.Because everyone Loved this.My 3 Grandchildren. Love It. I looked I Think I had a cupfull left. I was so Happy I made this recipe.Definitely a number 1 in my Recipes.
Thank you so much, Catherine! I’m so happy this chili mac was a hit! 🙂
Really good recipe and fast! I added Corn and got rid of lots of different small bits of cheese in my fridge. ! Will be making again!
Hi, Shelley! That’s awesome! So happy you like this chili mac. It’s so easy, right? Thank you for sharing your positive feedback 🙂
One of the BEST I have found on Pinterest. I only wish I tried it sooner. The only extra I added was home canned hot peppers, we like spicy.
I have been making this recipe for about two years now. It is my family’s favorite meal! I have a family of six and have to double the recipe because everyone devours it. Only thing I do different is i just throw in a small handful of cheese to mix in and let everyone put their desired amount of cheese on top. My one daughter doesnt really like cheese so i have to make it suit everyone! Making it again this evening and hoping there will be enough for me to take some leftovers to work tomorrow!
Lindsay, you made my day. There’s nothing that makes me happier and warms my heart as much as hearing that my recipe is a hit for a family!!!
Followed recipe almost to the letter with the exception of brown sugar, added a little less than a Tbsp. I added a few pepper flakes than I served it. Husband helped himself to two servings as did I. Will save recipe and fix again. thank you!
Hi, Yolanda! I gotta try your version. Glad you and your husband love this! It’s so easy to make right? Thank you for sharing your review 🙂
Awesome recipe. Big family hit. It’s easy, not expensive ingredients, and well worth adding to your weekly rotation of meals. Thank you so much for this yummy recipe.
Thank you too, Kay! I’m so happy it is a hit 🙂
I’m from Australia, when you say can tomato sauce do you mean tomato soup or sauce you use on a pie, like Ketchup?
Hi, Amber! I’m not sure, based on what I searched, it’s like your version of tomato passata. Sorry, I can’t help you that much! 🙁
https://www.recipetineats.com/what-is-tomato-passata/
I love this recipe and make it often! I make it gluten and dairy free by using brown rice pasta and omitting the cheese. I use coconut sugar instead of brown. And not that it’s healthy at all but I serve it on top of tater tots 😀
I’ve used beef broth in place of water before and some Daiya cheese when I have it. (the velveeta sauce type “cheese” that I can sometimes find at the store).
OMG! I love your version, Melanie! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Loved how easy and tasty this was! Thanks for a great recipe!
Thank you, Cathy! So glad you like it 🙂
Thank you so much, Ashley! 🙂
This was soooooo good. Def a do again. Delicious !!!
Thank you so much, John!
i just made this and its so amazing! i would make this again.
I love how this turned out! It tasted like a mash-up of my childhood favorite Hamburger Helper flavors – Chili Mac (which wasn’t actually cheesy) and Cheeseburger Mac. Yum! I especially loved that I didn’t need to make a bechamel-type cheese sauce for this – that was a step in most of the other Chili Mac recipes I looked at. Thanks for an awesome recipe!
I’m happy you like this chili mac, Liz! 🙂 <3
I made this for dinner tonight for me and my husband. It was delicious!! As a personal taste preference I cut the amounts for the cumin, chili powder and garlic in half, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Fast, easy and perfect for busy families. I’ve already passed the recipe on to family members with children still at home. I will definitely be making this again.
This recipe looks delicious & am definitely going to try the next time i make chili!. My question is = I have a potful of chili simmering on he stove right now. I always boil my macaroni separately in another pot & serve it under the chili in bowls. Do you think I could just add it to my chili with the 2 cups of water toward the end of cooking time & not have to use the extra pot? will this work? Thank you!
Hey Janet. Gosh, I really can’t say for sure without testing the recipe. It’s one of those situations you’re going to have to experiment with a little. Best of luck <3
Very similar to the “Busy Day Casserole” that my mom used to make… and equally delicious!
❤️Thanks, Sue!
I have made your recipe so many times and we love it and our guests love it.
Hi Pat! So happy to hear everyone loved it! 😀
Made this tonight and it was so good. Tried to healthify it a little and left out the brown sugar, used whole wheat pasta, and cut up a yellow squash and snuck it in there. My kids loved it!
Way to go, Dawn! 😀 So happy to hear you like it.
I made this Chili Mac last night for my three boys. I had all the ingredients at home which made for a quick and easy meal to put together. This is always a gift after working all day to have a great home cooked meal. The best part of this recipe was it was a very flavorful dish!! I will most definitely cook this one again it was a hit!!! Thank you Kathleen.
Christine
Thanks, Christine! So glad to hear that you and your fam enjoyed it! 😀
Omg…. made this recipe this week and my boyfriend and I literally ate the whole pan before it could even make it into the plate! He talked about how good it was for three days! Incredible recipe!
So happy you guys enjoyed <3
Fantastic and full of flavor. The only thing I changed was I used Ancho Chili Powder instead of regular. This is a keeper.
Thank you, Gary! So glad you like it! ❤️