Chili Mac is a nostalgic and delicious meal that is both adult and kid friendly. This simple, chili mac and cheese recipe is the perfect comfort food for any day of the week!
Chili Mac is one of those nostalgic and super delicious meals that just makes you feel good inside! It’s the perfect cold weather food but really is a great choice for any season. This bowl of ooey, gooey perfection is one dish the whole family will love, and it won’t break the bank or leave you with a load of dishes. The entire recipe cooks in one pot! Who doesn’t love that?!
When Heather and I got married, the deal was that I’d do the cooking and she’d do the cleaning. Unfortunately for her, neither of us knew I’d have a career in food. And while she never complains, I know she enjoys meals with less to wash. And don’t worry, I DO help her with the dishes now. But, for the sake of delicious food and less dishes… this is a recipe we can always agree on!
What is chili mac?
Chili mac is a delicious and filling one-pot meal. Think of your favorite chili and add in the fun of mac and cheese… there you have it! Chili mac and cheese! This dish features browned ground beef, macaroni noodles, and a collection of spices. Mix that in with a tomato sauce and heaping of cheese. The hardiness of chili mac and its short prep time, will have this recipe listed as a regular on your meal rotation!
What should I serve with chili mac?
While I whole-heartedly believe that chili mac can be served as a standalone dish. I understand wanting to round out the meal with a few delicious pairings. Here are a few ideas:
- Side Salad – You could grab your favorite pre-made salad kit from the grocery store for ease and convenience. I also like to recommend this Easy Broccoli Salad or this sweet and delicious Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad.
- Bread – Bread is always a natural addition to this yummy comfort food. Garlic Parmesan Knots, Elmer’s Cornbread, and The BEST Garlic Bread are all great options to consider.
- Vegetables – Since chili mac is a bit of a mixture of items, you can’t go wrong with just a simple vegetable as a side dish. Check out My Favorite Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Broccoli.
- Coleslaw – Sometimes a light and crispy cool side dish is the perfect match for chili mac. I personally recommend Aunt Mary’s Pepper Sauce Coleslaw or Vinegar Slaw.
Ingredient FAQ
Lean Ground Beef – This recipe calls for two pounds of lean ground beef.
Onion – Chop up one white, sweet, or yellow onion to add flavor to your ground beef. Any kind will work here.
Minced Garlic – You will need to mince three cloves of garlic.
Beef Broth – Any kind of beef broth will do the trick. Just keep in mind, if you use the reduced sodium variety, it can affect the flavor a bit.
Chili Seasoning – Do not skip out on the 2 (1.25 to 1.75-ounce) packets of chili seasoning. If you are worried about how spicy this will make your chili mac, simply use the mild chili seasoning available at your local grocery store. This way, you can turn down the heat without turning down the flavor.
Petite Diced Tomatoes – I am not brand conscious when it comes to canned tomatoes, but just make sure you get 1 (28-ounce) can of petite diced tomatoes. The juice from the tomatoes goes right in the recipe, too!
Tomato Sauce – You need 1 (15-ounce) can of tomato sauce – any brand will do.
Elbow Macaroni – Package sizing varies, so just make sure you get a total of 2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni to start.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 (1.25 to 1.75-ounce) packets chili seasoning
- 1 (28-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- salt
- pepper
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, brown the ground beef with the onions over medium high heat. Drain away any grease.
- Return the meat and onions to the heat and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, chili seasoning, diced tomatoes with the juice, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and pasta are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. When ready to serve add the cheese. Stir until melted.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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Yummy! I was trying to use up some things in my fridge & pantry so I added some bell pepper, used a can of Rotel instead of diced tomatoes, and used a taco seasoning packet and couple tablespoons of chili powder instead of chili packets. It was SUPERB – and easy!
Awesome! Those pantry and fridge clean-out nights can be a hassle, but I’m so glad you enjoyed the end product!
Yummy!
This was perfect after a long day! Easy prep, items usually on hand, very comforting on a chilly night!
Happy to hear it, Karla!
My favorite way to eat chili – over angel hair pasta with finely grated sharp cheddar cheese on top! (Your recipe – not Cinncinati chili.) Afterall, I’m still a Southern girl!
There is something about chili and pasta!
Nostalgia in a bowl! This recipe really takes me back! When we were kids, on those rare occasions when Mom was away, chili Mac was our Air Force fighter pilot Dad’s go-to dinner recipe for feeding himself and us four hungry rug rats. I’m pretty sure he winged it, so making this recipe was a real upgrade. I didn’t have the chili mix packets so I substituted chili powder, cumin, and oregano per another chili recipe I often make and the flavor was spot on. I also substituted grated Colby/Jack for the Mexican cheese mix. Again, it worked well. So tasty I went back for seconds and have plenty leftover to enjoy again later. Outstanding comfort food!
I love hearing how this recipe brought back such great memories! It’s awesome that you made it your own with those substitutions. Grated Colby Jack sounds delicious. Glad to hear it was a hit and that you’ve got some leftovers to savor later!
My family and I about LOVE this recipe! It doesn’t last long in my house 😂
Thanks, Tee! happy to hear it!
Great recipe!! The whole family loved it!!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!!
Awesome! I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it!
I prepared this recipe last night for my family. It was easy, quick, and very delicious. I will also prepare this for my Church family. Thanks for a great recipe. Grandma got this!
Love it! So glad you enjoyed it and were able to share with those you love!
Just what I’m looking for. Last minute change in plans for me and husband, gotta pick up grand babies and feed them. This is perfect, I gotta double it. Grandma got this! Thanks
Hope it turns out GREAT for you!!
Hi, can I make this and freeze it for my daughter and Her husband who are ready to have a baby?
Absolutely!
Would this work ok if I cut the recipe in half for a smaller casserole?
Thank you,
Marla
Sure!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes.
It’s my pleasure!
Can you make it without hamburger, just canned chili and macaroni?
Hmmm… that’s not something I’ve tried, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
I love to use V8 instead of tomato juice and/or water. It is super good.
Yum! I love using v* in dishes like this. I like to use it in chili, vegetable soup, even cabbage rolls.
This was pretty tasty! Easy to put together and on the table in less than an hour. A keeper for sure.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim!!
Looks deelish! I’ll cook the pasta seperately, {too much starch] add, then bake. T Y
Hope you’ll enjoy!
I have done my family’s cooking for all of my 32 years of marriage and can relate perfectly with your statement that “Feeding people makes me happy. It’s just about as plain and simple as that.” I have always made Chili-mac with leftover chile but I will try this one tonight.
There’s just something about food that brings us together! Enjoy!
Awesome recipe! Very tasty and filling…quick and simple to make. Approved by hubby and kids 🙂
Love hearing that! So glad everyone enjoyed it!!
This is a favorite in our house! My four kids, including the one who hates pasta, request it 2-3 times a month.
I’m so glad they loved it!
Making it right now for my son to take back to college after weekend at home. He said it looked good!
Awesome! I sure hope he’ll enjoy it! It reheats so well!
Can I add a can of kidney beans
Absolutely!
Oh My! I haven’t had Chili Mac in a while, Ill be making this tomorrow. Thanks for the new recipe.
Hope you’ll enjoy!