One Pot Chili Mac

With just 10 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, this one pot chili mac is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword chili mac, chili mac recipe, easy chili mac

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings - 6 people (about 8 cups total)

Calories 283kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef (or sub with ground turkey)
½ of a large onion, diced (about ¾ cup)
1 large clove garlic, minced or pressed (about 1 teaspoon)
2 cups beef broth
1 cup water
1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
6 ounces tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons Lawry’s seasoned salt
1 teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon brown sugar (or increase to 1 teaspoon for a slightly sweeter taste)
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, pinto beans, or small pink beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8.75 ounce) can corn kernels, drained
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Optional, for serving: cornbread; corn chips; cheese; sour cream; sliced green onions/chives; cilantro; avocado; diced red onion

Instructions

Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Drain off the excess fat.
Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet.
Stir to combine; bring to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 12-15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickens.
Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve in individual bowls and garnish with optional toppings.

Notes

Substitute ground turkey for the ground beef, and use chicken broth instead of beef broth. You can also use ground chicken or ground pork if you like.
Make chili mac with no beans by omitting the can of beans and substituting with extra corn and/or ground beef.
Use any of your favorite beans! Try kidney beans, pinto beans, pink beans, or even navy beans, black beans, or garbanzo beans.
Add diced bell peppers to the skillet with the ground beef, onion, and garlic.
For spicy chili mac, add cayenne pepper to taste.
Add a dash of paprika to the sauce, or season with fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, or oregano.
For added texture, sprinkle cheese and a few buttered breadcrumbs over the top, and then place the pot under the broiler for a few minutes. This will give it a crunchy, cheesy topping similar to baked mac and cheese.
Drain the excess grease. This makes the meal healthier, and also prevents the finished dish from having a greasy texture.
Don't omit the brown sugar. In order to achieve great tomato flavor, it's important to balance acidity and sweetness. Too much acid or too much sugar yields a chili that tastes one-dimensional. The right amount of sugar perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Start with about ½ teaspoon of sugar here, and add more to taste, if necessary.
The cheese garnish and other toppings are optional, but they sure add great flavor! You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, or any other good melting cheese.
Adjust the heat. The chili powder gives this chili mac recipe a little bit of kick, but it's still mild and kid-friendly. If you prefer a spicy chili, add a dash of cayenne, diced jalapeno, or hot sauce.

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