Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

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What's better than a one pot meal? How about a one pot meal that is ready is about 30 minutes? I know, right! This Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe is the meal to make when you are pressed for time and want to serve your family something yummy and filling. As a bonus, at the end of the meal, you'll only have one pot to clean up. Better yet, ask someone else to clean it. You already put dinner on the table. Be sure to also try this Chili Macaroni Casserole.

What's better than a one pot meal? How about a one pot meal that is ready is about 30 minutes? I know, right! This Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the meal to make when you are pressed for time and want to serve your family something yummy and filling.

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Why this easy one pot chili mac and cheese is awesome
Ingredients
How to make easy chili mac recipe
📖 Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Related posts

Why this easy one pot chili mac and cheese is awesome

One-pot meal means clean up is easy
The ultimate in comfort food
A hearty meal perfect for a cool night

Ingredients

Olive oil
Lean ground beef or ground turkey
Chili powder
Cumin
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Water
Tomato sauce
Elbow macaroni
Mexican blend shredded cheese

How to make easy chili mac recipe

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Next, add ground beef, and cook until the beef is browned. Be sure to break up any large chunks of beef to help speed along the cooking process.

WHAT KIND OF SKILLET SHOULD I USE FOR ONE POT CHILI MAC AND CHEESE?

You will want to be sure to use a large skillet or Dutch oven since you will be adding a lot of ingredients and don't want anything to spill over. A 6 quart skillet works well.

Once the beef has browned, add in chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and stir for one minute until the spices are even distributed.

DO YOU COOK THE NOODLES BEFORE ADDING THEM TO THE CHILI?

The wonderful thing about this dish is that you don't have to! Simply add water, tomato sauce, and elbow macaroni, and cook everything on medium-high heat to bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 9-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pasta is cooked through. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the shredded cheese over top. No need to drain.

Put the lid back on the pot and let the cheese melt.

Now you have some ooey gooey mac and cheese with all the yummy flavors of chili. So good!

Next time you are looking for a family friendly meal that won't take forever to cook up, try this easy chili mac and cheese which uses just one pot! You'll love the rich taste and simple clean up.

You have more important things to do than meal planning. Let someone else take care of the planning with Eat At Home Meal Plans.

📖 Recipe

This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

Frequently asked questions

What can I serve with chili macaroni and cheese?

This dish is filling enough on it's own, but if you want to add a side dish, you can do cornbread or tortilla chips. A side salad works well too.

What kind of cheese is good to use with chili mac and cheese?

You have a lot of options here. I used a Mexican blend, but cheddar cheese works really well as does Monterey and pepper jack.

Do you use beans in chili macaroni and cheese?

Some people do add beans to this dish. I prefer not to since there is a lot going on here already. I have added red kidney beans in the past, and the dish was tasty but I found it a bit heavy.

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