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    Home » Recipes » Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    Published: Dec 13, 2019 · Modified: Oct 22, 2021 by Vicky

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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.
    Jump to:
    • Why this easy one pot chili mac and cheese is awesome
    • Ingredients
    • How to make easy chili mac recipe
    • Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Make meal planning easy
    • 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
    chili mac and cheese in a pot

    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.

    chili spices in a bowl


    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.

    chili seasonings on ground beef

    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.

    noodles in a pot with sauce

    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.

    cheesy chili mac and cheese

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

    one pot chili mac and cheese

       

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

    chili mac and cheese on a plate

    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.

    chili mac and cheese on a red plate

    Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    This Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is ready in 30 minutes and uses just one pot. Easy to make and clean up!
    4.43 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: easy one pot mac and cheese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes
    Total Time: 28 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 560kcal
    Author: Vicky

    Ingredients

    • 2 tbsp. Olive oil
    • 1 lb. lean ground beef
    • 1 tbsp. Chili powder
    • 1 tbsp. Cumin
    • 2 tsp. Onion powder
    • 2 tsp. Garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
    • 2 cups water
    • 15 oz. tomato sauce
    • 8 oz. elbow noodles
    • 8 oz. mexican blend shredded cheese

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
    • Add ground beef, and cook until browned, breaking up any large chunks.
    • Once browned, add in chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
    • Stir, cooking for 1 minute, until spices are fragrant.
    • Add water, tomato sauce, and noodles, and cook on medium-high to bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 9-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until noodles are cooked through.
    • Remove from the heat and sprinkle the cheese over top. Put the lid back on and let the cheese melt.
    • Enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 1118mg | Potassium: 889mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1581IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 376mg | Iron: 7mg

    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.

    Make meal planning easy

    I am super excited to tell you about  Eat At Home Meal Plans. If you are stressed trying to decide what to make for dinner each night or simply don't want to spend money to eat eat, this might be just the thing for you. Sign up for the plans, and each month you will get access to 4 separate meal plans (Traditional, Wholesome Traditional, Slow Cooker, and No Flour/No Sugar). All you have to do is print the plans, color-coded grocery lists, and recipes you want for the month. There so many options, even the picky eaters in your life will find something they like.

    When it is time for dinner, just make that night’s recipe (choices include make-ahead, freezer meals, slow-cooker recipes, and other time-saving strategies) and relax.

    I know you have more important things to do than meal planning. With Eat At Home Meal Plans someone else can do it for you. Monthly, quarterly and annual plans are available.

    Related posts

    • Chili Macaroni Casserole
    • Quick and Easy Meals - Bacon Mac and Cheese
    • Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese - Food Fun Friday
    • Instant Pot Chili Recipe
    • 0 Point Chili in the Crock Pot
    • Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Justine

      December 13, 2019 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was so cheesy! I was in heaven with every bite, nom nom nom.

    2. Erika

      December 13, 2019 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love the idea of adding chili to mac and cheese, yum!

    3. Anita

      December 13, 2019 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      This was easy and delicious. A big hit in our home, and definitely going to be a repeat. 🙂

    4. stephanie

      December 13, 2019 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was easy and delicious!!! My son loved it and wants me to make more.

    5. Denisse Salinas

      December 13, 2019 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      After the sugar- laden holidays this recipe is just PERFECT! Love that you can make it all in one pot - because we all have enough dirty dishes around Christmas, right?

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find it at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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