Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

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. 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.

EASY ONE POT CHILI MAC AND CHEESE

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR CHILI MAC AND CHEESE

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

HOW TO MAKE ONE POT CHILI MAC AND CHEESE    

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 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 noodles, 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 elbow noodles are cooked through. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the shredded cheese over top.

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 works really well as does Monterey and pepper jack.

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!

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.

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 kidney beans in the past, and the dish was tasty but I found it a bit heavy.

5 from 5 votes

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Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Servings 5

Calories 560 kcal

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 tsp salt more or less to taste
• 2 cups water
• 15 oz. tomato sauce
• 8 oz. elbow noodles
• 8 oz. mexican blend shredded cheese

Instructions

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

Nutrition Facts

Easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 560 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 99mg33%

Sodium 1118mg49%

Potassium 889mg25%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 39g78%

Vitamin A 1581IU32%

Vitamin C 7mg8%

Calcium 376mg38%

Iron 7mg39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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

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.

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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.

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