This easy One-Pot Chili Mac recipe is just as quick and easy as the popular boxed dinner but a little better for you. Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, water, and milk. The best part? It’s ready in about half an hour.
Getting this on the table quickly is made possible by using canned tomatoes with celery, green bell pepper, and onion already added. This is also a great dish to teach tweens and teenagers to make because it’s such an easy recipe.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s the perfect easy dinner recipe because there is hardly any prep.
- A one-pot meal is always a winner!
- It’s pasta, so the whole family is going to love it.
- You can personalize it by using your favorite chili seasoning.
Ingredients needed to make easy chili mac
ground beef – I use lean ground beef because it is better for us, but also because I don’t have to drain it. If using regular ground beef you will need to drain the excess fat off after you brown it, before you add the remaining ingredients.
pasta – we use elbow pasta because it is used in classic chili mac, any short-cut pasta with a similar cooking time will work.
cheese – I have used both pre-shredded and freshly grated cheddar cheese for this recipe. Freshly grated does melt better but you can use either.
canned tomatoes – the type with chopped celery, onion and bell pepper. Look for the type that is chili ready if you can’t find this version.
chili seasoning – this usually contains chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. You can make your own chili seasoning.
liquid – we use tomato sauce, water and a bit of milk so there is enough liquid to cook the pasta.
corn starch – this is used to thicken the sauce.
How to make homemade chili mac
- Mix the chili seasoning and corn starch in a small bowl; set aside.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Drain if not using lean beef.
- Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, milk, and seasoning mixture; stir until combined.
- Add uncooked macaroni noodles and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, lower heat to simmer. Cover and cook 13-16 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Let sit 5 minutes to thicken before serving.
Variations
- Make this dish more like American goulash by swapping the chili seasoning for a couple of teaspoons of Italian seasoning, using beef broth instead of water and adding about a half tablespoon of worcestershire sauce.
- Swap the beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
- You can use whole wheat pasta but it will most likely need to cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Turn this into a vegetarian chili mac recipe by using one 15 ounce can of drained and rinsed black beans instead of meat.
- Make this more keto friendly by swapping the pasta for one 15 ounce can of drained and rinsed black beans, pinto beans, or your favorite bean.
- To make this with even richer flavor swap the water for 1 3/4 cups of beef broth.
- Use whatever cheese you like. Sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey jack or a Mexican cheese blend would all be great. You could also use all or part pepper jack cheese to give this a little heat.
Storage and reheating
Store leftover chili mac in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave.
It can be warmed on the stove-top but will need to be stirred occasionally and that will break the pasta apart. If warming on the stove add a little water.
Make these Homemade Hamburger Helper recipes next!
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Easy One-Pot Chili Mac Recipe (with Cheese)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp chili seasoning
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1 can diced tomatoes with peppers, onions, and celery (14.5 ounces)
- 1 can tomato sauce 8 ounces
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups macaroni
- 1/4-1/2 tsp salt optional
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Instructions
- Mix chili seasoning and corn starch in a small bowl; set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large pot or skillet over medium heat stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Drain if necessary.
- Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, milk, and seasoning mixture; stir until combined.
- Add uncooked pasta and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, lower heat to simmer. Cover and cook 13-16 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Do you have a recipe for the chili mix you use? We don’t use a seasoning mix for our chili. Thanks.
No, we have a family favorite brand in the package that we use for this recipe.
In regards to the ingredients, when it talks about the can of diced tomatoes with peppers onions and celery, does that mean buying the specific type of canned tomatoes with peppers onions and celery in them or to buy them separately?
I am asking because if you add them separately, the ingredients don’t say how many for the vegetables besides the tomatoes themselves.
Yes, there are canned tomatoes that have the onion, peppers and celery already in them.
Great recipe! I just made it and its fantastic. I added some extra chili seasoning along with some salt, garlic, and onion powder – seasoning to taste. Exactly what I was looking for!
Great recipe! As others have said, it reminds me of a dish I’d made years ago. Love that it comes together fast and used ingredients I had on hand. Well deserving of 5 stars!
What is “chili seasoning”? What spices are in that? My husband can’t have chili powder.
Chili seasoning is a blend of spices that are made especially for chili. It most definitely has chili powder in it, so it would not work if your husband can’t have it.
Wow this looks delicious
Thanks!
Oh my gosh, this sounds amazing, Mindy! This one is a total throwback to my childhood, and now I’m going to be craving it all day. Plus, I love the idea of ditching the box and making this one from scratch. Yum!!
My daughter loves the boxed stuff, so I just had to make it healthier for her. Thanks!
So very comforting and packed full of flavour…definitely something my husband will love!
You can’t go wrong with pasta, right?! Thanks