The Best One Pot Chili Mac

Jump to Recipe

This Chili Mac recipe combines together the savory flavors of chili with onions, garlic, bell peppers, spicy jalapeños pepper to create a uniquely delicious taste experience that appeals to a wide range of palates.

This easy mouthwatering chili mac recipe is relatively simple to make, requiring just a few basic ingredients and minimal cooking skills. It’s a convenient option for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you want to make a delicious homemade meal that your family will love without a lot of fuss.

What I love most about this chili mac is that it is highly customizable, allowing for variations in ingredients and flavors to suit individual preferences. From adding cheese or extra spices to incorporating different types of beans or meat substitutes, there are endless ways to customize this comforting one-pot meal.

If you are looking for more delicious weeknight meals try my taco casserole, Salisbury steak, and stuffed bell pepper recipes.

CHILI MAC INGREDIENTS

Jump to the bottom of the recipe card below this post for full ingredient measurements and instructions.

Ground beef  – I like using ground sirloin, but 90/10 beef also works well

Pasta – Elbow pasta, Rotini, Cavatappi, and Corkscrew pasta are all good choices here

Onion  – one medium onion, diced

Bell pepper – one medium bell pepper (green, yellow, red, or orange)

Jalapeno pepper  – Can be substituted with serrano

Tomatoes – 1 15 oz can of crushed tomatoes and 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes

Seasoning and Spices – Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika

Beef broth – Homemade or store-bought

HOW TO MAKE CHILI MAC

Follow these steps to make this recipe:

1. Sauté: Add olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or a large pot. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Add the diced onions, minced jalapeños, and bell peppers and season with salt and pepper—Sauté for 5 minutes or until soft and translucent.
2. Add the garlic and seasoning: Add the spices, sugar, and garlic, and continue to cook just until you can smell the garlic.
3. Add the tomatoes and beef stock: Stir in the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes
4. Add the pasta: Add the elbow macaroni and cover with a lid. Cook for another 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
5. Top it: Top the chili mac with shredded cheese and garnish with sliced green onions.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

1. Homemade stock.  Homemade vegetable stock is a great way to add tons of flavor and body to this soup. Homemade stocks also freeze well, so you can make recipes ahead.
2. Make it gluten-free. Easily make this recipe gluten-free by substituting the pasta with any gluten-free pasta of your choice.
3. Substitute the beef. Don’t eat beef? Substitute the beef in this recipe with ground chicken or turkey.
4. Double the recipe. The recipe can easily be doubled for larger groups. If you need a quick and delicious meal for a large group, this is it!

Did you make this recipe?

Great! Now let me know how you liked it. Follow me on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. You can also sign up for my newsletter for the latest updates. Tag @sheaddsflavor on Instagram and hashtag it #sheaddsflavor to share your creations with me. I can’t wait to see your photos!

While I have you here… may I suggest a few for you to try next:

• Moms Home-Style Meatloaf Recipe With The Best Homemade Glaze
• Baked Chipotle Honey Chicken Drumsticks
• Homemade Meatball Recipe | How To Make Delicious Meatballs

Until next time. Keep following and commenting. Join me on Youtube next week to find out what I cooking up and maybe you’ll hear a few of my terrible jokes! Yes, that’s right.

3