Description
This recipe combines hearty chili with creamy macaroni and cheese for a comforting one-pot meal. It’s perfect for using leftover chili or making a fresh batch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 4 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Optional toppings: sour cream, green onions, extra shredded cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
- Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- Stir in uncooked elbow macaroni, chicken or beef broth, and milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until macaroni is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve hot, with optional toppings like sour cream, green onions, or extra shredded cheese.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of cayenne pepper.
- You can use pre-made chili for a quicker meal; just skip steps 1-3 and add 4-5 cups of your favorite chili to the pot before adding macaroni and liquids.
- If the mac and cheese gets too thick, add a splash more milk or broth to reach your desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg