This cheesy chili mac recipe is the ultimate mashup of comforting mac and cheese with your favorite chili, so easy to make, just mix, top and bake!
Chili Mac and Cheese!
Have you ever tried chili mac? If you haven't, you're in for the comfort food experience of your life. I make a lot of chili recipes in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen.
I make big pots of the stuff so I can have leftover chili for lunch or dinner. The great thing about leftover chili is repurposing it into wonderful dishes like chili mac.
Chili mac and cheese, my friends! It's so good!
What is Chili Mac?
Chili mac is a comfort food recipe made with a combination of homemade chili, cooked noodles, and melty cheese. It is typically made as a casserole, with the chili and noodles mixed together in a large baking dish, then topped with cheese and baked. It's a popular dish for leftover chili.
It's a little bit decadent with all that cheese and noodles, but hey, everyone needs a little comfort food in their lives now and then, right? I know I do!
Let's talk about how to make chili mac, shall we?
Chili Mac Ingredients Needed
- FOR THE CHILI
- Olive Oil.
- Ground Beef. Use ground turkey for a leaner version.
- Onion and Garlic.
- Chili Peppers. I'm using jalapeno pepper, serrano pepper, and bell pepper for substance. Use your favorites for a heat level you prefer.
- Beans. Red kidney beans are great, though you can use pinto beans, black beans, or a mix.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes. Sub in fresh tomatoes, or use diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or tomato sauce.
- Chili Seasonings. Ancho powder and guajillo powder are two of my favorites, though you can use your favorite chili powder blend. Also, fresh ground cumin, salt and black pepper. And red chili flakes for some spiciness.
- FOR THE CHILI MAC
- Elbow Pasta Noodles. Or use macaroni or any other smaller noodles.
- Shredded Cheese. I'm using Cheddar cheese for my chili mac, but you can use any melty cheese, like pepper jack, Monterey jack, or a mixture of cheeses. Use your favorites.
- For Serving. Sliced roasted peppers, spicy chili flakes, fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
How to Make Chili Mac Recipe - the Steps
FOR THE CHILI:
- First, heat the oil in a large pot and add the ground beef or turkey, onion and peppers. Cook them down about 10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened
- Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
- If using fresh tomatoes, chop them and add them to the pot. Cook about 10 minutes to let them break down. If using canned fire roasted tomatoes, just add them to the pot and go to the next step.
- Add the kidney beans and seasonings and give it all a good stir.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the chili on low for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop, stirring every now and then. Adjust for seasonings if you wish.
FOR THE CHILI MAC:
Boil the noodles in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain when the pasta is tender. Mix the noodles with the chili, then pour the mixture into a large baking dish or casserole dish.
Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted. So good!
Garnish and serve!
Boom! That's it, my friends! Chili mac is nice and cheesy and really it's some crazy awesome comfort food at its finest. Grab yourself a bowl! I love this stuff.
Recipe Heat Factor
You can make chili mac with any level of chili, from mild chili to extra hot and spicy chili. I include a lot of chili powders as well as spicy peppers in my homemade chili recipes, but you can adjust the heat to your own preferred level. No need to go TOO crazy.
Recipe Tips & Notes
Use Leftover Chili. This recipe is perfect for leftover chili. I always make an extra large pot of chili for me and Patty and save part of it for later in the week, or I freeze it. When we're ready to eat, I just mix up the leftover chili in a baking dish with cooked noodles, top it with melty cheese, then bake it up. Super easy meal for during the week, done in 30 minutes or less!
Baking Dish. Most of the time I use a casserole dish for this recipe, but it also works great in a Dutch oven or a large cast iron pan. Anything that is oven safe will work.
Storage & Leftovers
You can store any leftover chili mac and cheese in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To enjoy it again, simply reheat it over medium heat in a pot on the stovetop.
I do not recommend freezing it, as it can affect the texture of the noodles.
Try This With Some of My Popular Chili Recipes
Try my homemade nacho cheese, too!
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Chili Mac Recipe (How to Make Chili Mac and Cheese)
Ingredients
FOR THE CHILI
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or use ground turkey for a lighter meal
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 jalapeno peppers chopped
- 1 small bell pepper or sweet pepper, chopped
- 1 spicy chili pepper chopped
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 cans red kidney beans
- 42 ounces fire roasted tomatoes (3 14-ounce cans, or use equivalent fresh. You can also used diced tomatoes or tomato sauce)
- 2 tablespoons ancho powder
- 2 tablespoons guajillo powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
FOR THE CHILI MAC
- 8 ounces dry weight elbow pasta noodles or use macaroni or any other smaller noodles
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or use any melty cheese, like pepper jack, or a mixture of cheeses
- FOR SERVING: Sliced roasted peppers spicy chili flakes, fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
Instructions
FOR THE CHILI
- First, heat the oil in a large pot and add the ground beef or turkey, onion and peppers. Cook them down about 10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened.
- Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
- If using fresh tomatoes, chop them and add them to the pot. Cook about 10 minutes to let them break down. If using canned fire roasted tomatoes, just add them to the pot and go to the next step.
- Add the kidney beans and seasonings and give it all a good stir.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the chili on low for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop, stirring every now and then. Adjust for seasonings if you wish.
FOR THE CHILI MAC
- Boil the noodles in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain.
- Mix the noodles with the chili, then pour the mixture into a large baking dish or casserole dish.
- Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes until the cheeses are nice and melted.
- Garnish and serve!
Notes
Nutrition Information
Stephanie says
OMG oh so good!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Stephanie!