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Cheesy Chili Mac Recipe

This chili mac recipe is chunky, cheesy and ultimately comforting with lots of seasonings, spicy chunky chili and so much more. It's an easy one pot meal.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword chili, noodles, one pot, pasta, recipe, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 353 kcal
Author Mike Hultquist

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

  1. 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.
  2. Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
  3. 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.
  4. Add the kidney beans and seasonings and give it all a good stir.
  5. 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

  1. Boil the noodles in lightly salted water until al dente. Drain.
  2. Mix the noodles with the chili, then pour the mixture into a large baking dish or casserole dish.
  3. Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes until the cheeses are nice and melted.
  4. Garnish and serve!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: This is an easy one-pot meal. I usually use a simple casserole dish for this recipe, but you can easily make it in a Dutch oven or any large oven-safe pan, like a cast iron pan.

CHILI POWDERS: If you have a hard time finding ancho and guajillo powders, use your favorite chili powder blend instead.

Nutrition Facts
Cheesy Chili Mac Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 353 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 56mg19%
Sodium 1111mg46%
Potassium 332mg9%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 2156IU43%
Vitamin C 28mg34%
Calcium 229mg23%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.