Description
One Pot Chili Mac is the ultimate comfort food that combines hearty beef chili, macaroni pasta, and melty cheese in a single pot. This easy and satisfying dish is perfect for family dinners or gatherings with friends. In just 45 minutes, you can create a flavorful meal that even picky eaters will love. Plus, it makes great leftovers for busy days ahead! Customize it with your favorite toppings like sour cream or green onions to make it even more delightful. Simplify your cooking and cleanup while enjoying a delicious bowl of this Tex-Mex fusion dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 lb 93% lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz) can low-sodium chicken broth, plus ½ cup more to thin if needed
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies (mild or hot, based on preference)
- 8 oz dry elbow macaroni (2 cups)
- 1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup half and half (or ⅓ cup heavy cream)
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for serving if desired
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped onion and red bell pepper until softened (about 5 minutes).
- Add ground beef to the pot, searing for 3 minutes before breaking it up and mixing with veggies until nearly cooked through (about 2 additional minutes).
- Stir in minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika; cook for another minute.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, green chilies, elbow macaroni, and kidney beans; season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low and cook uncovered until pasta is tender (12–15 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in half-and-half and shredded cheese until melted.
- Serve hot with optional toppings like sliced green onions or sour cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: One-Pot Cooking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg