Chili Mac
Chili Mac is the ultimate comfort food that marries two beloved classics: hearty chili and creamy macaroni and cheese. This delightful dish offers a rich blend of flavors, making it perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or as a satisfying game day snack. The combination of seasoned ground beef, kidney beans, and gooey cheddar cheese creates an irresistible meal that will please even the pickiest eaters. Plus, it’s easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time for convenient weeknight dinners. Get ready to enjoy a bowl full of warmth and comfort with this simple yet delicious Chili Mac recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lbs. ground beef (80% lean)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- ½ cup bell pepper (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (diced)
- 1.25 oz. packet chili seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained
- 2 cups macaroni (uncooked)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon each: salt/pepper
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown ground beef with diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic until tender.
- Stir in chili seasoning, tomato paste, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and kidney beans; simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
- In a separate saucepan, make cheese sauce by melting butter, whisking in flour, then gradually adding cream and milk until thickened. Stir in seasonings and half of the cheddar cheese until melted.
- Combine cooked macaroni with chili mixture and cheese sauce; transfer to a baking dish.
- Top with remaining cheddar cheese and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes until bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Find it online: https://simplecookguide.com/chili-mac/