You’ll love this easy Cheesy Chili Mac Recipe! It’s the perfect homemade hamburger helper and makes such an easy meal. It’s one of the best comfort foods and an easy way to feed your family!
Once you make this one-pot chili mac, you’ll be hooked. This hearty meal makes more than enough to feed the whole family, with plenty of leftovers for the next day! This will be a new family favorite the first time you make it.
Why you’ll love this Easy Cheesy Chili Mac Recipe
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There’s plenty of cheese and flavor in this one-pot meal
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It’s a fun pasta recipe to change up the menu
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Somehow, leftover chili mac tastes just as good reheated!
Ingredients
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Ground beef or lean ground beef – Either option works well for this dish.
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Elbow macaroni – This is the most popular pasta type, but technically it could be made with other types of noodles.
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Cheddar cheese – Shredded cheese is the easiest to work with and melt into this recipe.
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Yellow onion – You could also use red onion.
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Chili beans – These beans do a great job of holding their texture and not becoming mushy.
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Tomato sauce – For added flavor.
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Diced tomatoes – Canned tomatoes make this a simple addition.
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Cajun seasoning – For flavor.
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Onion powder – For flavor.
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Salt & black pepper
How to make Cheesy Chili Mac
Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain off excess water and add a few drops of olive oil to the pasta to prevent it from sticking.
Add ground beef and onions to a large skillet and cook until no pink is visible within the meat. Drain off any excess grease. Season with Cajun seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Add undrained chili beans, drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, cheese and pasta. Stir to combine ingredients. Serve & enjoy!
Variations
Use different types of beans – Black beans, red kidney beans, or pinto beans can be used or added.
Change the type of meat – Ground turkey or ground chicken can be used to lower fat content and calories.
Add different cheeses – Sharp cheddar, Mexican cheese blend, Pepper Jack or even Monterey jack cheese are all great options.
Storage
Leftovers of this easy chili mac recipe can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. Be sure to let the creamy macaroni mixture cool first to room temperature before storing.
For the best flavor and results, eat any leftovers within 1-2 days.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Due to the use of noodles in this dish, it’s best eaten cooked fresh or from the fridge as leftovers. While it might be entirely possible to freeze it, there’s a super high probability that the noodles will not thaw well and it will be a mushy mess.
Why risk it? Just cook a batch, and plan on eating it over the course of a couple of days with some extra cheese or toppings added.
How do I make this easy dinner spicy?
If you like a little bit of heat with your pasta dishes, I’m right there with ya! You can easily add some spice to your own servings by adding cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or even crushed red pepper.
That way, everyone can enjoy this easy dinner like they want, and if you choose to add heat to your serving, you can do so.
What’s another name for this Chili Mac recipe?
Some people will refer to this as American Goulash, but the name really depends on what your household grew up calling it, and what part of the world you live in.
All I know is that it’s a good one pot meal that is loaded with flavor, and makes clean-up a total breeze!
Have more questions? Drop a comment below!
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out a few more:
Homemade Lasagna Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 12 ounce elbow pasta
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 15.5 ounce Chili beans undrained
- 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounce petite diced tomatoes drained
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain off excess water and add a few drops of olive oil to the pasta to prevent it from sticking.
- Add ground beef and onions to a large skillet and cook until no pink is visible within the meat. Drain off any excess grease. Season with Cajun seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Add undrained chili beans, drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, cheese and pasta. Stir to combine ingredients. Serve & enjoy!
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