• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lemon Blossoms

Restaurant Quality Recipes, Quick and Delicious Meals Made at Home

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipes
    • All Food
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Main Course
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker and Pressure Cooker
    • Soups and Stews
    • Salads and Sandwiches
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Vegetarian
    • Beverages
    • Desserts and Baked Goods
    • Basics
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimers and Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Pasta and Noodles / One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

April 4, 2018 by Kathy 4 Comments

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last updated on October 10th, 2018 at 06:54 pm

This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is hearty, tasty and the ultimate comfort food. Perfectly seasoned, creamy, cheesy and full of flavor. This chili mac and cheese recipe is ready in just 30 minutes! Did I tell you one pot is all you need?

Creamy and Cheesy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese on a white bowl scooped with a spoon.

I must admit, I am completely addicted to this dish. Every time I make it, I have to stop myself from eating it all – because eating one pound of pasta by myself is not very “lady-like”. Trust me, I so want to and I could. Just as I could eat the whole pan of this Mac and Cheese Carbonara! This Chili Mac is not only delicious but just pure comfort food!

In this photo a pot filled with Chili Mac and Cheese.

Ground beef, spices, crushed tomatoes and chili beans are the ingredients I use to make my favorite chili recipe. It is so flavorful that you would think it has a bathtub full of ingredients and takes all day to make – that is far from the truth! As a matter of fact, after I gave the recipe to my best friend Stephanie, she named it “5-Minute Chili” (it does take 20 minutes to make though!).  I use some of the same ingredients for this chili Mac and Cheese.

In this photo a serving of chili mac and cheese in a white bowl scooped with a fork.

Chili Mac and Cheese

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven saute onions, green bell peppers and garlic. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
  • Season the beef with the spices and add the crushed tomatoes, beans and broth.
  • I use canned red chili beans for this recipe. They are seasoned already and come in mild or medium. Their flavor melds very well with the spices I am already using.
  • Add the pasta – I love the classic elbow macaroni but any other short pasta will work. Cover, bring to a simmer and cook until the pasta is al dente stirring a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • Then add most of the cheese (save some for topping the pasta). Mix until it melts and serve!
Chopped onions, green bell peppers and chopped garlic are been sauteed in a large pot.
Cooked ground beef, chopped onions, chopped green bell peppers, chopped garlic and spices in a large pot

Chili with beans on top in a large pot
Dried macaroni added to a pot of chili

Kathy’s Notes

  • I usually buy ground beef that is 85% lean for most recipes but for this recipe I try to get the leanest ground beef I can get – just so I don’t have to drain off any excess fat – and because pasta and cheese!
  • I use this type of beans or this
  • Love One Pot Pasta dishes? Here are a few for you
    Cheesy Taco Goulash Pasta 
    One Pot Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
    Chicken Penne with Creamy Mushroom White Wine Sauce

WANT TO TRY THIS CHILI MAC RECIPE?

PIN IT TO YOUR DINNER OR PASTA BOARD!!

FIND ME ON PINTEREST FOR MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES!

Creamy and Cheesy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese on a white bowl scooped with a spoon.
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is hearty, tasty and the ultimate comfort food. Perfectly seasoned, creamy, cheesy and full of flavor. This chili mac and cheese recipe is ready in just 30 minutes! Did I tell you one pot is all you need?
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 655kcal
Author: Kathy

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped finely
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
  • 1 28-ounces can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 16-ounces can chili beans
  • 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
  • 2 1/2 cup beef or chicken stock
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and green bell pepper and cook for about 4 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.
  • Add the ground beef to the pot and cook, stirring and breaking up the beef until the meat is not longer pink. Drain off excess fat if you need to (I usually use lean beef and don't have to drain any excess fat).
  • Add the spices, crushed tomatoes, chili beans and broth. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat to low. Add the pasta and stir. 
  • Cover and simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the pasta is al dente, stirring a few times during the cooking process to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. If the pasta gets too dry, add a bit of water.
  • Turn off the heat and add most of the cheese (about 1 1/2 cups). Stir until the cheese is melted. Serve hot topped with the remaining cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 728mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 21.3% | Vitamin C: 14.3% | Calcium: 32% | Iron: 22.3%

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

PINTEREST / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER

If you’ve tried this or any other of my recipes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and to leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!


 

Related Posts

  • Creamy Chicken Pesto PastaCreamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
  • Mac and Cheese CarbonaraMac and Cheese Carbonara
  • One Pot Pizza PastaOne Pot Pizza Pasta

Filed Under: All Food, Main Course, Meat, Pasta and Noodles, Quick and Easy

Previous Post: « Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower
Next Post: Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. michele says

    April 4, 2018 at 10:08 am

    How funny… its never occurred to me to put chili beans into my chili Mac…. For real, Ive only used chili powder to deepen the flavor.. NO wonder its never very good! I cant wait to try this — especially since its a one pan meal! Those truly make the dishwasher in my house (ME!) very happy

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 4, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Thank you! Those beans add so much flavor! I am the dish washer at my house too LOL

      Reply
  2. Stacey Turnbull says

    November 18, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    This was perfect. I questioned adding beans with the pasta, but it was just right. Thanks for a hearty, yummy, dish!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 18, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed it!! I appreciate the feedback.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hi I'm Kathy!
I'm a culinary school graduate and have worked for The Food Network and for Chefs Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay. I cook restaurant quality recipes at home daily. Here you will find a great selection of quick and easy recipes for busy days as well as amazing recipes for entertaining. My recipes range from simple and healthy to scrumptious and decadent. About Lemon Blossoms →

SEARCH FOR RECIPES

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

TRENDING NOW

Oven Baked Pork Chops with roasted potatoes and green beanson a white plate
Honey Soy Baked Chicken Drumstick on a white plate.

SLOW COOKER & PRESSURE COOKER

Top view of Buffalo Chicken Wings in a white bowl
A white plate filled with instant pot shredded chicken.
Overhead view of a bowl filled with corn dip.
Bacon dip served with crackers.
Instant Pot Chicken breast shredded served in a bowl.

Footer

As Seen On

As Seen On

Copyright © 2016-2019 LemonBlossoms.com