Chili Mac – If you’re, in the mood for some comforting food that combines the richness of chili with the deliciousness of mac and cheese our Chili Mac recipe is what you need. This pleasing course brings together the finest of both worlds making it a flawless dish for family dinners or assemblages with friends. In an hour you can indulge in a warm and hearty meal that is bound to become a new favorite. Let’s dive into this mouthwatering Chili Mac recipe.

It all began on a chilly evening when I was searching for a way to enjoy the classic flavors of chili. Since my husband and child are fans of mac and cheese I decided to blend the two. The result? An irresistible dish that quickly became beloved in our household. Now I’m ecstatic to share this recipe with you so that you can savor those comforting tastes and create everlasting remembrances around your dinner table.

What makes this Chili Mac truly special?

Chili Mac is a fusion that brings together the flavors of classic chili with the delightful creaminess of mac and cheese resulting in an unstoppable mixture. Its crowd-pleasing nature has made it a favorite among families and its customizable chili, to mac ratio ensures everyone’s taste buds will be thoroughly satisfied. With planning and the ability to prepare in advance or store, for later enjoyment this recipe provides more, than just a delicious meal. It constructs an experience that brings convenience and happiness to any affair.

What You Need To Make This Chili Mac Recipe?

To make the Chili:

Ground Beef: Choose 80% ground beef, for a balance of flavor and juiciness ensuring each bite is a delicious experience.

Seasoning Mix: You can opt for a store-bought chili seasoning packet. Get creative by making your own blend. Customize the flavors to suit your taste preferences.

Kidney Beans: Adding kidney beans brings an earthy flavor to the chili. Remember to drain them before adding so they combine seamlessly with the ingredients.

For the Mac and Cheese:

Macaroni: Cook the macaroni until it reaches that al dente stage to maintain a texture – not too soft or too firm.

Cheese: Gradually adding cheddar cheese to the sauce creates a velvety smoothness that will keep you coming back for more. Feel free to experiment with types of cheddar for a twist.

When Baking:

Cheese: The final touch is sprinkling shredded cheddar cheese on top creating an irresistibly gooey crown for your Chili Mac. Watch it melt and bubble, in the oven forming a mouthwatering cheesy crust that brings comfort food bliss.

Parsley: Adding parsley as a garnish goes beyond making the dish look good. It brings a burst of freshness that perfectly complements the satisfying flavors of the meal. Don’t overlook this meaningful step to enhance your presentation.

Steps To Make Chili Mac:

Let’s cook up some chili:

Step 1: Heat a pot, over medium-high heat and start cooking the ground beef by breaking it into crumbles. Cook for around 2 minutes.

Step 2: Add the onions to the pot. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the beef is nicely browned and the onions are soft. Make sure to drain any grease.

Step 3: Now it’s time to add bell peppers and garlic to the pot. Cook them until the peppers become tender, which usually takes 4 minutes.

Step 4: Add in your chili seasoning mix and tomato paste stirring everything together for a minute.

Step 5: Pour in tomato sauce, undrained diced tomatoes and chicken broth into the pot. Stir well. Bring it all to a boil.

Step 6: Once boiling reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover partially with a lid. Let it simmer while you move on to preparing macaroni and cheese—remembering that longer simmering makes for flavors!

Step 7: During the 10 minutes of simmering add drained kidney beans for a touch.

Now let’s make some mouthwatering macaroni and cheese:

Step 8: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 9: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for cooking macaroni pasta as, per package instructions—aiming for an al dente texture rather than overcooking it.

Step 10: Drain cooked macaroni once ready.

Step 11: In a pot or Dutch oven melt the butter, over medium heat until it starts to foam slightly. Whisk in the flour. Stir continuously for 2 minutes. Gradually add splashes of heavy cream and milk while stirring consistently.

Step 12: Bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add hot sauce, mustard powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Stir everything together. Lower the heat to a simmer.

Step 13: Slowly sprinkle in the cheddar cheese while stirring continuously until it is well combined and smooth.

Step 14: Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until everything is mixed together. If you prefer a cheesy macaroni you can slightly reduce the amount of pasta as it will continue to absorb the cheese sauce.

Step 15: Combine the chili with the macaroni by stirring them. You can choose to add all of it or just a portion depending on your preference. Any leftover chili can be frozen for later use.

Step 16: Once combined top off the dish with 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese. Bake it in a dish for around 5 minutes. Until the cheese has melted and become bubbly.

Step 17: If desired, garnish with parsley, before serving.

Tip:

To elevate your Chili Mac to the next level why not try incorporating smoked cheddar cheese into your mac and cheese sauce? The smoky notes, from the cheese will infuse your dish with a depth of flavor bringing back memories of campfire meals. It’s a straightforward yet genius way to give the recipe a twist turning it into a smoky and savory pleasure that will surely tease your taste buds. Just replace cheddar cheese with smoked cheddar during the preparation of the cheese sauce. Witness how your Chili Mac adjusts into a memorable culinary venture.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Sure thing! You can definitely prepare the Chili Mac ahead of time. Simply reheat it when you’re ready to serve. It’s also great, for freezing so you can save some for later.

Can I adjust the level of spiciness in this dish?

Absolutely! You have control, over the level of this dish. Just adjust the amount of hot sauce and chili seasoning to match your taste preferences.

What can I serve as a side dish with Chili Mac?

While the Chili Mac is satisfying on its own if you’d like something consider serving it with a refreshing green salad or some tasty garlic bread. It’ll round out your meal nicely.

Chili Mac

Indulge, in the comfort food experience with our mouthwatering Chili Mac. It offers a blend of flavors combining the richness and boldness of chili with the cheesy goodness of macaroni and cheese. Imagine tender ground beef mingling with spices, vibrant vegetables and kidney beans all enveloped in a tomato-based sauce. Then picture this hearty chili infusion embracing cooked macaroni to create a balance of textures and tastes. This dish brings warmth to the soul evoking memories of gatherings and satisfying family meals. With a touch of cheddar cheese, for an added layer of allure, our Chili Mac promises a dining experience that is both familiar and wonderfully unique. Prepare yourself to relish every comforting bite of this heartwarming fusion dish.

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Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chili Mac

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 18 CUPS

Ingredients

For the Chili:

• 1 pound of ground beef 80% lean
• 1 small onion diced
• 1/2 c of diced bell pepper
• 3 cloves of diced garlic
• 1.25- ounce packet of chili seasoning mix
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• 8 ounces of tomato sauce
• 14.4 ounces of diced tomatoes undrained
• 1/2 c of chicken broth can be substituted with beef broth
• 1 15- ounce can of kidney beans drained

For the Mac and Cheese:

• 2 c of uncooked macaroni
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c of heavy cream
• 1 c of milk
• 1/2 tsp of mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp of onion powder
• 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp of hot sauce
• 1 1/2 c of shredded cheddar cheese

For Baking:

• 1 1/2 c of shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Let's make some Chili:

• First you’ll want to brown the ground beef in a pot. Once it’s cooked add in the onions, bell peppers and garlic.
• Next stir in the chili seasoning, tomato paste, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Let it simmer for 15 minutes. Don’t forget to add the kidney beans during the 10 minutes!

Now let's move on to making the Mac and Cheese:

• Start by boiling the macaroni until it’s al dente. Once cooked drain it well.
• In a pot melt some butter and whisk in flour until smooth.
• Gradually add cream, milk, mustard powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and hot sauce while stirring continuously.
• Now comes the cheesy part! Stir in cheddar cheese into your mixture until everything is nice and smooth.

It's time to bring everything together:

• Combine your cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce you prepared earlier. Mix them gently but thoroughly.

To make things more delicious looking:

• Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top of your mixture.

Now comes baking time:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 5 minutes or until you see that melty cheesiness!
• Out of the oven. Garnish, with parsley, for that extra touch of greenery.
• Your homemade Chili Mac is now ready!
• Serve it hot and enjoy!

Notes

To make a gluten-free variation of our Chili Mac just swap out the regular macaroni with your preferred gluten-free pasta and cook it perfectly. Instead of using all-purpose flour, for the cheese sauce opt for a gluten-free alternative like rice flour or a blend specifically made for those avoiding gluten. Also double check that your chili seasoning mix and hot sauce are free, from any trace of gluten. By making these substitutions you can enjoy the comforting taste and texture without worrying about gluten-related issues.