Description
This hearty One Pot Chili Mac recipe combines tender macaroni pasta with a flavorful chili-spiced ground beef and rich tomato sauce, all cooked together in one skillet. Finished with melted cheddar cheese, it’s an easy, comforting meal perfect for weeknight dinners, requiring minimal cleanup but delivering maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Produce
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Meat
- 1 lb. ground beef
Pantry
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/2 lb. uncooked macaroni (about 2 cups)
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare aromatics: Dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic. Add them to a large deep skillet or Dutch oven with the olive oil. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Cook ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, stirring frequently, and cook until fully browned. If using high-fat ground beef, drain excess fat to reduce greasiness.
- Add seasoning blend: Sprinkle in the flour, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Stir continuously for about 2 minutes to coat the beef and onions evenly without burning the flour and spices.
- Add liquids: Pour in the tomato sauce and beef broth, stirring well to combine and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor.
- Add macaroni and bring to boil: Stir in the uncooked macaroni, cover with a lid, and increase heat to medium-high until the mixture reaches a full boil. Stir once to prevent sticking.
- Simmer pasta: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover again, and let the macaroni simmer, stirring every few minutes. Continue cooking until the pasta is tender and the liquid reduces to a thick, rich chili gravy, about 10 minutes.
- Melt cheese: Stir half of the shredded cheddar into the sauce until melted and creamy. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, cover with the lid, turn off the heat, and allow the residual heat to melt the rest of the cheese before serving hot.
Notes
- For leaner options, use 90% lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
- If you prefer a spicier chili mac, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños.
- You can substitute beef broth with vegetable broth for a slightly lighter flavor.
- Be mindful when stirring to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Allowing the cheese to melt over residual heat ensures a creamy texture without overcooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: One-Pot Meal
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
