Tastes like beef Chilli Con Carne – with the added cheesy goodness of Mac ‘n Cheese! My Chili Mac and Cheese is on the table in just over 20 minutes – and it’s all made in one pot. It’s truly fabulously delicious!
CHILI MAC AND CHEESE IS THE ULTIMATE MASH UP
I’ve seen plenty of food mash ups in my travels on the world-wide-web. Like pizza – it seems like there is a pizza-everything: tacos, casserole, dips, soup, pie, pasta, cake.
I’m not above doing mash ups. I’ll do them when combining two recipes brings something else to the dish, rather than doing them just for the sake of being “cool” or “out there”. I’m beyond the years of playing with food for the sake of being cool, I just want it to be tasty!
Enter – Chili Mac and Cheese. A cross between Chili Con Carne and Mac and Cheese, all made in one pot. The sauce flavour is like beef Chilli Con Carne, with the addition of macaroni and cheesy goodness stirred into it as well as on top. SO GOOD.
In America, you’ll find most Chili’s are made using a generous amount of what America calls Chili Powder. In actual fact, American Chili Powder is made with more than just ground chilis. It has other flavourings in it, so it’s more like a seasoning than a plain spice.
Because American Chili Powder isn’t sold here in Australia, and also because I have noticed that the flavour and saltiness of American Chili Powder varies from brand to brand, I like to make my Chili using a homemade mix of spices. I can control the flavour better for my own palette, and also more consistency of flavour for those who use my recipes. 🙂
Down Under here in Australia, we spell “Chili” with two l’s – Chilli. Also, it’s more commonly referred to as Chilli Con Carne, and no one knows whether it’s pronounced “Carneeeeeeee” or just “Carne”.
To keep life simple, I chose to stick with one “L”. And I pronounce it “Carne”, without drawing out the “eeeeee”… 😁 – Nagi x
THE MAC & CHEESE COLLECTION
- Chili Mac – this recipe
- Baked Mac and Cheese – huge reader favourite!
- Shrimp Mac and Cheese – outrageously delicious!
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese – one pot, 20 minutes
- Chicken and Broccoli Mac & Cheese
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Chili Mac and Cheese recipe video!
Recipe video above. A homemade Chili with the addition of macaroni and cheese = Chili Mac ‘n Cheese! This is terrifically moorish and a fabulous one pot meal. Super quick too! The key with this recipe is to turn the stove off as soon as the pasta is just cooked - it will keep cooking in the residual heat.
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , chopped
- 500 g / 1 lb beef mince (ground beef), I use lean
- 800 g / 28 oz crushed canned tomato
- 420g / 14 oz can red kidney beans , drained
- 2 1/2 cups / 625 ml beef broth (chicken broth also ok)
- 250 g / 0.5 lb elbow macaroni pasta (elbow pasta), uncooked
- 2 cups / 200g shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, tasty cheese)
- Coriander / cilantro finely chopped , for garnish
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper or pure chilli powder (adjust spiciness to taste) (Note 1)
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder (can sub garlic powder)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt
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Heat oil in large pot over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute. Then add capsicum and cook until onion is translucent.
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Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
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Once the beef turns from red to brown, add remaining ingredients except cheese. Stir, bring to simmer, then turn the heat down to medium. Cover and cook for 10 - 12 minutes or until the macaroni is al dente, meaning just cooked, still a tiny bit on the firm side.
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Turn the stove OFF but leave the pot on the stove. Stir through half the cheese – it should be a bit saucy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Top with remaining cheese, put the lid back on and leave until the cheese melts - about 2 minutes.
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Sprinkle with coriander, if desired, and serve immediately.
1. Chili Powder: In Australia, UK and most parts of the world, ground chilli (aka "chilli powder") is plain dried chillies that have been ground. However, in the US, Chilli Powder has other things in it so it is nowhere near as hot as pure Chilli powder. This recipe calls for pure ground chilli for spiciness. Cayenne pepper is a perfect substitute, or any other HOT chilli powder. Chili is supposed to be spicy!!!
2. TIP: The key with this recipe is to turn the stove OFF as soon as the pasta is just cooked. The pasta will keep cooking when you put the lid on to melt the cheese. Don't worry if it's still saucy - saucey is GOOD!!! Plus sauce always gets sucked up by pasta so there will be less by the time you serve it.
3. OTHER PROTEINS: This recipe will also work other minced meat, including chicken, pork, turkey and even lamb!
4. FREEZING: Leftovers freeze fine, thaw then best reheated in microwave. For make ahead freezing, take it off the stove when the pasta is a tiny touch still firm. It should still be saucy. Let it cool, then top with cheese. Cover then freeze. Then to reheat, let it thaw overnight, then microwave is best to reheat (fastest so pasta won't bloat).
5. Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings. Very generous servings!
LIFE OF DOZER
Usually when I travel, Dozer goes to stay with his “family” with a golden retriever boarder. He thunders around the house, rumbles with his friends, and generally completely forgets all about me.
Unfortunately, he’s a bit lame at the moment (nothing serious, just pulled a muscle from excessive beach craziness) so I left him with my mother for some quiet healing time.
Apparently, this is how he’s spending his day. 😂
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I’m going to give this a go tomorrow night.. can I replace beef broth with chicken stock?
I find beef has more flavour but yes you can replace with chicken broth.
Hi Nagi – I love all of your recipes. Every single one I’ve tried has been spot on, delicious and your directions make them so easy, too (including this one!) I am wondering if your chili Mac and/or home made hamburger helper can be frozen? Sometimes you put in special instructions for freezing in your notes but didn’t see that on either of these recipes.
Thanks for your help!
T.
Hi Tama! I’ll pop freezer directions in now 🙂 N x
Apparently, I make Nagi’s chili mac once a year… My first turn was 11/8/2017 (I try to add notes to a recipe…). I just made it again yesterday (11/17/2018). Just as great as we remembered! 🙂
This was so yummy! My family loved it! So much better than the boxed kind we usually have but never again! Thank you so much for your recipes!
Made this last night for dinner– YUM. and easy to make…and only one pot! I made this as written using a beef/lamb combo for the protein .. for me the “key” part of this recipe is the home made chili powder– it added just the right amount of flavor/spiciness for us.
This looks like a great quick recipe. When I get home from working 8 hours and commuting on the train for 1 our each way, I don’t feel like creating time-consuming meals. If so, err body gone lose weight LOL I’ll let you know how it goes.
I hear you Dana! Commuting in Sydney is a killer 😩
Hey there, tried this recipe and loved it so much! Definitely a comfort food. A question though, if I’m unable to find canned crushed tomatoes, what would be a substitute?
Any sort of canned tomatoes will do; if they are whole, you can break them up with your spoon in the pot, and diced will also work. Alternatively, empty them into a bowl and use a potato masher on them, or even a fork, to crush them a bit before adding, or even just crush them in your hand before you add them to the pot.
Made this tonight. Omg- soooo good for little effort. I buy dried chili’s from the grocery store Ethnic aisle and toast them then powderize in our spice grinder for fresh chili powder. I used 1 tbs. added 1/8 tsp of cayenne for spicy kick. Our cayenne is super hot so there’s no way we could eat 1 tsp! Thx for a great recipe, Nagi!!!!
SO GLAD you enjoyed this Judy!!! Thanks for letting me know! N xx
My son yelling at me, “Dad please make some chili-mac!” So I figured I’d find a recipe. Smack yo mamma! That’s a spot on recipe for authentic chilli-mac. When you stated that chili powder has other stuff in it you’re correct. You’ll want chile powder (with an E) that’s the unmolested stuff. Try your local hispanic or Mexican market if you can’t find it in your grocery store.
Anyway, thanks for the tasty dish.
Location: Show Me State
You’re so welcome SoylentArmy! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 N x
I was wondering when I made this recipe ( which by the way is very good) you mention that American chili powder has other ingredients in it. I looked and I currently have 3 brands of chili powder on my spice shelf. None of them have anything but chili in them. I think you must be talking about a chili mix. The chili powder I used did have silicon dioxide a anti caking agent.
Hi Michael! Glad you enjoyed this 🙂 Every Chili Powder I have checked out in the states has other things in it, like this one https://www.mccormick.com/spices-and-flavors/herbs-and-spices/spices/chili-powder. It’s labelled “Chili Powder” but the ingredients has other things in it. That’s why I always talk about using pure spices, to avoid confusion. “Chili powder” means VERY different things depending on which country you are in!! N x
This was AMAZING!! both my kids loved it, even though I added extra chilli lol – even better the next day!
🙌🏻 🙌🏻 LOVE hearing that! Thanks for letting me know Shannan! N x
So good! Thank you for an easy tasty recipe. [email protected] like some of the others I added in a bit of sugar to cut the acidity. This is standard for me when making tomato based dishes especially pasta. Big fan from Vancouver, Canada here. 😊
Never had ‘chili Mac’ before tonigh. Definitely found the perfect recipe for it too. Only thing I did was take out at 1/2 a cup of the tomatoes and add that much roetels to make it a little more spicy. Turned out amazing for my first time.
So great to hear Kelsey!! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x
My husband said this was his favorite thing Ive ever made him! We don’t have any kids so this made enough for us to eat for 2 dinners and lunch which he was happy about 😁 super easy and delicious! I had some precooked noodles in the freezer that I used to make the recipe even quicker and I added some red pesto. Absolutely delicious and simple! Thanks for the great recipe 😁
That’s wonderful to hear Amanda! Thanks for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed this! N xx
I saw this recipe/video on line and had to try it. We love it! I’ve become addicted to online recipes. Thank you very much for sharing.
Love hearing that Yvonne! So pleased you enjoyed this so much! N xx
This is the 3rd time I have made this… the fact that my husband loves it is truly saying a lot. He’s a very picky eater. When my neighbors smell it they know I share and love it.. Will keep this recipe in rotation. It’s simply awesome! So glad I found it. Thanks for sharing 😁
HIGH COMPLIMENT indeed! 😂 So glad you both enjoy this Barbie! N xx
Hi Nai,
This is Niecy from Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania and I just wanna say that every mea that I have made from your recipes has been an absolute hit. I love your recipes and I love the videos. The recipes are easy to follow but I really love watching the videos. Keep up the good work and keep the recipes coming I will continue to follow you and continued to cook wonderful meals for my family to enjoy…
Sorry, it’s supposed to say Nagi…