Chili Mac
Chili Mac is the combining of two classic favorites, homemade chili and homemade macaroni and cheese into one deliciously hearty meal.
Servings: 6
Calories: 555kcal
Equipment
- 4 qt. Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder +/-, to taste
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 14 oz diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 4 oz diced green chilies
- 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Over medium high heat, brown the ground beef and onions in the dutch oven until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any renderings.
- Return to heat and add all the seasonings expect the brown sugar. Mix everything in well.
- Add all the remaining ingredients except for the cheeses.
- Stir well, cover, and cook until the pasta is done, about 15 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid the pasta sticking to the bottom.
- Once the noodles are cooked, stir in half of the cheeses over the heat for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the cheeses have melted.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, replace the lid, and allow to rest for about 5 minutes.
Notes
Pantry staples — black beans or pintos beans instead of the kidney beans. Use fire roasted tomatoes for a bolder flavor. Spicy diced green chilies to turn up the heat. Use your favorite small pasta like shells or orecchiette.
Seasonings — fresh garlic or garlic powder instead of granulated. Chipotle or cayenne powder for extra spice or half chili powder and half paprika for a more mild flavor.
Cheese — use Mexican blend, pepper jack, or mozzarella.
Meat — any ground meat would be delicious, ground turkey, chicken, or even pork.
Veg — Add freshly diced bell pepper, jalapeños, poblano, or any other pepper. A sweet onion is a wonderful substitution for a regular yellow onion or the bolder white onion. Canned corn will work in place of frozen.
Toppings — Finish the dish with freshly chopped cilantro, sour cream, diced green onions, chives, hot sauce, and of course, more cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1279mg | Potassium: 978mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1508IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 486mg | Iron: 5mg
