Description
Hearty Chili Mac combines classic comfort with zesty southwestern flavors, creating a quick one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights. Cheesy pasta mingled with seasoned ground beef delivers a satisfying dinner that brings family together around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (lb.) ground beef, 80% lean
- 1 15 ounces (oz.) can kidney beans, drained
- 1.25 ounces (oz.) packet chili seasoning mix
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, diced
Liquid and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 8 ounces (oz.) tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounces (oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or beef broth)
Instructions
- Sear ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until thoroughly browned, ensuring complete meat crumbling and draining off excess fat.
- Introduce diced onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic to the pot, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Incorporate chili seasoning, tomato paste, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth into the meat mixture, allowing ingredients to meld together during a 10-minute simmer.
- Fold in kidney beans and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, developing rich flavor profiles.
- Simultaneously prepare macaroni according to package directions, draining and reserving pasta for later integration.
- Create cheese sauce by melting butter in a separate saucepan, whisking in flour and cooking for one minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually stream heavy cream and milk into the roux, adding mustard powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and hot sauce while continuously stirring.
- Maintain medium heat, stirring consistently until sauce thickens and becomes smooth, then incorporate cheddar cheese until completely melted.
- Gently fold cooked macaroni into prepared cheese sauce, ensuring even coating.
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) while combining chili and mac and cheese mixtures.
- Transfer combined mixture to a baking dish, generously topping with additional shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Finish by sprinkling fresh parsley as a vibrant garnish before serving.
Notes
- Boost flavor by using a mix of ground beef and spicy sausage for extra depth and richness.
- Reduce carbs by substituting macaroni with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a low-carb version.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra beans or diced chicken to make the dish more nutritionally balanced.
- Prep ahead by making chili and cheese sauce separately, then combining and baking just before serving to save time during meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 368 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg