Description
Hearty chili mac and cheese brings comfort straight from your slow cooker, combining zesty chili spices with creamy pasta goodness. Hungry souls will devour this crowd-pleasing dish that merges classic American favorites into one satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup elbow macaroni
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet until thoroughly browned, incorporating finely chopped onions and minced garlic for enhanced flavor depth.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the crockpot and introduce kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and a robust blend of chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper, stirring to ensure comprehensive integration of ingredients.
- Allow the mixture to simmer on low temperature for approximately 4 hours, permitting the spices to meld and develop a rich, complex taste profile.
- Introduce uncooked macaroni directly into the crockpot, gently folding it into the existing mixture to ensure even distribution and prevent clumping.
- Continue cooking for an additional 30-40 minutes, monitoring the pasta’s tenderness and liquid absorption to achieve the ideal consistency.
- Moments before serving, generously fold in sharp cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt seamlessly and create a creamy, indulgent texture that binds the entire dish together.
- Let the chili mac rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking to allow flavors to further consolidate and sauce to slightly thicken before plating.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of this comfort dish.
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian-friendly alternative that maintains the hearty texture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or smoked gouda to add unique flavor complexity.
- Use gluten-free macaroni to make this recipe celiac-friendly without compromising taste or texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg