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The Best Chili Mac Recipe

The Best Chili Mac Recipe
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4.7 from 17 reviews

This Chili Mac and Cheese recipe combines hearty homemade chili with creamy macaroni and cheese for a delicious meal mashup that’s perfect for dinner, potlucks, or game day!

Ingredients

Chili

  • 1 lbs. ground beef 80% lean
  • 1 small onion diced
  • ½ cup bell pepper diced
  • 3 cloves garlic diced
  • 1.25 oz. packet chili seasoning mix (see notes for homemade seasoning)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes undrained
  • ½ cup chicken broth (can sub beef broth)
  • 1 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained

Mac and Cheese

  • 2 cups macaroni uncooked
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon each: salt/pepper
  • ½ teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded

For Baking

  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • Fresh Parsley to garnish

Instructions

  1. Make the Chili – Cook and crumble the ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Add seasoning, tomato paste, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and broth. Simmer and add kidney beans.
  2. Make the Mac and Cheese – Preheat oven. Boil macaroni, then make cheese sauce. Combine cooked macaroni with cheese sauce.
  3. Combine the Chili & Macaroni – Add chili to macaroni and gently stir to combine.
  4. Bake – Top with cheddar cheese and bake until melted. Garnish with parsley and serve!

Notes

  • Shred cheese from a block for better taste. Monterey Jack is a nice addition to cheddar.
  • Beans in chili can be omitted or replaced with black beans. Hot sauce in mac and cheese is for flavor enhancement.
  • Cornbread makes an excellent side dish. Find this recipe in the Let’s Eat! cookbook.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/the-best-chili-mac-recipe/