One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese without Beans
This One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese, bean-free and packed with green peas, is a quick and easy family dinner. Top it off with crunchy tortilla chips for a fun and delicious scoopable twist!
This One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese recipe is a kid-friendly delight! It’s super easy to whip up, and little ones will love using tortilla chips as edible spoons. Instead of traditional black beans, I’ve mixed green peas and carrots for a veggie boost. You can also swap in sweet corn for even more veggies, adding a sweetness that pairs perfectly with the mildly spiced and smoky Chipotle seasoning.
Spicy?
I’ve toned down the spice to keep this Chili Mac and Cheese kid-friendly, but if you’re craving extra heat, feel free to sprinkle in some cayenne or hot chili powder. I used Chipotle powder for a milder touch, which has a gentler kick than the pepper in adobo, so there’s no need to worry. You can easily find it online if it’s unavailable at your store. As for the paprika, I chose the sweet kind to complement the aromatic Chipotle flavour.
The Toppings
- Tortilla chips make the perfect topping for this dish! Kids can scoop up their food with them, or you can crumble chips over for extra crunch or even make mini sandwiches.
- Regarding cheese, pick what suits your taste—Gouda or soft cheddar works great for kids, while grown-ups might enjoy a bolder flavour like aged cheddar or Gruyere.
- Have a hot chilli sauce ready at the table for those who love heat!
- Scallions and Cilantro for the grown-ups for extra fresh notes.
One Pot Chilli Mac & Cheese without Beans
Ingredients
- 750 ml chicken broth
- 400 g minced beef
- 250 g macaroni
- 150 g frozen sweet peas
- 2 onions
- 2 carrots
- 400 ml tomato paste
- 200 ml evaporated milk
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
The spice mix
- 2 tbsp Chipotle pepper powder
- 1 tbsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large pan, cook the onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until soft, 3-4 minutes.
- Add the meat, garlic and spices, mix and stir well until cooked.
- Add the broth, tomato pulp, and pasta and let simmer until the macaroni is cooked, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stop the heat, add the evaporated milk, and stir well.
Notes
Nutrition
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Did You Make This Recipe?
Share your thoughts on it! Leave a comment or share a picture and tag me @littlenomadsrecipes on Instagram.
This chili mac & cheese looks delicious for kids and adults, too. A perfect weeknight dinner.
Yes! Fast and easy one pot meal!
You just reminded me of how my mom used to make the second night of chili stretch by adding cooked macaroni to it. By strange coincidence, I have a container of leftover chili (from Halloween night) that isn’t enough dinner for the two of us. Dinner dilemma solved!
Solved! Glad I could help with this dilemma!
What a great family friendly recipe! It was easy to make and the kids were happy with dinner too!
Easy breezy and kid friendly is our moto!
This reminds me of a dish I used to have as a kid and I am so excited to make it again. Thanks for sharing this recipe, even the kids love it!
Glad you guys liked it!
This looks like such a great hybrid! And I love the idea of chipotle pepper powder – I’ll be checking that out!
Yeah, Chipotle powder is way softer than the paste or pepper.
what a tasty combo of chili and mac and cheese. it was super delicious and was an instant hit at home!
Great to hear that!