One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
October 4, 2022
Easy one-pot chili mac and cheese without beans is a quick and easy dinner for the family. A mash-up between two beloved kid recipes: Chili con carne y Mac and cheese served with crispy tortilla chips.
This one-pot chili mac and cheese without Beans recipe will be a treat for your kids! Plus, it’s easy to make, and the kids can use the tortilla chips as a spoon. I’ve cut the black beans from the traditional Chili con Carne recipe and added some green peas and carrots for extra veggies. Another alternative for some extra veggies would be sweet corn. Both variations bring a tad of sweetness to the dish.
Spicy?
I’ve toned down the spice factor to make this Chili Mac and Cheese kid-friendly, but if you want to kick it up a notch, add a bit of cayenne powder. For the kid’s sake, I’ve used Chipotle powder which is way milder than the actual pepper or paste, so don’t be scared of it. If you don’t find it in your supermarket, get it online here. As for paprika, I chose the sweet type to make the Chipotle burst with aroma.
The Toppings
As for the toppings, the tortilla chips are fantastic. The kids can scoop up their Chili Mac and cheese with it, make sandwiches or crumble the chips over the dish for some crunch! The cheese depends on your taste. Of course, gouda or soft cheddar is great for kids, but maybe the grown-ups would prefer a more robust cheese like aged cheddar or gruyere—an enjoyable dish for the whole family. For heat lovers, add a lovely hot pepper sauce of your choice to the table!
Other Pasta Dishes
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 big pan, over medium high heat, cook the onions in olive oil until soft, 3-4 min.
- Add the meat, garlic and spices, mix and stir well until cooked.
- Add the broth, tomato pulp and pasta and let it simmer until the macaroni is cooked, around 8-10 minutes.
- Stop the heat, add the evaporated milk, and stir well.
Notes
Nutrition
12 Comments
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BerniceYou 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!
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Vanessa
What a great family friendly recipe! It was easy to make and the kids were happy with dinner too!
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Kristen
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!
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Terri
This looks like such a great hybrid! And I love the idea of chipotle pepper powder – I’ll be checking that out!
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nancy
what a tasty combo of chili and mac and cheese. it was super delicious and was an instant hit at home!
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This chili mac & cheese looks delicious for kids and adults, too. A perfect weeknight dinner.