Beefy Chili Cheese Mac
Beefy chili cheese mac is guaranteed to have everyone running to the table and begging for seconds? And of course it does since it features a combination of our favorite things: mac and cheese, chili, meat, and more cheese! Now that’s something to be excited for!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details.
I’ve also found it’s easiest to get my sons to share tidbits of their days if they’re around the dinner table and eating a favorite family meal.
Something about a big old helping of your favorite comfort food and everybody’s enjoying a case of the warm and fuzzies and is so much more likely to tell me what’s going on with them.
Beefy chili cheese mac is one of my favorite meals for just this reason.
It gets everybody excited for a family meal and it gets everyone talking- between big bites that is!
Pasta, beef, and cheese come together in one delightful comforting dish that is quick and easy to make and gets everyone gathered around the family table!
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Olive oil– To cook the beef in
- Ground beef– Go for a leaner package of ground beef so it doesn’t cook down too much or get too greasy
- Aromatics– Minced garlic and diced white onion
- Flour– To thicken it
- Spices– Chili powder, smoked paprika, and dried oregano
- Beef broth– Don’t substitute with vegetable broth or chicken broth
- Noodles– Elbow macaroni or small shells
- Cheese– Shredded sharp cheddar
How to Make
This beefy chili cheese mac is so easy to make!
To do it, heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
Brown the ground beef in the hot oil, breaking it up as it cooks.
Once the meat is completely browned, strain off any excess grease and then return the beef to the pot.
At this point, stir in the onions and garlic and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the onions are tender and becoming translucent.
Then stir in the flour, stirring constantly while it cooks and incorporates into the mixture.
Stir in the spices, sauce, and broth, working a sturdy spoon against the bottom of the pot to deglaze it.
Then stir in the pasta and put the lid on the pot, letting the mixture come to a simmer.
Once it comes to a simmer, turn the heat down to low and stir the pasta.
Let the mixture simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 15 minutes or until the noodles have absorbed the liquid.
Remove the dutch oven from heat and stir in the cheese.
Serve topped with extra shredded cheddar, if desired.
Enjoy!
Topping Ideas
Part of the fun of this beefy chili mac is topping it with your favorite chili toppings like:
- a dollop of sour cream
- guacamole
- diced jalapenos
- chopped red onions
- cilantro
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- You could up the veggie factor by adding in a can of drained kidney or black beans and/or chopped bell peppers.
- No one would argue if you added more than a cup of cheese!
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your tastes.
Other Easy Pasta Recipes
Beefy chili cheese mac is a fantastic blend of chili, saucy pasta, and cheese.
Make it and get everyone running to the table!
Looking for other easy pasta recipes?
Try these:
- Cheesy Mexican Chicken Spaghetti
- Two Timin Pasta
- Cheesy Riggis Pasta With Ham
- Cheeseburger Macaroni Pasta
- Grandma’s American Goulash
If you’ve tried this BEEFY CHILI CHEESE MAC, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Beefy Chili Cheese Mac
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups uncooked elbow noodles
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Instructions
- Add the oil to a dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Add in the ground beef and brown, breaking up as it cooks. Once completely browned, strain the meat and then return it to the pot.1 tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef
- Stir in the onions and garlic, cooking another 3-4 minutes- just until the onions are tender and becoming translucent.1 small white onion, diced, 2 tsp minced garlic
- Stir in the flour, and continue to stir constantly while cooking, for one minute- to cook out the 'floury' taste.2 tbsp flour
- Add in the spices, sauce, and broth- stirring to deglaze the pot. Stir in the pasta and put the lid on the pot. After a couple minutes, check that the mixture has come to a simmer.1 tbsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 8 oz can tomato sauce, 2 cups beef broth, 2 cups uncooked elbow noodles
- Reduce the heat to low, stir the pasta and replace the lid. Allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 15 minutes- or until the noodles have absorbed the liquid.
- Remove the dutch oven from heat and stir in the cheese. Serve the chili mac topped with extra shredded cheddar, if desired.1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Notes
- You could up the veggie factor by adding in a can of drained kidney or black beans and/or chopped bell peppers.
- No one would argue if you added more than a cup of cheese!
- Adjust the seasoning to suit your tastes.
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Budget Bytes
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details. As always, all opinions are my own.
I bet your family loves that cheesey goodness! Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday.
This looks very inviting! Your pics make my want to dive right in and grab a spoonful. Happy FF!
We made this last week and it was sooo good!
So glad you guys enjoyed it as much as we do, Ashley. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback- it’s greatly appreciated!!
My family absolutely loves this recipe. I want to make this at an office party in my crock-pot. Could you do this recipe in a crock-pot and if so would anything need to be modified?
Bland. I might have given one extra star if you’d have skipped the family story. Bloggers don’t understand we just come for the recipe. No one cares about the 20 scrolled pages about your kids. Post recipe first and then add your “charming anecdote”. 🙄
That’s nice. Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me that! I’m so happy you were able to find a free recipe on a website to try. Both of those things cost money. Blame Google, not ‘blogger’s, for length of content requirements and the ads needed to pay for the fees associated with running a website and recipe testing. A little scrolling never hurt anyone- oh, and in case you missed it (sounds like you did)- for my readers’ convenience I have a handy little ‘jump to recipe’ button at the top of every post. A single click will instantly take you straight to the recipe, even at a loss of income to myself. Have a great day!
That was not very nice of Dh to say those things! There’s no reason for people to be rude or unkind! If you can’t say something nice then you should keep your opinions to your self Dh! All you had to do was taste as you season and if you think you should add something more then do it!
Haha, DH, Did you make the recipe? Did it taste as good as the foot you just ate?
I added just a touch of cumin cause I like it lol but super yummy recipe!!
Hot dignity this was good! Wouldn’t change a thing about this recipe. Thank you for posting this free recipe and the “charming anecdote”. Don’t know how I would think of things to make without you bloggers. I know how to cook, I’m not a cook.
So glad you liked it Lucas, and thank you so much for the kind words. Hope you can find many more recipes on our site to enjoy!
My go to recipe – however I substitute the cheddar cheese with Velveeta. Always a crowd pleaser!
Velveeta would definitely make it creamier. Thanks for the suggestion!