One Pot Chili Mac is the ultimate 30-minute dinner for your next menu plan! It's a one pan dinner recipe made with affordable ingredients, including ground beef, crushed tomatoes, pasta, and spices. Stir in some shredded cheese at the end for that irresistible creamy finish!
This meal is hearty, comforting, and loved by kids and adults alike. Plus it's super quick to clean up and even leftovers will be eaten happily.
We love serving this classic Carroll Shelby Chili in the fall, but that dish shines the most when you can cook it low and slow...
When we want to serve a fast and easy dinner with the same comfort food vibes, this recipe is an excellent option! It feels casual yet delicious, which also makes it an awesome option for serving to a group as part of your Game Day Recipes!
Skip to:
Why this easy recipe is worth making
- It is completely finished in 30 minutes or less!
- It's hearty and filling.
- It's packed with bold flavors thanks to the simple technique of heating the spices in the warm pot.
- It's truly budget-friendly, with the most affordable meat and pantry-staples.
Ingredients for simple chili mac recipe
You'll need a few pantry staples, spices, and meat - that's really it! Full quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Olive oil: You can substitute with avocado oil.
- Lean ground beef: I usually use 90/10. If you use a fattier beef, you will just have more liquid to drain before adding the spices.
- Onion: You can use a yellow or sweet onion for this. This vegetable chopper makes quick work of the dicing.
- Garlic: Buy it pre-minced to save time.
- Spices: You'll need chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, paprika (regular or smoked), cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and ground black pepper
- Crushed tomatoes: Pick your favorite brand! We often use Cento.
- Beef broth: I typically use a carton, but you can also use beef bouillon and warm water. Chicken broth can be used for a lighter flavor.
- Pasta: My favorite choice is elbow macaroni noodles, but see the "Variations" section below for more options.
- Colby jack cheese: Absolutely nothing tastes better than buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself. I highly recommend it! Tillamook is our go-to brand, but use your favorite.
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make one pot chili mac
Before you start, I suggest grabbing all your ingredients so you're ready to go. You can also dice the onion before heating the pot.
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook this mixture until the meat is brown and no pink remains. As you do, break it very thoroughly into small crumbles.
Once the meat is cooked through, drain off any excess liquid from the pot.
Then add the spices and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring well for 30 seconds. This will develop extra flavor.
Next, add the tomatoes and stir well. Then pour in the broth and uncooked macaroni.
Cover the pot and bring it to a simmer. Continue to cook for 10 minutes, covered, until the noodles are just tender (al dente).
Remove the pot from the heat as soon as the noodles are tender. Then add the shredded cheese and stir well.
It will be saucy at first, but don't worry! Give it just a couple minutes to cool while you grab everyone for dinner. It will thicken by the time you serve. Enjoy!
Variations
- Use a tablespoon of onion powder instead of onion to make this a no-chop meal.
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken for a less meaty flavor.
- Swap the macaroni for a different short-cut pasta, like small shells, bowties (farfalle), or corkscrews (fusilli). You may need to slightly adjust the cooking time based on the size of the noodle.
- Try pepper jack or cheddar cheese to switch up the flavor.
- Add a can of your favorite black or pinto beans.
- Add a small can of diced green chilis.
What to serve with chili mac
Honestly, I usually make this when I want a one-and-done dinner with no need for extra sides. But if you want to serve something on the side, here are a few ideas!
- Homemade Cornbread
- Cornmeal Drop Biscuits Recipe (easier than cornbread!)
- Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
- Coleslaw with Apples or creamy Coleslaw Dressing
- Simple Romaine Salad Recipe
- Fresh fruit or Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Make ahead notes
My first choice is always to serve this recipe fresh, but there are two prep ahead options that will work if needed. First, you can make it start to finish and store in the fridge for 2-3 days, then reheat it on the stove over med-low heat when ready to serve. When you originally make it, take the pan off the heat when the noodles are still just a bit firm, since the reheating process will finish cooking them.
The second option is to make the recipe through step 2, then store that meat mixture in the fridge for 2-3 days. When you're ready to finish the dish, reheat the meat in a pot on the stove, then continue with step 3 of the instructions as written.
FAQs
Leftover chili mac reheats well and makes a great lunch the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave (covered with a damp paper towel or microwave cover to avoid a mess). You can even add a little fresh cheese to jazz it up.
If your noodles are soggy, it simply means you cooked them a bit too long. They will be trapped in the warm pan for awhile, so make sure to take the pan off the heat as soon as the noodles have just softened.
This recipe is nice and saucy when it is first finished, but that's a good thing! Noodles are absorbent and will continue to soak up the sauce, which means that it will have the perfect texture after it cools for a few minutes.
These are similar style dishes, but the seasonings in chili mac are classic midwest flavors while goulash is generally flavored with Italian spices instead.
Tips & tricks
- Make sure to really break up the meat into bite-sized pieces for the best texture.
- When draining the excess liquids, I find it easiest to tilt the pot forward, then use tongs gripping paper towels to soak up the liquids.
- To avoid mushy noodles, pull the pan off the heat as soon as the pasta is al dente. It will continue cooking slightly as you prepare to serve.
More one pot pasta recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
This post was photographed by Rhadonda Sedgwick.
Recipe
One Pot Chili Mac (30 Minute Dinner!)
Equipment
- large pot or dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef (We use 90/10 or close to that)
- 1 medium onion diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced (about 2 large cloves)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- ½ - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, adjust to preferred spice)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 (28 oz) ounce crushed tomatoes
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cups macaroni noodles (about ½ pound)
- 2 cups Colby jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and allow to get hot. Add in the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook until the meat is brown in color and no pink remains, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks. Drain off any excess liquid.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 ½ lbs ground beef, 1 medium onion, 1 tablespoon garlic
- Return the pot to medium heat and add the spices, stirring for 30 seconds.1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Add in the tomatoes and stir well. Then pour in the broth and noodles. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, covered, until the noodles are just tender (al dente), then remove from the heat.1 (28 oz) ounce crushed tomatoes, 3 cups beef broth, 2 cups macaroni noodles
- Remove the lid and stir in the cheese. It will be deliciously saucy at first - don't worry! By the time you serve it will have thickened. Enjoy!2 cups Colby jack cheese
Notes
- Make sure to really break up the meat into bite sized pieces for the best texture.
- When draining the excess liquids, I find it easiest to tilt the pot forward, then use tongs gripping paper towels to soak up the liquids.
- To avoid mushy noodles, pull the pan off the heat as soon as the pasta is al dente. It will continue cooking slightly as you prepare to serve.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Misty says
This recipe is super quick, easy, and delicious!