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A bite of chili mac on a spoon.
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5 from 1 vote

One Pot Chili Mac (30 Minute Dinner!)

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!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 638kcal
Author: Misty

Equipment

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

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.
 
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1202mg | Potassium: 590mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1013IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 361mg | Iron: 4mg
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