One-Pot Chili Mac

Tender beef, extra gooey cheese, and pasta all in one dish. This One-Pot Chili Mac is loaded with bold flavor and comes together in one skillet for an easy weeknight meal.

One Pot Chili Mac | Tender beef, gooey cheese, and pasta in one easy weeknight dish.

I was originally going to post a fall-inspired cocktail today, but then the doom and gloom moved in. It’s humid, rainy, and way too dark outside for a typical fall morning. With cloud-covered skies comes laziness. They naturally go hand-in-hand.

One Pot Chili Mac | Tender beef, gooey cheese, and pasta in one easy weeknight dish.

It’s too dark to capture good-quality photos, so I’ve taken to the couch and am currently binge watching Downton Abbey. Can we talk about Violet Crawley, the Countess of Grantham and Grandmother, for a second? Is she not by far the best character on the show? I aspire to be like her one day. And the clothes…absolutely exquisite! I’m definitely living in the wrong era.

Moving on…

One Pot Chili Mac | Tender beef, gooey cheese, and pasta in one easy weeknight dish.

Whilst glaring at the television screen, I’ve also been shoveling this One-Pot Chili Mac into my face. It’s everything a weeknight meal should be: easy, accessible, big on flavor, and very little clean-up.

Also, carbs and cheese. Tell me that isn’t the best combination on the face of the planet?

One Pot Chili Mac | Tender beef, gooey cheese, and pasta in one easy weeknight dish.

How can one say no to carbs and cheese, am I right? Of course I am

One Pot Chili Mac | Tender beef, gooey cheese, and pasta in one easy weeknight dish.

Now, go get up on them carbs!

One-Pot Chili Mac

Tender beef, extra gooey cheese, and pasta all in one dish. This One-Pot Chili Mac is loaded with bold flavor and comes together in one skillet for an easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 and 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with chiles
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8 ounces dried macaroni pasta
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • chopped cilantro for topping

Directions:

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, green pepper, red pepper, jalapeno to the pan; cook, stirring often, until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the pan and cook for an additional 1 minute.
  2. Add the ground beef to the pan; cook, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until brown and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika to the pan; stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Cover the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 12-13 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the cheese; stir until all the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with cilantro.
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