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.

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.

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…

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?

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

Now, go get up on them carbs!

Print Recipe

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.

Yield: 4 servings

Total Time: 35 minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

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.

All images and text ©One Sweet Mess.

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