Chili Mac, Cheesy Chili And Macaroni Casserole

A simple combination of dynamic flavors for a tasty, Cheesy Chili Mac recipe the whole family will love. Tender macaroni bathed in flavorful homemade chili and smothered in bubbly melty cheese. Hello, delicious!

We’ll take a chili or pasta dish around here any way we can! Check out these yummy dishes and shake up your dinner routine: Smoked Sausage & Roasted Red Pepper Fettuccini, Creamy Taco Chili, Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese, or One-Pot Lemon Artichoke Pasta.

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Why Cheesy Chili Mac Is Love At First Bite!

Once chili season starts, it’s fun to find dishes that incorporate this hearty, protein-rich, and satisfying “meat and bean stew” into a different type of meal. Cheesy chili mac is a nutritious and satisfying mouthful of happiness with the robust combination of two comfort foods in one dish!

• Chili mac is an excellent one-pot meal. Fewer dishes and more flavor.
• A simple and flavor-packed saute, simmer and savor chili mac recipe. 
• Chili mac and cheese is a tasty dish everyone will enjoy.
• Easily customizable with various toppings.

Chili Cheese Mac Ingredients

For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Elbow Macaroni Pasta – cooked al dente and drained
• Olive Oil 
• Yellow Onion – Diced 
• Garlic Cloves – minced
• Ground Beef – for the most flavor, it’s always better to use a higher fat content of 80/20 beef for chili or a chili mac recipe.    
• Kidney Beans – I use Bush’s chili beans in mild chili sauce.
• Crushed Tomatoes – my go-to is fire-roasted crushed tomatoes for the sweet, smoky notes.
• Tomato Sauce
• Chili Seasoning Packet – or 4-5 tablespoons of easy homemade chili seasoning.
• Cocoa Powder – unsweetened, of course; dark cocoa will add deeper, smokier notes than lighter cocoa.
• Cheddar Cheese – shredded block cheese is the best for flavor and melting without anti-caking stuff added. But, hey, sometimes a pre-shredded cheese is just gonna have to suffice! ?
• Mozzarella Cheese – shredded mozzarella is typically low moisture, so no problem. If you opt to grate your own, you definitely want a low-moisture block for melting. Fresh Mozza only partially melts and releases a lot of water! 
• Toppings: Jalapeños, Chopped Cilantro, And Sour Cream

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How To Make Cheesy Chili And Macaroni Casserole

This chili goes in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese, so you’re going to need an oven-proof pot, like a dutch oven.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Start with olive oil, diced onions, and minced garlic; add and brown the ground beef.
2. Stir chili beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning mix, and cocoa powder into the pot, cover, and simmer. 
3. Meanwhile, cook and drain the pasta, then combine it with chili.
4. Top chili mac with cheese and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling. 
5. Serve chili mac hot with sliced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, sour cream, or any of your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Bush’s beans come in a chili sauce, which is why I love their chili beans! All that flavorful sauce goes right in the pot with the beans (do not drain).
• If you use regular kidney beans or any bean not canned in chili sauce, drain them for this chili mac recipe.
• Cocoa powder is optional, but if you’ve never added unsweetened cocoa to a chili mac recipe, I highly recommend it!
• You can substitute any ground meat you prefer: like chicken, pork, or turkey, for example.
• Need the heat? Add dried pepper flakes, green chiles, pepper jack cheese, or cayenne pepper.
• Watching calories or dairy? I’ve been known to skip the cheese and simply serve the chili over pasta! 
• Kick your chili mac recipe up a notch by adding banana pepper rings right before broiling. The acid in the pepper juice adds tang and brightens the cheesy, savory elements in a cheesy chili mac.

How To Store Cheesy Chili And Macaroni Casserole

Refrigerate/Leftovers

Cheesy chili mac lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. Leftovers are great for a filling lunch and can be frozen and portioned into individual servings.

Freeze

Chili mac can be frozen in airtight glass containers for easy reheating in the microwave. The recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months. Pull the chili the night before and thaw it in the fridge.

Reheat

Reheat chili mac and cheese in the oven or the microwave. If the pasta has absorbed all the moisture, you can drizzle it with broth, water, cream, olive oil, or butter pats. Cover it with foil for the oven or plastic wrap for the microwave.

What Type Of Canned Beans Are Best For Chili?

In a perfect world, the best beans for chili are the beans you like and enjoy in your “meat and bean stew.” The dark red kidney bean is traditionally the most popular for its durability in a long-cooking chili. Although plenty of pinto bean enthusiasts would beg to differ. There are many opinions about the best type of bean for chili. So, let’s explore a few options for those with no hard preference.

Kidney Beans:

Dark red, light red, pink, and white kidney beans are ideal for chili because of their versatility. The hearty kidney-shaped legumes have a smooth, creamy center and easily take on the flavors and spices of your recipe.

Dark red kidney beans can be thrown into the chili pot from the beginning. The lighter color kidney beans are excellent when added to chili in the last 20-30 minutes of simmering time. This quick and easy chili mac recipe can use any kidney bean variety.

Chili Beans:

Commercially canned “chili beans” are conveniently packaged with a flavored sauce that usually includes: tomato puree, oil, onion, and garlic powder. Chili beans make quick work of pulling together a chili mac recipe. You can find cans of “chili beans” as red beans, pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, or a combination of kidney and pinto beans.

Brown Beans:

Brown beans aka Pinto beans are a great alternative to kidney beans in chili recipes. They have a creamy texture with an earthy, nutty finish.

White Beans:

Cannellini beans are a great addition to any white chili recipe. They have a mild flavor, so they will not overpower the other flavors in your chili

White beans can break down if cooked too long. Navy beans are the softest and mush up quickly, a favorite if I want to “thicken” something.

Cheesy chili mac goes great with a Simple Italian Salad and cornbread or Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread. Throw in a Beergarita (or three) for the grown-ups and Strawberry Lemonade for the littles.

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