One Pot Chili Mac

One Pot Chili Mac combines the flavors of chili with the creamy goodness of macaroni – all made in one pot for easy prep and cleanup!

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When it comes to comfort food, few dishes match the satisfaction of a hearty bowl of chili. But what if you could take that cozy chili flavor and combine it with the comforting warmth of macaroni and cheese, all in one pot? Enter: One Pot Chili Mac. This dish is not only delicious but also incredibly convenient, requiring minimal cleanup and utilizing simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

How to Make Chili Mac

This one pot recipe comes together in a snap. For the full recipe, including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. Cook the sausage and onion. Sauté until the sausage is lightly browned and the peppers and onions are soft. About 5 minutes.
2. Make the sauce. Add in tomato paste and Better than Bouillon and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in beef broth, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and seasonings. Stir in uncooked pasta.
3. Cook the pasta. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and the sauce has thickened. 
4. Add the cheese. Allow it to melt for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired and serve.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat the portion you plan to eat in the microwave or in a small skillet over low heat until heated through. You can also freeze chili mac! Store in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

Tips and Tricks

• Shred your own cheese from a block. It will melt and taste so much better than pre-shredded cheese that is covered in preservatives.
• Add Some Heat: If you like your chili mac spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to kick up the heat.
• Use ground beef. If you have ground beef on hand and no sausage, swap the Kielbasa for one pound of ground beef.
• Serve the chili mac hot. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread on the side for soaking up every last bit of flavor.
• Double the Batch: This recipe is great for meal prep or feeding a crowd. Consider doubling the ingredients and freezing individual portions for quick and easy meals later on.

Other One Pot Recipes

• One-Pot Pasta Bolognese
• One Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice
• One Pot Taco Spaghetti

If you make this one pot chili mac or any of my other recipes, let me know what you think! I love hearing from you!

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One Pot Chili Mac

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One-Pot Chili Mac combines the flavors of chili with the creamy goodness of macaroni, all cooked together in one pot for easy prep and cleanup!

Course Main CourseCuisine AmericanKeyword Chili, macaroni

Prep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 13.5 ounces Kielbasa cut into half-moons
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 1 tablespoon double concentrated tomato paste (or 2 tablespoons regular tomato paste)
• 1 teaspoon better than bouillon (or 1-2 beef bouillon cubes)
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 cans kidney beans in mild chili sauce
• 14.5 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons smokey paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 pound uncooked macaroni
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• Chopped green onion for garnish

Instructions

• In a large, deep skillet or stock pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add in sausage and onion, and sauté until the sausage is lightly browned and the peppers and onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add in tomato paste and Better than Bouillon and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in beef broth, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and seasonings. Stir in uncooked pasta.
• Bring the mixture to a boil (it will take about 10 minutes to bring it to a boil), cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and the sauce has thickened. Sauce will continue to thicken after resting for 5-10 minutes.
• Top with cheese, cover, and allow the cheese to melt for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired and serve.

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