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Home » Recipe Index » Weeknight Winners

One-Pot Chili Mac

Published: May 11, 2025 by Kris Longwell · This post may contain affiliate links

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A large serving spoon being used to raise a serving of one-pot chili mac from a skillet of the dish with melty cheese stretching from the spoon into the skillet.
A fork being used to lift a bite of one-pot chili mac from a bowl filled with chili mac

One-Pot Chili Mac is deliciously hearty and nostalgic, bringing comforting flavors that remind you of home-cooked meals. It’s incredibly easy to prepare, making it the perfect dish to serve to the family alongside warm, homemade cornbread.

A skillet filled with one-pot chili mac with a layer of melted cheddar cheese over the the surface with colorful checkered napkins near the pan and two glasses of iced tea nearby.
Jump to:
  • 🧀 The Ingredients
  • 🥫Substitutions and Variations
  • 👩🏼‍🍳 How To Make One-Pot Chili Mac
  • 🍽️ How To Serve, Store, and Reheat
  • 🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
  • 🥘 Other Delicious Weeknight Recipes
  • One-Pot Chili Mac

🧀 The Ingredients

The simple ingredients in this one-pot wonder combine effortlessly to create a warm, comforting dish that everyone will crave. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.

An arrangement of ingredients for chili mac on a wooden background including ground beef, seasonings, tomatoes, macaroni, peppers, and onions.

🥫Substitutions and Variations

  • Meat – Ground beef is traditional, but you could substitute ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken with excellent results. You could even make it meatless using our Veggie and Black Bean Chili.
  • Tomatoes – We love the addition of fire-roasted tomatoes, but if you don’t like chunky tomatoes, you can go with all tomato sauce, or purée the tomatoes before adding them to the chili.
  • Seasonings – We get our chili powder from Penderey’s (Fort Worth). They ship their products throughout North America. For an additional depth of flavor, add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Be sure to do a taste test before serving, you may need to add a little more salt.
  • Peppers – Feel free to use your favorite type of peppers. Bell peppers are not spicy, and they add color and depth of flavor. You can substitute pickled (nacho) jalapeños for the fresh, or just omit them. When you remove the seeds, they are mild.

See the recipe card (with video) below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Expert Tip

You will notice the chili is thin (not thick) before adding the macaroni. This is normal. As the macaroni absorbs the liquid as it cooks, the mixture will thicken. It will be somewhat “saucy” but not runny.

👩🏼‍🍳 How To Make One-Pot Chili Mac

A person dumping minced garlic from a small white bowl into a skillet filled with sautéed diced onions, orange bell pepper, and jalapeño.
  1. Step 1: Sauté the onions and pepper in the oil until soft, and then stir in the garlic.
A person dumping chili powder and ground cumin from a small bowl into a skillet filled with cooked ground beef and sautéed chopped onions and peppers.
  1. Step 2: Add the ground beef, cook until no longer pink, remove the excess grease, and stir in the seasonings.
A person pouring beef broth from a large glass measuring cup into a skillet filled with cooked ground beef, vegetables, chopped tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
  1. Step 3: Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth.
A person dumping uncooked macaroni from a large white bowl into a skillet filled with a simmering tomato and beef sauce.
  1. Step 4: Bring to a simmer and then stir in the macaroni.
A person dumping grated cheddar cheese from a glass bowl into a large skillet filled with beef chili and cooked macaroni.
  1. Step 5: Once the pasta is soft, stir in half of the cheese (about 1½ cups).
A person sprinkling shredded cheddar cheese over the surface of chili mac in a large skillet.
  1. Step 6: Top with the remaining cheese, then cover and wait until the cheese has melted, and serve at once!

Expert Tip

We recommend purchasing a block of cheese (8 oz) and shredding it with a box grater on the shredding attachment on your food processor. Bagged shredded cheese is fine, but anti-caking additives are included, resulting in a less creamy, cheesy sauce.

🍽️ How To Serve, Store, and Reheat

  • This dish is filling and satisfying on its own. We love to serve this with homemade cornbread for a complete meal. Toppings that you would normally serve with chili are all great garnishes, such as chopped onion, chopped fresh cilantro, and sour cream.
  • Store leftovers in an air-tight container with a lid in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Chili Mac reheats wonderfully on the stove over medium heat. Add another splash or two of broth or water to loosen up the sauce.

🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make One-Pot Chili Mac ahead of time and reheat it later?

Yes, chili mac can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; simply reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth (or water) if it seems too thick.

What type of pasta works best for One-Pot Chili Mac?

Elbow macaroni is the classic choice for chili mac because its shape holds the sauce well, but small pasta shapes like shells or rotini also work great.

Can I make Chili Mac vegetarian or vegan?

Absolutely! You can substitute the ground meat with plant-based protein like lentils, beans, or meat alternatives, and use vegetable broth along with dairy-free cheese or omit cheese to make a vegan version.

A bowl of One-Pot Chili Mac sitting net to an orange checkered napkin with a glass of iced tea and a skillet of the chili mac in the background.

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Ready to make a dish that the whole family will be requesting time and time again? Go for it!

And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!

A white bowl filled with a serving of one-pot chili mac with a gold fork inserted into the side of the food.

One-Pot Chili Mac

One-Pot Chili Mac is the perfect comfort dish that comes together in about 30 minutes. Savory chili mixed with tender macaroni and melty cheese. Kids and adults will be requesting this time and time again!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 675kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Video

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet or pot at least 3 inches deep

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 1 bell pepper red, yellow, or green, seeded and chopped
  • 1 jalapeño stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth or stock
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups cheddar cheese grated, divided
  • ¼ cup cilantro fresh, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and jalapeño, and sauté until soft, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
    2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 jalapeño, 3 cloves garlic
  • Add the ground beef, breaking up with a wooden spoon, and cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Spoon out most of the grease and discard it safely.
    1 lb ground beef
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring often. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth and bring to a strong simmer.
    2 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1½ teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes, 1 8 oz can tomato sauce, 3 cups beef broth
  • Stir in the macaroni. Turn the heat to low and cover. Cook until al dente, usually about 10 minutes. Remove the lid and stir. The sauce should not be runny, but still "saucy." Turn the heat off.
    2 cups elbow macaroni
  • Stir in half of the cheese (1½ cups) until melted. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Place the lid back on the pan and let rest for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top has melted.
    3 cups cheddar cheese
  • Serve at once with chopped cilantro, if desired.
    ¼ cup cilantro

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video near the top of the recipe for visual guidance.
Ground turkey is a great substitute for ground beef. Ground chicken can be used, too. 
Diced tomatoes can be substituted for fire-roasted. If you don’t like chunky tomatoes, you can purée them, or substitute the diced tomatoes with tomato sauce (you would need 1 14-ounce can and 1 8-oz can). 
Leftovers will keep in an air-tight container with a lid for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove over medium heat with a couple of splashes of broth or water. 

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 842mg | Potassium: 582mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2060IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 458mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

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Comments

  1. Wes says

    May 16, 2025 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    Talk about a cheesy pot of gold! This is a one-pot delight.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      May 16, 2025 at 1:53 pm

      Woo hoo!!!!

      Reply
5 from 1 vote

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