Chili Mac and Cheese {Skillet Meal}

Name: Chili Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: For the chili:; 2 cups uncooked elbow pasta; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 yellow onion, diced; 2 tomatoes, diced (or 1 15-oz can whole tomatoes, drained and diced); 1 pound ground beef; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups whole milk; 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheese, either a Mexican cheese blend (see Recipe Note) or cheddar; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; For the breadcrumbs:; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

14 Creamiest and Dreamiest Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipes

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Mac and Cheese + Chili

Who can resist two favorite comfort foods combined into one?

This recipe pairs cheesy goodness of macaroni and cheese with the onions, tomatoes, and spiced ground beef of a pot of beef chili. The result is the ideal meal to keep you warm on a chilly night.

Beef Chili Mac and Cheese — Aaron Hutcherson

The Chili Mac Sauce

For the sauce, I used a Mexican cheese blend that consists of Monterey jack, cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla cheeses, but a sauce made with just cheddar cheese would work just as well in this recipe.

The chili mixture is mild in terms of the spice level, so heat seekers might want to add in some crushed red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño.

Tasty Skillet Recipe

I’d also recommend using a large skillet to cook the beef and vegetables. That way, you can also use it to bake the macaroni and save yourself from dirtying one more dish. Score!

Just before it goes in the oven, top the macaroni with buttery, spiced breadcrumbs and bake until golden and bubbling. The sizzling cheese will work better than any dinner bell to bring friends and family to the table.

More Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

Chili Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Servings 6 to 8 servings

I used a Mexican cheese blend with Monterey jack, cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla cheeses.

For the chili:

2 cups uncooked elbow pasta
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tomatoes, diced (or 1 15-oz can whole tomatoes, drained and diced)
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheese, either a Mexican cheese blend (see Recipe Note) or cheddar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard

For the breadcrumbs:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Cook the pasta:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Make the chili:

Heat the oil in a large (12-inch) oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they have broken down slightly and some of the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes more.

Add the ground beef, black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, and 1 tablespoon salt to the onion-tomato mixture. Cook, breaking up the ground beef with a wooden spoon, until brown and fully cooked, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

Aaron Hutcherson

Aaron Hutcherson

Aaron Hutcherson
Make the cheese sauce:

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until bubbly and slightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

Slowly whisk the milk into the butter-flour mixture. At first, the mixture will seize up and look crumbly, but will smooth out as you keep adding milk and whisking.

Once all the milk is added, bring to a simmer. Whisk frequently and scrape along the bottom of the pan, so it doesn't burn.

Cook until the sauce has thickened slightly and seems creamy, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and add the shredded cheese and mustard. Stir until the cheese has melted. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Aaron Hutcherson

Aaron Hutcherson
Assemble the mac and cheese:

Combine the cooked pasta, chili mixture, and cheese sauce – you can do this in your skillet if it's big enough, otherwise use a large bowl. Mix until evenly combine, then transfer back to the skillet used to cook the chili. (Or transfer to a baking dish if your skillet isn't big enough.)

Aaron Hutcherson

Aaron Hutcherson
Top with toasted breadcrumbs:

Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with the breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle evenly over top the chili mac and cheese.

Aaron Hutcherson
Bake the mac and cheese:

Place the chili mac and cheese in the oven and bake until golden on top and the cheese sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for about a week. Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or larger amounts in a low oven. Leftovers can also be frozen in individual portions for up to 3 months; reheat in the microwave or in a low oven.

Aaron Hutcherson

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
522	Calories
33g	Fat
25g	Carbs
31g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	522
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g	42%
Saturated Fat 16g	79%
Cholesterol 110mg	37%
Sodium 975mg	42%
Total Carbohydrate 25g	9%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 11mg	56%
Calcium 419mg	32%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 589mg	13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.