Beef Chili Mac and Cheese Skillet (Printable Version)
One-pan comfort combining seasoned ground beef chili with creamy cheesy pasta. Easy weeknight dinner for busy families.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
→ Pantry
05 - 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
06 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
08 - 1½ cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices
10 - 2 tsp chili powder
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper
16 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, optional
→ Dairy
17 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
18 - ½ cup whole milk
→ Garnishes
19 - Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, optional
20 - Sliced green onions, optional
# How-To:
01 - Heat a large deep skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add diced onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the beef. Sauté until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne if using. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes with juices, kidney beans, beef broth, and uncooked macaroni. Stir thoroughly to combine and bring to a simmer.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in milk and 1½ cups cheddar cheese until melted and creamy throughout.
07 - Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the top. Cover the skillet for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt completely.
08 - Remove from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro or green onions if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The pasta cooks right in the sauce, absorbing all those savory beef and tomato flavors while saving you from washing an extra pot.
- Its the perfect middle ground between two comfort foods that somehow tastes even better than either one on its own.
02 -
- Never rush the pasta cooking stage, as the noodles need time to release their starch into the sauce for that perfect creamy texture.
- Covering the pan after sprinkling the final cheese layer creates a mini steam chamber that melts the cheese more evenly than broiling.
03 -
- The spice blend can be mixed ahead and stored in a jar, ready to elevate weeknight cooking when youre too tired to measure individual spices.
- For an even richer flavor, replace half a cup of the broth with a good quality beer, preferably something dark and malty.