Chili Mac & Cheese

When the best of two worlds come together! The creamiest of Mac & Cheese and the spice of Chili! 

Chili Mac & Cheese

We love chili at our house! There are times that we will chili a couple of times of week. Cassie has loved mac & cheese since she was a little girl. So it was a no brainer when I decided to try this dish!

I love, love one pan meals! They really make life so much easier, and makes so much yumminess into your life! This will make your day a little brighter.  

TIPS AND TRICKS

PROTEINS: You don’t have to use hamburger. Ground chicken, turkey or even diced steak would be great!

STORAGE: Leftovers will stay good in an airtight container up to 3 days. You can freeze this too! It will stay good up to 3 months.

SPICE: I like a little spice but if you want to take it up a notch, add a jalapeno or a splash of hot sauce.

ADD INS: Go ahead and add more veggies! I think corn would be fabulous in this!

PASTA: Use small pasta to this dish. They will cook best. If you look close to my pictures, you will see that I used two different kinds. I’m not being fancy, I just used what I had in my pantry.

Chili Mac & Cheese

Chili Mac & Cheese

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Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 can (7 ounces) diced green chilies
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• 3 1/2cups chicken or beef broth
• 1 pound short cut pasta
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 to 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• green onions, for serving

Instructions

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, add the meat and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the meat all over, breaking up the meat as you go.
2. 2. Add the pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes, until fragrant. Mix in the tomatoes, tomato paste, and diced chilies. Pour the broth into the pan. Season with salt and pepper.
3. 3. Add the pasta. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring often. Stir in the cream cheese, and 1/2 the cheese. Cook another few minutes until very creamy. Remove from the heat and top with cheese. Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Chili Mac & Cheese

Did you try our Chili Mac & Cheese? What did you think? Did you love it? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

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