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    You are here: Home / Dinner / One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    Last Updated November 1, 2022. Published February 20, 2020 By Lorie 12 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Chili mac and cheese in pot with wood spoon and then in bowl with spoonful.

    This easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese recipe is a simple, cozy recipe that the whole family will love. Only about 15 minutes to prep and all done in the same pot--can't beat that! Easy cheesy deliciousness in a bowl!

    One pot chili mac and cheese in white bowl with chopped parsley on top and spoon.

    What do we want?! One Pot Dinners!

    When do we want them?! Every single day!!!

    This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the latest recipe to add to your simple dinner collection. If you LOVE mac and cheese on its own, also check out this Gruyere Mac and Cheese!

    Why You Will Love This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese:

    • You only need one pot to make the whole meal. That's right. The entire meal is cooked in the same exact dish. My absolute favorite meals are the ones that require the least amount of cleaning.
    • Cozy and comforting--and a bit nostalgic. Did you grow up on Hamburger Helper? This one pot chili mac and cheese recipe reminds me of it. But is also 100 times better in my opinion. The epitome of comfort food!
    • Kid friendly! This is one of the few meals that readers consistently tell me they can feed the entire family with zero fuss. It's not overly spicy so the kids love it. Plus what is not to love about something that includes mac and cheese?!

    Recipe Ingredients:

    • onion: I have used red and yellow onions in this recipe. Both are great. I tend to have red onions in the house always so that's what I had on hand the day I took these photos.
    • bell pepper: I prefer green but you can certainly use what you have on hand. I often add a red pepper as well when I know it's about to go bad in a few days.
    • ground beef: Ground chuck or sirloin are what I use most often when making this chili mac and cheese. Any kind will work. You could opt for ground turkey if desired as well.
    • broth: chicken broth is what I use most of the time since I always have it on hand. Beef broth or even veggie broth will work, use whatever you have.
    • tomatoes: diced tomatoes, I prefer no salt added
    • tomato sauce: not to be confused with marinara or spaghetti sauce. Tomato sauce that comes in the can and is near the canned tomatoes.
    • garlic: freshly minced is ideal. If you don't have any cloves, add about ½ teaspoon garlic powder and adjust from there to taste.
    • spices and seasoning: I use a combo of cumin, chili powder, oregano and crushed red pepper. You can hold off on the red pepper if you are worried about kids and the spiciness. Sprinkle it into the bowls as you serve instead.
    • macaroni: macaroni pasta is ideal for this recipe. You can probably use another short pasta or shell pasta. Adjust the cook time if needed.
    • cheese: milk cheddar is our preference for classic flavor. Freshly shredded will melt so much creamier into this chili mac and cheese versus buying pre-shredded bags of cheese. If you have the time, shred your cheese!

    How to make this recipe:

    Process shots to cook onions, peppers and ground beef.
    • Heat up a drizzle of olive oil over medium high heat. Add in peppers and onions and cook until the onions start to become slightly translucent. Push the veggies to the side and add the ground beef. (steps 1 and 2)
    • Break the meat into smaller chunks and stir regularly to brown. Depending on how much grease you have in the pot, you may want to drain the excess. If so, feel free to do so. The type of ground beef you use may not produce too much and you won't need to drain. (steps 3 and 4)
    Process shots making chili mac.
    • Add in tomatoes (I do not drain the liquid from the tomatoes), tomato sauce, broth, kidney beans and spices and stir to combine. Cover and allow to heat for several minutes to bring to a low boil. At this point you are heating the liquid part up to prep for the macaroni. You will want the liquid to be hot enough before you add the pasta. (steps 5 and 6)
    • Add pasta and stir to combine. Cover once again and cook for about 13 minutes or until pasta is al dente. During this time, stir several times. Keep an eye that the liquid doesn't come above a low boil. You don't want too much liquid to boil down. If it does seem to be boiling too much, lower the heat slightly. (steps 7 and 8)
    Process shots including cheese added to the pot and melting.
    • Once the pasta is al dente, turn the heat to low, stir in the cheese and allow to melt. It will thicken up a bit more if it sits to simmer for several minutes, or you can serve it up with some extra cheese on top! (steps 9 and 10)

    Chili Mac Recipe Tips:

    • The measurements are based off of using regular elbow macaroni pasta. If you decide to use another pasta, it's likely that you may need more or less liquid. Just keep a close eye on it after adding the pasta.
    • You don't have to use ground beef for this recipe. You could certainly use ground turkey, chicken, or even a vegetarian ground meat substitute. Any should work just fine!
    • Feel free to play around with the heat on this one. I tone it down a bit for our little one and then add some extra hot sauce or red pepper flakes when the hubby and I dive in.
    Dutch oven with one pot chili mac and cheese with wooden spoon.

    Try these other simple dinner recipes:

    • Simple Turkey Pepper Skillet
    • Slow Cooker Brisket Chili
    • Parmesan Crusted Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
    • Mediterranean Steak Bites with Yogurt Sauce
    • Parmesan Crusted Steak and Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
    • Sweet and Smoky Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all the latest!

    White bowl with chili macaroni and cheese with spoon scooping into it.

    One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    This easy One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese recipe is a simple, cozy recipe that the whole family will love. Only about 15 minutes to prep and all done in the same pot--can't beat that! Easy cheesy deliciousness in a bowl!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 565kcal
    Author: Lorie Yarro

    Ingredients 

    • 1 T olive oil
    • 1 onion, small diced
    • 1 green bell pepper, small diced
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1 can diced tomatoes
    • 1 can kidney beans, drained
    • 1 can tomato sauce (approx. 15 oz.)
    • 2 c chicken broth
    • ½ T chili powder
    • ½ T cumin
    • ½ - 1 teaspoon oregano
    • 3-4 garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper or less
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Sea salt (more or less to taste)
    • 2 c macaroni, uncooked
    • 2 c shredded cheddar cheese

    Instructions

    • In a large pan or pot, add a drizzle of olive oil over medium high heat and allow to heat up. Add in onion and pepper and cook until onion begins to become translucent.
    • Add ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through. Make sure to break up any large chunks. Drain if desired to get rid of excess oil. 
    • Add in tomatoes, garlic, kidney beans, chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, red pepper, salt and pepper. Cover and allow to cook for several minutes to slightly thicken and heat up to a low boil.
    • Add in macaroni and cover once again. Heat another 13-15 minutes or until macaroni is al dente, stirring occasionally.
    • Before serving, stir in cheese and allow to melt. Enjoy with your favorite toppings!

    Notes

    • The measurements are based off of using regular elbow macaroni pasta. If you decide to use another pasta, it's likely that you may need more or less liquid. Just keep a close eye on it after adding the pasta.
    • You don't have to use ground beef for this recipe. You could certainly use ground turkey, chicken, or even a vegetarian ground meat substitute. Any should work just fine!
    • Feel free to play around with the heat on this one. I tone it down a bit for Sam, and then add some extra hot sauce or red pepper flakes when the hubby and I dive in.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1034mg | Potassium: 885mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 920IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 364mg | Iron: 5mg
    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna G. says

      November 16, 2022 at 9:18 pm

      5 stars
      A true one pot classic! Will be adding this to our regular rotation of meals. So delicious with simple ingredients I usually have on hand.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        November 17, 2022 at 10:23 am

        Yesssss! Love hearing this so so much Anna! One of our family favorites.

        Reply
    2. Karen says

      May 08, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      Both my husband and son ate this meal heartily while telling me I must add this to our dinner rotation. I enjoyed it too! Win all around.

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        May 10, 2021 at 9:11 am

        Yes! Love hearing this! One of my faves!!!

        Reply
    3. Jen says

      January 24, 2021 at 7:00 pm

      This is my first recipe I’ve tried out of the bunch I’ve saved since discovering you a couple weeks ago. Uh, yum!! My husband isn’t one to say much when I stray from my usual repertoire, but tonight he was peeking into the skillet constantly and right after his first bite he said, “Oh, yeah. This is good!” He had 3 plates! I loved it too. So easy to make and one dish, hello! Winner!

      I subbed in black beans because I’m not a fan of kidney beans (and it’s the only kind I had left in the pantry), but I can’t imagine that changed anything.

      I can’t wait to try my next recipe!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        January 25, 2021 at 8:20 pm

        I love all of this Jen! One dish is always a win for us-- I can't STAND doing the dishes. Thanks for letting me know about the husband approval too!

        Reply
    4. MJac says

      March 21, 2020 at 10:22 am

      What size can of diced tomatoes? 28oz or smaller?

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        March 21, 2020 at 2:38 pm

        Hi! 14.5 oz is what I used. Will update the recipe to include this. Thanks~

        Reply
    5. Maria says

      March 13, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Can't wait to try this during extended spring break!!!

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        March 14, 2020 at 12:22 pm

        Yay!!! Yea, everyone is gonna have lots of extra time in the kitchen the coming weeks.

        Reply
    6. linda says

      October 30, 2019 at 9:41 am

      this looks great - i too loved Hamburger Helper!!!!! I will try this on the weekend- thinking i will also add Garbonzo beans along with the kidney beans. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Lorie says

        November 01, 2019 at 10:21 pm

        Sounds perfect to me. Enjoy it Linda!

        Reply

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    Hello! I’m Lorie, welcome to lemons + zest! If you love to eat, and you love delicious, simple recipes, then you are in the right place. When it comes to cooking these days, I firmly believe that if it takes too long, or too much work to make, then it’s not for me. Read More…

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