• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
      • Drinks/Cocktails
      • Sauces & Dressings
    • Method
      • Crockpot
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot
      • Air Fryer
      • Casseroles
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Cuisine
      • Asian
      • Italian
      • Mexican
      • European
      • Indian
      • Romanian
      • Mediterranean
      • Middle Eastern
      • American
    • Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Lamb
      • Vegetarian
      • Pasta
      • Spices
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Thanksgiving
      • Game Day
      • Valentine's Day
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Mother's Day
      • Memorial Day
      • Father's Day
      • 4th Of July
      • Labor Day
      • Halloween
    • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • Shop
  • About Jo
FREE recipe eBook!
Display Search Bar Search...
All Recipes
Instant Pot
30 Minute
One Pot Meals
Soups
Dips & Dressings
Baking
Pasta
Sandwiches
Sides
Beans Dinner One Pot 30 Minutes or Less Beef Pasta
4.4 from 286 votes

Chili Mac and Cheese

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •12/4/22 100 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for one pot chili mac and cheese

This Chili Mac and Cheese is two great comfort foods all in one! Delicious and hearty, quick and comforting, perfect dinner for back to school and ready in under 30 minutes and in just one pot.

freshly made chili mac and cheese in a Dutch oven.
Table of Contents Open
  • The Best One Pot Chili Mac And Cheese Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love This Chili Mac And Cheese
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Make Chili Mac And Cheese
    • Brown The Meat
    • Add The Onions
    • Make The Chili Mac
    • Make It Cheesy
    • Garnish And Serve
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Can I Make Vegetarian Chili Mac And Cheese?
    • What Can I Add To The Recipe?
  • Other Ways To Make Chili Mac And Cheese
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
  • Expert Tips
  • How To Store Leftovers
  • Other Delicious Recipes To Try
    • World’s Best Chili
    • Chili Verde
    • White Chicken Chili
    • Baked Mac And Cheese
  • Chili Mac and Cheese
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

The Best One Pot Chili Mac And Cheese Recipe

This dish is perfect in many ways. It’s made in one pot, it’s done in 30 minutes which makes it the perfect for back to school dinners, and most importantly it’s the epitome of comfort food. It’s one of those dishes that you wish to keep eating once you start. It really is a one pot wonder!

I love dishes like these because they’re great pantry cleaners, so if you don’t have some of the ingredients I used today have fun with the substitutes! It’s such a sneaky way to incorporate some veggies into your dinner, and since it’s so good it’s one of those dishes you won’t be able to stop eating once you start.

a serving of chili mac and cheese in a white bowl.

Why You’ll Love This Chili Mac And Cheese

  • Quick and Easy! This is a super simple one-pot meal using very basic ingredients that you can whip together in just 30 minutes! No special equipment or cooking skills are needed.
  • Cheesy Comfort Food! It doesn’t get any more downhome delicious than perfectly seasoned beefy chili mac folded together with lots of melted cheddar cheese. 
  • Weeknight Wonder! With a variety of cooking options, this is the perfect weeknight meal that can be made on the stove, in a slow cooker, or even pressure cooked! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients needed to make chili mac and cheese.
  • Olive Oil – My oil of choice for browning meats.
  • Ground beef – I use extra lean, the excess fat would be unnecessary in this recipe otherwise.
  • Onion – White or yellow is fine, something that can hold up to cooking.
  • Garlic – I used fresh but minced is fine if you prefer, remember 1½ teaspoon is equal to one fresh clove.
  • Spices – For this recipe I used cumin, cayenne, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. A good quality chili powder will make all the difference in the world!
  • Beans – I used black beans and kidney beans, both out of the can and drained and rinsed. If using dried beans, please refer to this guide for black beans and this guide for kidney beans to ensure your beans are suitable to eat.
  • Diced Tomatoes – The perfect way to use up that can you’ve had sitting around a while. This will add brightness and acidity to the dish.
  • Chicken broth – Low sodium is preferred, if you are soaking your beans in a salt mixture I recommend no sodium broth. You can also use beef broth or vegetable broth.
  • Elbow pasta – This can be replaced with any shape pasta.
  • Parsley – My favorite fresh garnish for both color and flavor!
  • Cheese – I used cheddar cheese for this one pot chili mac and cheese recipe but any sharp cheese will do. A blend of cheddar and mozzarella, or Monterrey jack would work perfectly well.

How To Make Chili Mac And Cheese

This recipe takes the work out of making both chili and mac and cheese! The beef chili, macaroni, and cheesy part all cook in the same pot.

Brown The Meat

process shots showing how to make chili mac and cheese.

To begin, you need to cook the ground beef for the chili part of this recipe. So heat the olive oil over medium-high in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Then add the ground beef and cook it for about 3 minutes while breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it’s no longer pink. If you are using fattier ground beef you will need to drain the excess fat before moving on to the next step.

Add The Onions

process shots showing how to make chili mac and cheese.

Once the beef is crumbly and no longer pink, stir in the onion and garlic and cook over medium heat for another 2 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent.

Make The Chili Mac

process shots showing how to make chili mac and cheese.

Now, let’s really add some flavor into the dish and get the chili going! First, stir the cayenne pepper, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper into the ground beef mixture.

process shots showing how to make chili mac and cheese.

Next, add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, and elbow pasta. Then stir all the ingredients together and bring them to a boil. Now, reduce the heat down to a simmer, cover the pot with a lid, and cook for about 9 to 12 minutes or until the macaroni is done.

Make It Cheesy

process shots showing how to make chili mac and cheese.

The best part! To finish the dish, stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Do this gently so you don’t squish the macaroni, but it does need to be well incorporated and evenly distributed. Then sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Now, cover the pot with the lid and let it sit for about 1 minute or until the cheese is fully melted.

Garnish And Serve

When the chili mac and cheese is done, garnish it with fresh chopped parsley. Then serve it warm with some hot sauce, homemade cornbread, and yummy coleslaw if you like.

freshly made chili mac and cheese in a pot with a wooden ladle in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Vegetarian Chili Mac And Cheese?

Yes! All you have to do is replace the ground beef with plant-based soy crumbles or just use more beans. Then just use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth and the recipe is now a yummy vegetarian option.

What Can I Add To The Recipe?

Pretty much anything you like! However, you need to keep the ratios in mind. For example, if you want to add corn or green or red bell pepper, you may need to use fewer beans to ensure that the dish doesn’t dry out. The same goes for the meat. You can add more meat or beans, but you need to balance out the amounts using the recipe as a template. 

a serving of chili mac and cheese in a white bowl.

Other Ways To Make Chili Mac And Cheese

Slow Cooker

Cook the beef, onions, and garlic according to the directions above. Then combine all ingredients in the slow cooker, save for the cheese, and cook on high for 2 hours. Check if the pasta has cooked to al dente perfection every 20 minutes after, don’t worry sometimes it can take up to an additional hour. Follow the above directions in regards to cheese and garnish.

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Making chili mac and cheese in the Instant Pot is incredibly easy and I have just the recipe for you. So check out my Instant Pot Chili Mac recipe to learn how to make it!

freshly made chili mac and cheese in a pot with a wooden ladle in it.

Expert Tips

  1. Drain the fat. If you are using ground meat with a higher fat content you need to drain the fat once the beef is browned to prevent the dish from having a greasy taste and texture.
  2. Don’t overcook the macaroni. Check the elbow macaroni after 9 minutes of cooking. You want the pasta to be cooked but not turn to mush when you stir in the cheese.
  3. Make it spicier. If you want to up the level of heat add some diced jalapeños or chipotles in adobo when you sauté the onions with the ground beef.

How To Store Leftovers

This recipe will make quite a bit of chili mac and cheese, so there will be plenty of leftovers to take to work the next day. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. If freezing allow the dish to fully cool in a shallow container before placing in the freezer for up to 3 months.

a serving of chili mac and cheese in a white bowl.

Other Delicious Recipes To Try

overhead shot of a bowl of chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese
3 hrs 10 mins

World’s Best Chili

chili verde with white beans and pork in a white bowl garnished with sour cream and jalapenos.
2 hrs 40 mins

Chili Verde

a spoon taking a bite of white chicken chili from a bowl
1 hr

White Chicken Chili

baked mac and cheese in a black cast iron skillet.
45 mins

Baked Mac And Cheese

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

freshly made chili mac and cheese in a Dutch oven.
Print
4.42 from 286 votes

Chili Mac and Cheese

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes
Rate Recipe
This Chili Mac and Cheese is two great comfort foods all in one! Delicious and hearty, quick and comforting, perfect dinner for back to school and ready in under 30 minutes and in just one pot.
8

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (extra lean)
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 cup kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 26 ounces diced tomatoes ((1 can))
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium, or beef broth)
  • 10 ounces elbow pasta (uncooked)
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • 2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • In a large sauce pan or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Since I’m using extra lean ground beef there’s no need to drain the fat, but if you’re using fatter ground beef, drain whatever fat there is. 
  • Stir in the onion and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes or until the onion softens and becomes translucent and the garlic is aromatic.
  • Add the cayenne pepper, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper and stir. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, chicken broth and elbow pasta. Stir everything together and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and cook for about 9 to 12 minutes or until the elbow macaroni is cooked.
  • Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheese then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top. Cover the pot for about 1 minute just until the cheese melts. 
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Equipment

  • 6 Quart Dutch Oven

Video

Notes

  1. Drain the fat. If you are using ground meat with a higher fat content you need to drain the fat once the beef is browned to prevent the dish from having a greasy taste and texture.
  2. Don’t overcook the macaroni. Check the elbow macaroni after 9 minutes of cooking. You want the pasta to be cooked but not turn to mush when you stir in the cheese.
  3. Make it spicier. If you want to up the level of heat add some diced jalapeños or chipotles in adobo when you sauté the onions with the ground beef.
  4. Pasta: The elbow macaroni can be replaced with any shape pasta.
  5. Leftovers: Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. If freezing allow the dish to fully cool in a shallow container before placing in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 496kcal (25%)Carbohydrates: 44g (15%)Protein: 26g (52%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 10g (63%)Cholesterol: 69mg (23%)Sodium: 964mg (42%)Potassium: 753mg (22%)Fiber: 6g (25%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 790IU (16%)Vitamin C: 20mg (24%)Calcium: 282mg (28%)Iron: 4.4mg (24%)

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

freshly made chili mac and cheese in a Dutch oven.

Did You Make This?

We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @jocooks or hashtag #jocooks so we can see your creations!

Rate Recipe
Add Your Photo!
  • 3972
  • 19
Home Recipes
Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
iPad showing title of ebook 30 recipes from around the world
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

100 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kim Wilkinson
Kim Wilkinson
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
We love this recipie but I made a few changes so it’s not soupy and perfect. I double the seasonings and add paprika. I use two full cans of the diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) undrained, and all 4 cups of broth (beef, not chicken). I add 16 oz of elbow macaroni and then 3-4 cups of cheese mixed in at the end. I also simmer for 15-16 minutes. Perfect every time.

0
Reply
Kelli Brown
Kelli Brown
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
My kids and husband loved it!!! I didn’t have black beans and so I used
pinto beans instead. Thanks so much for sharing Jo. I have a new favorite with the kids now.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Kelli Brown
Posted: 1 year ago

That’s awesome! 🙂

0
Reply
Melissa Hartley
Melissa Hartley
Posted: 1 year ago

Could I add a packet of dry ranch seasoning to this along with the others?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Melissa Hartley
Posted: 1 year ago

You can add whatever you like to make it your own!

0
Reply
Jenifer P
Jenifer P
Posted: 2 years ago

Just wondering why, when doing a beef dish, you used chicken stock instead of beef stock?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jenifer P
Posted: 2 years ago

No reason, other than that’s what I had on hand, but you can use whatever you wish.

0
Reply
Catherine Cassells
Catherine Cassells
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
family loves this recipe! third or fourth time i’m making it 🙂

0
Reply
Tierra Harris
Tierra Harris
Posted: 2 years ago

This came out really good!! Picky teenager really enjoyed this. That’s a true test of a meal. lol. I used all four cups of broth and it wasn’t soupy for me. I also added a smige more noodles so idk if that helped. Cheesy and chili yes a great combo!!

0
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Easy, Yummy, recipe. We use Turkey meat just cause we dont like greasy meat but nicely thrown together

0
Reply
Cheryl
Cheryl
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Family favorite! I like to use 3 cups of broth instead of 4 since it becomes too soupy for our liking. This recipe is part of our dinner rotation 😉 oh I cheat on the spices and just use a chili seasoning packet to make it even easier

0
Reply
R E
R E
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Totally a hit with my Italian/Hispanic family!!

0
Reply
Gloria L
Gloria L
Posted: 2 years ago

This is such a hit.
A few things. I notice in the comments about it being soupy, mine was not, heres my tweaks on the recipe.
I did not use cumin, cayenne pepper, or parsley.
I added Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, sriracha hot chili sauce, hog wild seasoning.
I used organic ziti rigati pasta.

I ate mine without cheese, it was the best homemade chili I’ve ever made in my life.
I found your recipe thru a tiktok’r who had a video about how to find recipes based on your ingredients at home. Your recipe popped up on super cook…. I clicked from there… how happy my little family is right now.

0
Reply
Rose
Rose
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Yummy! And it’s easy to make. A great recipe.
The kids keep saying it’s sooo gooood!!!

0
Reply
Ashley M.
Ashley M.
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Loved this! I saw the comments about too soupy, and went with 2 1/4 cups broth, and drained tomatoes and beans, turned out perfect! Added extra cheese for my husband 😁

0
Reply
Judith
Judith
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
As with a few other comments I found this turned out a bit soupy, but my husband went back for seconds and said it was wonderful, mopping it up with crusty bread, so it certainly wasn’t a disaster. Next time I’ll start with less stock and see where I go from there, but there’ll certainly be a next time!

1
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Judith
Posted: 3 years ago

That’s a great idea! Start with a bit less and add more as needed. We’re glad the recipe was a hit for both of you 🙂

0
Reply
Barbara
Barbara
Posted: 3 years ago

I tried this today and it’s AWESOME!!

0
Reply
Lila Anne Metts
Lila Anne Metts
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
So Very Yummy !!!

0
Reply

sidebar

Headshot of Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
Collage of recipe ebooks
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

Pasta Favorites

baked mac and cheese in a black cast iron skillet.
45 mins

Baked Mac And Cheese

freshly made crack chicken penne with a wooden spoon in a skillet.
40 mins

Crack Chicken Penne

chicken pot pie pasta in a white serving bowl with a wooden serving spoon.
50 mins

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

freshly made one pot pasta in a dutch oven.
20 mins

One Pot Pasta

tomato spinach chicken pasta in a white bowl.
30 mins

Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.
30 mins

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

baked feta pasta in a white bowl garnished with fresh basil.
50 mins

Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta)

sideview shot of chicken fajita pasta in a white bowl with a fork inside
45 mins

Chicken Fajita Pasta

side close up shot of swedish meatball pasta in a beige braised garnished with parsley
30 mins

Swedish Meatball Pasta

overhead shot of a bowl of haluski
40 mins

Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles)

A stack of cookbooks
Grab a copy!

My Cookbooks

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Dinner Favorites

smothered pork chops in a skillet garnished with parsley.
1 hr 15 mins

Smothered Pork Chops

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet
30 mins

Salisbury Steak

beef lo mein in a black wok.
30 mins

Beef Lo Mein

side shot of beef and broccoli in a skillet
15 mins

Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

shepherd's pie in a skillet with a serving taken out of it.
1 hr 25 mins

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

a serving spoon inside a skillet with chicken broccoli rice casserole.
30 mins

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

side view shot of two italian stuffed peppers in a bowl
2 hrs 30 mins

Italian Stuffed Peppers

side view shot of a bowl with a scoop of spaghetti bolognese in it
40 mins

Spaghetti Bolognese

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok
Visit our Other Site: Craving Home Cooked

Explore

Recipes
Cookbooks
About Jo
Contact

Legal

Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
© 2023 Jo Cooks
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
wpDiscuz