• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
    • 📋About
    • ❓FAQs/Help
    • 🛒Shop
    • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipes » Comfort Food Recipes

    One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    Sep 28, 2015 · Modified: Apr 16, 2021 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 5 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.19 from 11 votes

    One pot and only 30 minutes get comfort food with the great taste of chili in cheesy mac and cheese. Two of the tastes of your favorites come together for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

    a spoonful of Chili Mac and Cheese

    Jump To:
    • 📋Ingredients
    • ❄️Storage
    • 📖30-Minute Casseroles
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    I love a good mac and cheese, but sometimes even the best mac and cheese can be a bit boring. I decided to kick it up a little by adding some chili tastes.

    I started with browning and spicing meat, added milk, and tomatoes to the same pan along with uncooked pasta and simmered until the pasta was done. Then add the cheese.

    A great use of 30 minutes.

    My Rating

    My rating system of a 4 out of 5 so very nice.

    It is a little more complicated than that. I have two plus servings, and it was a 4 for me. The wife pronounced this as "not her thing" but finished her serving. So four plus 3 is seven divided by two is three and a half. I will use four.

    📋Ingredients

    The Meat

    I used standard 80/20 ground beef but you can use leaner or even ground turkey. There is so much flavor with the spices and RoTel nobody will know.

    The Pasta

    A smaller standard pasta works well for this recipe. The cooking time will be the standard time or a bit longer. Cook until the pasta is tender.

    The RoTel and Spices

    This makes a 5/10 spiciness as written if you add the RoTel instead of just drained tomatoes. Most of the heat is from the RoTel.

    You can use a can of drained diced tomatoes to replace the RoTel. This will be a bit bland and you might want to up the chili powder by a teaspoon.

    ❄️Storage

    Good stored airtight for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Good frozen for 2-3 months.

    Reheats well in the microwave.

    📖30-Minute Casseroles

    Spicy Three Meat Jambalaya

    30 Minute Cheesy Jambalaya

    30 Minute Spicy Sausage Pasta

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Casserole Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    raw burger with pasta and chili mac ingredients

    Use diced tomatoes or RoTel.

    chopping an onion on a black board

    Chop one small onion.

    adding chopped onion to raw burger in a frying pan

    Start browning meat over medium-high heat in a large pan. I used a 12 inch cast iron chicken fryer. Add the chopped onion.

    adding spices to raw burger while cooking in black pan

    Add spices, two teaspoon chili powder, one teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

    using a spoon to remove cooked fat from skillet

    After the meat is browned and onion translucent, drain fat.

    pouring dry pasta into sauce with meat

    Add 2 ½ cup milk along with a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes drained or a can of Rotel undrained. Bring to a boil, add two cups of uncooked dry pasta.

    covering the pan with a glass lid

    Lower to simmer and cover. Cook until pasta is tender. This will vary by pasta type but will generally be 12-15 minutes.

    adding cheese to cooked chili mac

    Remove from heat and add 2 cups of cheese of your choice. Mix well and serve.

    chili mac on a gray plate
    graphic Subscribe to 101 Cooking for Two

    📝Recipe

    a spoonful of Chili Mac and Cheese over a skillet

    One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    One pot and only 30 minutes get comfort food with the great taste of chili in cheesy mac and cheese. Two of the tastes of your favorites come together for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.19 from 11 votes
    Print Email Text CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 6 servings

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 onion - small
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 14 oz diced tomatoes - drained or substitute 1 can of RoTel
    • 2 ½ cups milk
    • 2 cups dry pasta
    • 2 cups cheese of your choice
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Chop one small onion.
      chopping an onion on a black board
    • Start browning meat over medium-high heat in a large pan. I used a 12 inch cast iron chicken fryer. Add the onion also.
      adding chopped onion to raw burger in a frying pan
    • Add two teaspoon chili powder, one teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
      adding spices to raw burger while cooking in black pan
    • After the meat is browned and onion translucent, drain the fat.
      using a spoon to remove cooked fat from skillet
    • Add 2 ½ cup milk along with a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes drained or a can of Rotel undrained. Bring to a boil, add two cups of uncooked dry pasta. Lower to simmer and cover.
      adding RoTel to pan of cooked burger
    • Cook until pasta is tender. This will vary by pasta type but usually 12-15 minutes.
      covering the pan with a glass lid
    • Remove from heat and add two cups of cheese of your choice. Mix in well and serve.
      adding cheese to cooked chili mac
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Recipe Notes

    Pro TIps

    1. You can use ground turkey if you want.
    2. The RoTel will kick the heat up some. It is optional.
    3. If you want more of a baked casserole dish, cover the top with some cheese at the end and place under a broiler for a few minutes.
    4. Good refrigerated for 2-3 days and frozen for 2-3 months.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 459 Calories from Fat 216
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 24g37%
    Saturated Fat 12g60%
    Cholesterol 107mg36%
    Sodium 550mg23%
    Potassium 675mg19%
    Carbohydrates 26g9%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 35g70%
    Vitamin A 861IU17%
    Vitamin C 8mg10%
    Calcium 442mg44%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Casserole
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally Published September 28, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

    Lilly dog and Purple Puppy
    Molly laying on the floor

    More Comfort Food Recipes

    • Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
    • Oven Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
    • Small Crock Pot Beef Stew
    • Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup—Stovetop or Crock Pot

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




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

    1. Leslie

      January 27, 2023 at 2:54 pm

      2 stars
      Personally, this was too bland for my taste. I added more cheese and other spices to jazz it up, otherwise we would not have eaten it.

      Reply
    2. Sandra Beathard

      July 09, 2017 at 11:12 am

      Have you tried this recipe using Velveeta vs shredded cheese?

      If so, what was the difference (good or bad) in taste -- your Chili Mac recipe reads delicious.

      Thanks.

      Sandra B

      Reply
      • DrDan

        July 09, 2017 at 3:17 pm

        I have not been repeating this recipe since it reminds my wife of school lunches. The recipe is written for shredded cheese of any type. I personally like velvet and it would be fine. Do about 2 cups shredded or 8 oz by wt.

    3. Jane Arkell

      March 02, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like a really excellent "comfort food "go-to"....the recipe itself lends itself to so many changes, add-ons, etc. I LOVE the pictures of your Goldens...we have two boys (womb) mates and have just turned 5 - They all seem to have that same look. Thanks for all of the good recipes. I just discovered your page...I definitely will be back.

      Reply
    4. Chris

      October 06, 2015 at 8:38 pm

      Maybe this is just dude food, because I think I'd love this.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Small Ribeye Roast
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
    kitchen reference sheet graphic wide blue
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME