This One Skillet Chili Mac is ridiculously easy to make, and it’s so quick to throw together and completely satisfying. It’s made all in one skillet, so there’s virtually no clean-up involved, which makes it perfect for a weeknight dinner. You can add some more or different veggies if you want to make it a bit healthier – and if you’re a spice freak like me, just add some more cayenne or crushed red pepper to give it some more kick.
I make this Chili Mac a lot, and I always finish it off in the broiler – I love how it gives that cheesy topping more of a ‘crust’. I always make this dish in a cast iron skillet, but if you don’t have one you can use a dutch oven, or any oven-safe skillet. Cast iron is my favorite thing to cook in, so any recipe I have that I can use my skillet for I am thrilled to. 🙂
This meal doesn’t take long at all to prepare – only about 20 minutes. It cooks for about 25 minutes, so it’s a full dinner on the table in under an hour. In my house it serves about 4 – 6 people so it’s a perfect meal for the entire family.
one pan dinners are the best! here’s a couple more:
watch this video of me making this skillet chili mac:
One Skillet Cheesy Southwest Chili Mac
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Serving: 4 - 6 servings
Nutrition facts (per portion)
- Calories: 722
- Carbohydrate Content: 83.9g
- Cholesterol Content: 97mg
- Fat Content: 21.4g
- Fiber Content: 17.9g
- Protein Content: 53.1g
- Saturated Fat Content: 9g
- Serving Size: 6
- Sodium Content: 296mg
- Sugar Content: 15.4g
Ingredients
- olive oil - 2 tbsp
- red onion - 1 medium, finely diced
- green pepper - 1/2, finely diced
- garlic cloves - 3, minced
- beef - 1 pound (500 g), ground
- chili powder - 1 1/2 tbsp
- cumin - 1 tsp
- cayenne pepper - 1/4 tsp
- salt and pepper - use very generously
- diced tomatoes - 1 15 oz (400 g) can, with liquid
- tomato paste - 1 6 oz (140 g) can
- water - 1 1/2 cups
- corn - 1/2 cup, canned, drained
- black beans - 1 15 oz (400 g) can, drained and rinsed
- macaroni - 1 1/2 cups, uncooked
- cheddar cheese - 1 1/2 cups, shredded
how to
- Heat the oil over medium low heat in a large cast iron skillet, dutch oven or oven-safe saute pan.
- Add the onions and pepper and cook until beginning to soften - about 4 minutes then add the garlic and cook for another minute or two.
- Increase the heat to medium high and add the ground beef, breaking it up well with a wooden spoon and cook until browned.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne and salt and pepper and mix well.
- Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, corn, beans and macaroni - mixing well.
- Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally - until the pasta is just tender.
- Stir in half of the cheese, then sprinkle the rest on top and put in the top third of your oven with the broiler on 400 F (200 C) and allow the cheese to brown, then serve. (perfect with some jalapeno cheddar cornbread)
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Haha. YES! 😉
Tried this and we all loved it but I didn’t put enough salt in. Can you tell me how generous I should be? I was raised by people with heart conditions so my take on generous is probably a lot different than others. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
I’m a heavy salter, so I tend to over salt everything. I would say a tsp should be enough to give it some extra flavor, but it’s really up to you. 🙂
How about fixing mac ‘n cheese dinner from the box and mixing it in, then put it in the oven with more cheese on top? I’m going to try that and will let you know how we like it!
Haha. Sounds GOOD!
Made this today, added a can of rotel for some extra heat, and used small pasta.
Sounds great! Love the addition of Rotel. 🙂
As I am reading this recipe I wonder if putting corn bread mixture on the top and then cooking it sounds? It would give it another spin.
I think it would be delicious! Maybe if you just dolloped the cornbread on in pieces instead of covering the whole dish, then your sauce will still have some space to evaporate and thicken. 😉
I thought that you were not to cook tomatos or tomato products in cast iron
made this for my family today minus the corn.took the creamy cheese from the velvetta box mixed it in,then added shredded cheese on top.add tortilla chips.ny family loved it.
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What size is considered a large skillet.
I would say a 12″ or 15″.
Laura Mcauley just add it to your favorits
The second step in the instructions says to add the onions and pepper…am I missing something…I don’t see pepper in the ingredients list (except for salt and pepper and cayenne pepper but those are both added later in the instructions).
Hey – thanks for bringing that to my attention. I will get that fixed. 🙂
I’m thinking this person didn’t take the Green peppers in to account perhaps.
Made this tonight, t’was simple and tasted wonderful! Whole family loved it!
Awesome, that’s just what I like to hear! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.