• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Comfortable Food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cooking
  • Seasonal
  • Regional
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cooking
    • Seasonal
    • Regional
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Dinner Recipes

    Southwest Skillet Chili Mac and Cheese

    BY: Ben Rayl PUBLISHED: 11 Feb, '22 UPDATED: 11 Feb, '22 22 Comments

    RecipeVideoPrintComments
    4.80 from 5 votes

    This skillet mac and cheese recipe is so delicious and packed with heartwarming ingredients the whole family will love. This chili con carne style mac and cheese is super easy to make for any home cook and takes just 40 minutes to prepare using only one skillet for easy clean-up.

    Southwest chili mac skillet featured
    Contents
    • ⭐ Why this recipe works
    • 🍽 Key Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Recipe Variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🧊 Storing and ♨️ Reheating
    • 🍳 Related Mac and Cheese Recipes
    • 👪 Serving Size
    • 🎥 Watch how to make it
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why this recipe works

    Skillet mac and cheese is one of the easiest recipes you will make this year. All you need to do is combine all the comforting ingredients in one large skillet and voilà - the best mac n cheese is ready for serving.

    It's hard to resist such tempting goodness on one plate with succulent ground beef cooked in a delicious tomato-based sauce with black beans, corn, and spices. Tossed with cooked pasta and topped with sharp cheddar cheese to finish.

    If you feel inspired by this recipe I recommend you to try my texas roadhouse chili recipe. Similar ingredients and hearty meal!

    The fact that this recipe only requires a single skillet to prepare the meal makes cleaning up afterward a breeze and ideal for home cooks to make with limited kitchen equipment.

    Unlike traditional mac and cheese recipes that start with a white roux cheese sauce as the base of the dish, this variation uses Southern-inspired ingredients to make a flavorful, spicy tomato sauce instead to balance all the different textures and flavors.

    And because there is no milk mixture or flour needed for the cheese sauce, it's perfect for gluten and lactose-intolerant people.

    Southwest chili mac skillet

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    The list of ingredients to make this skillet mac and cheese is quite extensive, but most of them are common household ingredients and may be sitting in your kitchen pantry.

    Spices - This mac and cheese is a little spicy, so were adding cumin, cayenne pepper, and chili powder for the heat.

    Tomato sauce - Tomato paste and canned tomatoes give the dish its authentic tomato base flavor. Buy the canned variety with liquid and diced tomatoes for the best results.

    Pasta - The pasta of choice is elbow macaroni as they are small and absorb the flavors quicker.

    Vegetables - The red onion, green pepper, corn, and black beans add beautiful colors to the dish and flavor.

    Meat - Look for lean ground beef for a richer beef flavor. Have frozen ground beef? No worries, learn how to quickly defrost ground beef in my guideline.

    Cheese - The mac and cheese recipe requires a strong flavored cheese like sharp or white cheddar cheese. Learn more about best cheeses for mac and cheese.

    Substitutions

    Cheese

    Cheddar is the cheese of choice, but you could substitute it for Jack, Colby, or Cantal cheese for a similar flavor.

    Pasta

    Small macaroni pasta shapes like a corkscrew or small tubular ones work best with thick sauces as a substitute for elbow macaroni.

    🔪 How to make

    This skillet mac and cheese requires no special cooking skills or equipment. Just ultimate comfort food cooked in a skillet anyone can make, and you can learn how to prepare this delicious recipe in 40 minutes with my step-by-step instructions, walkthrough video, and helpful cooking tips.

    Preparations

    • Finely chop the garlic cloves, then dice the red onion and green pepper.
    • Drain and wash the canned corn and black beans.
    • Bring a pan of water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Usually 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside.

    Cooking Instructions

    Step 1
    Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, and sauté the garlic, onion, and pepper for 4 minutes until fragrant and softened.

    Step 1 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 2
    Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and cooking until browned.

    Step 2 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 3
    Add chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.

    Step 3 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 4
    Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, corn, black beans, and cooked elbow macaroni.

    Step 4 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 5
    Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes until the pasta is soft and tender, then stir in half the cheddar cheese.

    Step 6 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 6
    Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and place the skillet in the oven set to broil at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).

    Step 7 skillet mac and cheese

    Step 7
    Once the cheese turns golden brown, take it out of the oven and serve.

    Step 8 skillet mac and cheese

    💭 Cooking tips

    Don't overcook the pasta.

    It's essential to not over-boil the elbow macaroni before adding it to the skillet. It will cook again for another 15 to 20 minutes and become mushy instead of tender if it's over-boiled.

    Shred the cheese

    Buy the block of cheddar cheese and shred it yourself instead of the package shredded cheese for a creamier texture.

    📖 Recipe Variations

    Skillet mac and cheese is a versatile dish that can easily be made into other delicious variations like these three alternatives.

    Skillet mac and cheese with bacon

    Give your mac and cheese an upgrade with some crispy bacon pieces. Cut a 150-gram block of bacon into small pieces and fry or bake bacon them until crispy, then remove from the skillet and leave the bacon fat to cook the ground beef.

    Baked mac and cheese

    Add a crunchy topping to the homemade macaroni and cheese by mixing 100 grams breadcrumbs with cheddar and parmesan cheese and sprinkle it on top before baking in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the top becomes golden brown.

    Skillet mac and cheese 2

    🥗 What to serve with

    Skillet mac and cheese is absolutely delicious as the main meal or hearty side dish. Here are a few suggestions to serve with it.

    Fried cabbage

    This southern-style fried cabbage and bacon recipe is one of my favorite side dishes to whip up in a hurry that is full of flavor and uses few ingredients. It takes minutes to prepare in a skillet and tastes good with the mac and cheese recipe.

    Cornbread

    Bread is always served with most dinners in my house, and this jalapeno cheese cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to soak up those delicious juices from the skillet mac and cheese.

    Grilled cheese sandwich

    Pair the skillet mac and cheese with a grilled cheese toasty. This BLT sandwich is fancier than the standard BLT sandwich you are used to and uses cheddar and Havarti cheese for extra gooeyness. It's scrumptious.

    🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

    Is a roux necessary for mac and cheese?

    t all mac and cheese recipes require a roux. This skillet mac and cheese, for example, does not have a cheese sauce, so there's no need for a roux. But if a mac and cheese recipe has a cheese sauce, it will be made with a roux, which is melted butter and flour mixed together with milk.

    Is it necessary to par-boil the macaroni?

    Yes, par-boiling pasta for homemade macaroni and cheese recipes is necessary because the pasta will absorb the sauce and take twice as long to cook otherwise. With all baked pasta dishes, it is recommended to boil the pasta first before mixing it with the sauce.

    Skillet mac and cheese 1

    🧊 Storing and ♨️ Reheating

    Skillet mac and cheese is perfect for storing any leftovers once it has cooled completely and tastes amazing reheated the following day.

    Fridge - Transfer the leftover skillet mac and cheese to an airtight container or leave the remains in the skillet covered with aluminum foil and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezer - Top freeze the mac and cheese, place the leftovers in a freezer bag or an airtight container and freeze it for up to 4 months.

    Reheating - The best way to reheat leftover skillet mac and cheese is to preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the leftovers on a baking dish for 15 minutes for refrigerated and 20 minutes for frozen until piping hot.

    Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave on full power for 1-minute intervals until hot.

    🍳 Related Mac and Cheese Recipes

    If you love my southwest chili mac and cheese recipe, try my new Texas Roadhouse Chili, or chili queso dip, a hearty dish loaded with flavor. Or one of these fantastic mac and cheese recipes for your next meal.

    • Bacon mac and cheese featured
      Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
    • Buffalo chicken mac and cheese
      Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
    • Cheeseburger mac and cheese featured
      Cheeseburger "Mac and Cheese" Casserole
    • White cheddar mac and cheese featured
      White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

    👪 Serving Size

    This skillet mac and cheese recipe will give you 5 to 6 generous servings. However, you could scale the recipe to make more if you have a larger skillet. The best way to make more is to prepare the ingredients in a large pot and transfer the mixture to individual large aluminum trays for easy storage.

    Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food to enjoy with your family and friends, and this easy skillet version is the best. 

    🎥 Watch how to make it

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    Southwest chili mac skillet

    Southwest Skillet Chili Mac and Cheese

    This skillet mac and cheese recipe is so delicious and packed with heartwarming ingredients the whole family will love. This chili con carne style mac and cheese is super easy to make for any home cook and takes just 40 minutes to prepare using only one skillet for easy clean-up.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 554kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 medium red onion - finely diced
    • ½ green pepper - finely diced
    • 3 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1 can tomatoes - 15 oz with liquid diced
    • 1 can tomato paste - 6 oz
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • ½ cup corn - canned, drained
    • 1 can black beans - 15 oz, drained and rinsed
    • 1 ½ cups macaroni - uncooked
    • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese - shredded
    • salt and pepper - to taste

    Instructions

    • 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)

    Video

    Notes

    Don't overcook the pasta.
    It's essential to not over-boil the elbow macaroni before adding it to the skillet. It will cook again for another 15 to 20 minutes and become mushy instead of tender if it's over-boiled.
    Shred the cheese
    Buy the block of cheddar cheese and shred it yourself instead of the package shredded cheese for a creamier texture.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 554kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 490mg | Potassium: 851mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1422IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 264mg | Iron: 4mg

    More Dinner Recipes

    • Stuffed rigatoni 4
      Stuffed Rigatoni
    • Slow cooker chicken fajita soup
      Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup
    • Easy kielbasa recipes
      30 Easy Kielbasa Recipes
    • Featured cheeseburger meatloaf
      Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




    1. Hero

      June 27, 2018 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      Create a Restaurant

      Reply
    2. Tam Pillipow

      June 13, 2018 at 9:51 am

      4 stars
      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!

      Reply
    3. Marsha Brown

      November 09, 2017 at 5:37 pm

      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!

      Reply
    4. Shirley

      May 06, 2017 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today, added a can of rotel for some extra heat, and used small pasta.

      Reply
    5. Kathy Gray

      May 05, 2017 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    6. Tom Graham

      November 13, 2016 at 6:25 pm

      I thought that you were not to cook tomatos or tomato products in cast iron

      Reply
    7. Susie

      October 27, 2015 at 11:50 am

      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.

      Reply
    8. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice [With CDROM] - With CDROM free downloads

      June 01, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice [With CDROM]

      In its full-colour, fifth edition, Mary Townsend's "Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice" is still the most clearly

      Reply
    9. Southwest Skillet Chili Mac | Chow Down

      July 14, 2014 at 11:24 am

      […] Source:  Comfortable Food […]

      Reply
    10. Allisan

      June 15, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      What size is considered a large skillet.

      Reply
    11. Anonymous

      January 21, 2014 at 8:54 am

      Laura Mcauley just add it to your favorits

      Reply
    12. Anonymous

      November 27, 2013 at 9:39 pm

      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).

      Reply
    13. beach

      October 01, 2013 at 2:34 am

      Made this tonight, t'was simple and tasted wonderful! Whole family loved it!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

    Feel free to share our recipes on your blog using a photo and link back to the original recipe.

    Cooking How-tos

    • How many ounces in a quart featured 2
      How Many Ounces in a Quart
    • Jasmine rice featured
      How to make Perfect Jasmine Rice
    • How to brine a turkey
      How To Brine A Turkey
    • What is wagyu beef explained
      What Is Wagyu Beef?

    Italian Recipes

    • Tiramisu featured 1
      Easy Tiramisu Recipe
    • Different types of pasta featured
      32 Different Types of Pasta
    • Pizza pasta featured 2
      Pasta Pizza Casserole
    • Pizza soup featured 3
      Pizza Soup

    Comfort Casseroles

    • Featured chicken broccoli casserole
      Chicken Broccoli Casserole
    • Featured beef enchilada casserole
      Beef Enchilada Casserole
    • Featured chicken wild rice casserole
      Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
    • Featured pics
      Cabbage Roll Casserole

    Best Comfort Recipes

    • Soup recipes with few ingredients
      35 Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients
    • Featured shredded chicken
      28 Easy Recipes with Shredded Chicken
    • Chorizo recipes featured
      26 Easy Chorizo Recipes
    • Cream of chicken recipes
      20 Easy Cream of Chicken Recipes
    • Panini recipes
      25 Best "Gooey Panini Recipes"
    • Easy kielbasa recipes
      30 Easy Kielbasa Recipes

    Footer

    Subscribe Now

    Never miss a recipe!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    About

    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Disclosure
    • Accessibility

    Recipes

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes

    More

    • Cooking How tos
    • 35 Easy Soup Recipes with Few Ingredients

    Favorites

    • Bruschetta Recipe
    • Breakfast Casserole with Bacon
    • Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
    • Chicken and Biscuits
    • Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers

    ↑ back to top

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Comfortable Food · All Rights Reserved