One-Pot Chili Mac Comfort (Printer View)

Savory chili spices, ground beef, macaroni, and melted cheddar combine in one pot for easy comfort.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (450 g) or turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pantry

05 - 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
06 - 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
07 - 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
08 - 2 cups (16 fl oz) beef or vegetable broth
09 - 2 cups (uncooked) elbow macaroni

→ Spices

10 - 2 tbsp chili powder
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - ½ tsp salt
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Dairy

16 - 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (150 g)
17 - ½ cup sour cream (120 ml), optional for serving

# Method:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
04 - Add kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, and uncooked elbow macaroni. Stir thoroughly to combine.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
06 - Remove lid and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and creamy.
07 - Serve hot, with optional dollop of sour cream on top.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot so you spend more time eating and zero time scrubbing
  • The pasta absorbs all those chili flavors while it cooks, making every bite taste like it simmered all day
02 -
  • The pasta keeps cooking after you turn off the heat, so take it off the heat when it's slightly firmer than you want
  • The sauce thickens as it stands, so don't panic if it looks a little loose right when you finish cooking
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts so much better
  • Taste the sauce before adding the cheese, since that's your last chance to adjust the seasoning
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