• About
    • PR Info
  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizer
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Soup
  • Holidays
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • New Year’s Eve
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Casseroles
    • Dutch Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Rebecca’s Faves
Get recipes in your inbox
sign up!
Get recipes in your inbox
sign up!

Sugar and Soul

Recipes for Busy Families and Special Occasions

  • About
    • PR Info
  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizer
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Soup
  • Holidays
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • New Year’s Eve
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Casseroles
    • Dutch Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Beverages
    • Cocktails
    • Non-Alcoholic
    • Punch & Sangria
  • Desserts
    • Brownies
    • Cake
    • Cheesecake
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting
    • Fudge
    • Pie
  • Dinner Time
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Beef
    • Casseroles
    • Chicken
    • Pasta
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • Side Dishes
Home » Recipes » Dinner » One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

By: Rebecca  |  Published: June 21, 2018  |  Updated: July 9, 2020  |   View Our Affiliate Disclosure Policy

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
This One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around! via @sugarandsoulco

This One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

When it’s a weeknight, you never want to spend a bunch of time cooking after getting home from work or picking the kids up from school, and that’s where this One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese comes in!

This Chili Mac recipe combines the kick of chili with the creamy cheesiness of mac and cheese, what’s not to love, right?

It’s pretty much two of my favorite things in one pot!

This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

You literally make it on ONE pot, the only other kitchen tool you need is a spatula!

Okay and a few measuring spoons and cups. But the best part, it’s ready in less than 30 minutes, talk about a winning dinner recipe!

Helpful Kitchen Tools:

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Wooden Spatula
  • Large Pot
This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

How To Make Chili Mac and Cheese:

This is such a simple dish to make, especially since it all comes together in a single pot!

  • Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pan or Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a spatula.
  • Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until beef is browned and cooked through and then drain the juice from the beef.
  • Add the seasonings, beef broth, water, and diced tomatoes to the pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add in uncooked elbow macaroni and cook covered for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is al dente.
  • Add in the cream cheese, I like to use my spatula to break it into smaller pieces as I add it so it melts faster. You could also cube it up before adding.
  • Once the cream cheese has melted, add in the milk, lime juice, and shredded cheese and stir until the cheddar cheese has fully melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Remove from heat and serve hot. Garnish with parsley or cilantro.

This pasta dish definitely has a bit of a kick to it so I like to stir in a bit of sour cream to my bowl, but my husband prefers it without.

This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

Chili Mac Variations:

I wanted this recipe to be as easy as possible without sacrificing flavor or taking a lot of time, but there are a few things you can change if you want.

Beans – It really depends on where you’re from, but to some people, beans are a chili staple and you can definitely add them in. Simply add a can of drained and rinsed red kidney beans or black beans to the dish during step 3.

Onion – I almost always add onion to my chili, but I didn’t want this recipe to include any real prep time, but if you want, feel free to dice up a yellow onion and toss it in with the beef in Step 1.

Pepper – You could also add in a diced bell pepper if that’s something you usually enjoy in your chili, add it in during Step 3.

Heat – The base for this recipe isn’t overly spicy so that kids will enjoy it too, but if you like things a little hotter, feel free to add in some fresh diced jalapeno peppers, a small can of green chili, extra chili powder, or even a touch of cayenne pepper to meet your tastes.

Pasta – I prefer to use elbow macaroni for this dish, but small or medium shells would work too and have a similar cook time.

Cheese – I usually use a sharp cheddar cheese, but you could use a three cheese or Mexican blend if you’d like. A Monterey Jack would also be delicious!

Turkey – If you want something a bit leaner than ground beef, you can swap it out for ground turkey.

This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

So as you can see, there are a number of ways to make this chili mac and cheese recipe.

The recipe card calls for the easiest, minimal prep, version but you can use the recommendations above to make it your own given your tastes and time.

I guarantee that this easy one-pot pasta dish will be a hit with the family, and might even make it onto your regular meal plan since it takes just 30 minutes to prepare.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes:

  • Antipasti Pasta Salad
  • Corn Mac and Cheese
  • Fettucine Alfredo
  • Cajun Chicken Pasta
This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

Pin It For Later

Click the button above to save this delicious recipe to your board!

Let’s Connect!

I created a fun little group on facebook and I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can ask questions and see what’s new with Sugar & Soul! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #sugarandsoulco so I can see all the wonderful recipes YOU make from this site! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

This recipe was originally published on March 15, 2015, and was updated in June 2018.

This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!

One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese

Rebecca Hubbell
This One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the perfect cheesy recipe for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 516

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika*
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 28 oz. can Petite Diced Tomatoes with Green Chile, undrained
  • 16 oz. elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole milk*
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large deep pan or pot on medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a spatula.
  • Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until beef is browned and cooked through and then drain the juice from the beef.
  • Add the seasonings, beef broth, water, and tomatoes to the pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add in uncooked elbow macaroni and cook covered for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender. 
  • Add in the cream cheese, I like to use my spatula to break it into smaller pieces as I add it so it melts faster. You could also cube it up before adding.
  • Once the cream cheese has melted, add in the milk, lime juice, and shredded cheese and stir until the cheddar cheese has fully melted.
  • Remove from heat and serve hot. Garnish with parsley or cilantro.

Video

Notes

  • If using a Smoked Paprika, start with 1/2 teaspoon and work your way up from there as this can be a very potent seasoning.
  • If you prefer your chili mac a little looser or you add additional ingredients and find that they have caused the pasta to dry out a bit, add an additional 1/2 cup of milk.

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 23gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 775mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 940IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 3.1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me now!Mention @sugarandsoulco or tag #sugarandsoulco!
This One-Pot Chili Mac n Cheese is the perfect thing for lazy Sundays or a weeknight dinner. It's ready in 30 minutes and combines two of the BEST comfort foods around!
Pin
Share
Email
Print
Bookmark
2080Shares

30 Minute Meals Beef Dinner Pasta Recipes

About Rebecca Hubbell

I love sharing mouthwatering and fun recipes with all of you! My recipes are inspired by classic comfort food, the places I travel, and pop culture! I have a serious sweet tooth and love a good cocktail and pancakes and bacon are definitely my weakness! So stick around a discover something delicious!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    January 2, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    I made this last night for dinner and it was a hit!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      January 2, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Veronica says

    June 28, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    5 stars
    Hey, I made this last week and wanted to come back and talk about how awesome it was. Super easy, super delicious. It’s a shame that this is considered ‘fancy’ for me whereas I’m usually eating frozen stuff every night, haha. But this was actually so good that it’s inspired me to actually cook more often.

    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Hubbell says

      June 28, 2018 at 10:31 pm

      Yay, I’m so glad you loved it, Veronica, and that it’s inspired you to get in the kitchen more!!!

      Reply
  3. Karly says

    June 22, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    I am sooo making this! My family will love it!

    Reply
  4. lauren says

    April 2, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    4 stars
    this is delish! i used hot rotel and some fresh tomatoes because that’s what i had on hand, and the only way i think it could be better is if i sneaked some veggies in… this is YUM.

    Reply
    • Rebecca says

      April 5, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      You could totally sneak some in here, some mushrooms, onions and peppers would work with the dish quite nicely, I think! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. Lou Lou Girls says

    March 30, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    This looks so incredible! Loving it! Pinned and tweeted. Thanks for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7. Lou Lou Girls

    Reply
  6. Katherines Corner says

    March 29, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    This is pure yummy! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. Watch for your feature on Monday. xo

    Reply
  7. Cathy Kennedy says

    March 23, 2015 at 5:15 am

    Good sounding recipe. I saved it to try sometime soon. Thanks for sharing with Inspire Me Monday! 😉

    Reply
  8. Tara says

    March 16, 2015 at 10:45 am

    5 stars
    Love that it is literlly one post with cooking the pasta and all!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I'm Rebecca!

I love sharing sweet and savory recipes that are tested and perfected in my kitchen so they'll be an instant favorite in yours!

Read More

What's Trending!

  • These Brownie Cookies are made from an adapted brownie box mix and are loaded with chocolate chips! They have a crisp outer edge and chewy fudge center just like a classic brownie! Brownie Cookies
  • American Chop Suey is a delicious and easy dinner recipe made with ground beef, tomato, onion, green pepper, macaroni, and spices. Pure comfort food made on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner! American Chop Suey
  • This Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink is a cheaper and just as delicious recipe to make your favorite fruity Starbucks beverage right at home with acai berry tea, coconut milk, white grape juice, simple syrup, and freeze-dried strawberries! Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
  • Lactation Brownies are an easy dessert that helps increase milk production with added ingredients like coconut milk, Brewer's yeast, and oatmeal! Lactation Brownies
  • These 9 Shows You Should be Watching on Netflix are some of the best, but you've probably never heard of them or never seen them, so get binging! 9 Shows You Should be Watching on Netflix
  • This Slow Cooker Italian Beef is an easy dinner recipe inspired by the Chicago staple that has so much flavor it will literally melt in your mouth! Slow Cooker Italian Beef

get the latest recipes

Subscribe for all the recipes in your inbox!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Delicious Dinners!

Close up photo of lemon garlic shrimp in a skillet with zucchini noodles and lemon wedges.

Garlic Butter Shrimp With Zucchini Noodles

Close up photo of grape jelly meatballs in a brown bowl.

Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

A slice of breakfast casserole being lifted out of a pan.

Eggs Benedict Casserole With Hollandaise Sauce

Close up photo of cocktail sauce in a small white bowl on top of a platter of shrimp and ice.

Homemade Shrimp Cocktail Sauce Recipe

A piece of baguette scooping pizza dip our of a white baking dish.

Best Pepperoni Pizza Dip Recipe

Close up photos slightly overhead of a spiral ham.

Maple Peach Glazed Spiral Ham

Close up photo of chicken wings coated in a sticky sauce and topped with scallions.
Two pieces of Baklava stacked on top of each other.
This Slow Cooker Italian Beef is an easy dinner recipe inspired by the Chicago staple that has so much flavor it will literally melt in your mouth!
This Fish Taco Sauce is the ultimate topping for fish tacos. It's a creamy a delicious blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, garlic, and cumin.
These Brownie Cookies are made from an adapted brownie box mix and are loaded with chocolate chips! They have a crisp outer edge and chewy fudge center just like a classic brownie!
American Chop Suey is a delicious and easy dinner recipe made with ground beef, tomato, onion, green pepper, macaroni, and spices. Pure comfort food made on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner!
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo

Footer

Sugar and Soul

Sugar & Soul is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

About

  • Home
  • About
  • PR Info
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse Recipes

  • Air Fryer
  • Appetizer
  • Beverages
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Pasta
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooker
  • Soup
  • Vegetarian
Copyright ©2021, Sugar and Soul | Privacy Policy | Design by Pixel Me Designs