Chili Mac

By Matt Price

Feb 05, 2025

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Chili Mac: A Comfort Food Mashup You Didn’t Know You Needed

Introduction

Looking for the ultimate comfort food that brings together the bold flavors of chili and the creamy, cheesy goodness of mac and cheese? You’ve found it with this Chili Mac! This recipe is everything you crave—spicy, savory, cheesy, and just the right amount of comfort.

The rich chili base combined with the indulgent, gooey mac and cheese will leave you going back for seconds (or thirds!). Get ready for a flavor-packed experience that’s perfect for family dinners, game days, or just whenever you want something cozy and delicious.

Let’s dive in!

Tips:

• Spice Control: If you want a milder version, skip the jalapeño or reduce the chili powder. If you like things extra spicy, toss in some diced green chilies or a splash of hot sauce.
• Make it Ahead: Chili mac makes great leftovers! You can prepare the chili and mac and cheese separately ahead of time and combine them just before serving.

• • Vegetarian Option: Swap the ground beef for a plant-based protein or just use more beans and veggies for a delicious vegetarian version.

Begin by prepping your ingredients and getting everything accurately measured. This will make your overall cooking (and clean-up) process a lot smoother!

Dice your onions and peppers – along with the garlic, if you’re using fresh.

Cook 1.5 lbs of ground beef in a hot skillet. Try to get some nice crust to develop – as this will add flavor and texture to your dish.

Here we have AP Seasoning, buttery garlic pepper, 2 types of Chile powder, and cumin – as our spice blend for the chili.

Add your veggies and seasoning and mix to combine. Next, add in your tomato paste and fold that in as well.

Now it’s time to add in the tomato sauce and let this simmer for 20-30 minutes. Taste as you go and adjust the flavor as needed. The honey can be added to balance the flavors.

Moving on to Mac! This is a simplified version of my standard Mac and cheese. The Mac component here, in my opinion, acts as a sour cream topping on traditional chili would (except with much for flavor and complexity!)

Add your butter and seasoning, followed by the heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Next, slowly add in your cheese – mixing as you go – until you get a nice cheese sauce. Fold in the cooked pasta (that you cooked in salted water of course!) and then boom, you’ve got fire Mac and cheese!

Fold that into your chili and add to a casserole dish. Top with Colby jack cheese and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Chili Mac:

This Chili Mac is a total comfort food upgrade. The savory chili, combined with the rich and creamy mac and cheese, makes for the perfect one-pot meal.

You’ve got spice, you’ve got cheese, you’ve got texture, and you’ve got that deep, flavorful chili base — it’s the kind of dish that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a cozy blanket after a long day. It’s cheesy, hearty, and comforting in all the best ways. Enjoy! 🍲🧀🌶

Serve with optional bread crumb topping or with bread crumbs(garlic bread or cornbread) and enjoy! Comfort food season just got better!

Print & Download: Chili Mac

Chili Mac

The rich chili base combined with the indulgent, gooey mac and cheese will leave you going back for seconds (or thirds!). Get ready for a flavor-packed experience that’s perfect for family dinners, game days, or just whenever you want something cozy and delicious.

Let’s dive in!

Ingredients 

For the Chili:

• 12 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1.5 lbs ground beef, you can use lean or fatty — your choice
• 1-2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeds removed, finely chopped for some heat
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp cumin, warm, earthy flavor
• 2 tsp ancho chili powder, adds a smoky depth
• 1 tsp chili powder, classic chili flavor
• 1 tbsp garlic butter seasoning, for extra richness
• 1 tbsp AP seasoning, all-purpose seasoning for balance
• 2 tbsp tomato paste, for concentrated tomato flavor
• 29 oz tomato sauce, the base of the chili
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, adds savory umami
• 2 tbsp honey, for a subtle sweetness to balance the heat

For the Mac and Cheese Component:

• 8 oz sharp cheddar, for that tangy, creamy melt
• 1 lb cavatappi pasta, or any pasta shape you prefer, but cavatappi holds onto the sauce wonderfully
• 8 oz Colby jack, mild and melty
• 8 oz fontina, for creaminess and a rich flavor
• 2 tbsp butter, because everything’s better with butter!
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon, enhances the overall savory depth
• 1 tsp buttery garlic pepper, a great way to season the cheese sauce
• 2 cups heavy cream, for that ultra-creamy sauce

Instructions 

Prep Ingredients

• Dice your onions and peppers – along with the garlic, if you’re using fresh.
• Cook 1.5 lbs ground beef in a hot skillet. Try to get some nice crust to develop – as this will add flavor and texture to your dish.
• Add your veggies and seasoning (AP Seasoning, buttery garlic pepper, 2 types of Chile powder, and cumin – as our spice blend for the chili) and mix to combine.
• Next, add in your tomato paste and fold that in as well.
• Now it’s time to add in the tomato sauce and let this simmer for 20-30 minutes.
• Taste as you go and adjust the flavor as needed. The honey can be added to balance the flavors.

Moving on to Mac!

• This is a simplified version of my standard Mac and cheese. The Mac component here, in my opinion, acts as a sour cream topping on traditional chili would (except with much for flavor and complexity!)
• Add your butter and seasoning, followed by the heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
• Next, slowly add in your cheese – mixing as you go – until you get a nice cheese sauce.
• Fold in the cooked pasta (that you cooked in salted water of course!) and then boom, you’ve got fire Mac and cheese!
• Fold that into your chili and add to a casserole dish.
• Top with Colby jack cheese and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
• Serve with optional bread crumb topping or with bread crumbs(garlic bread or cornbread) and enjoy! Comfort food season just got better!

Notes

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

 

Tips:

• Spice Control: If you want a milder version, skip the jalapeño or reduce the chili powder. If you like things extra spicy, toss in some diced green chilies or a splash of hot sauce.
• Make it Ahead: Chili mac makes great leftovers! You can prepare the chili and mac and cheese separately ahead of time and combine them just before serving.

• • Vegetarian Option: Swap the ground beef for a plant-based protein or just use more beans and veggies for a delicious vegetarian version.

Additional Info

Course: Comfort Food