Next Post
Glazed Raspberry Honey Sweet Rolls.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
It’s hard to beat this One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese. Think spicy, saucy chili meets creamy, cheesy mac and cheese. It’s made entirely in one pot and comes together in less than an hour. Spicy chili-seasoned meat mixed with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and hot sauce for a spicy buffalo kick. Finish this chili off with a cheesy mix of cream cheese, Colby jack, and cheddar, kind of like queso! Then mix in elbow macaroni to create the most delicious chili cheese mac! Top each bowl off with fresh cilantro and green onions. It’s so simple and makes you want to say “YUM”!
In my head, I intended to share a salad today, but mac and cheese was more what I was in the mood for. We’ve entered into that time of year between winter and spring when most days are pretty cold. And even though spring is top of mind, it’s still very much winter.
I have salads I’m excited to share. And while I still plan to post them soon, it was cold and snowy. So I made us a pot of chili mac and cheese!
It’s shocking to me that this recipe doesn’t already live on this website. It’s a recipe I’ve thought about creating for years. But I steered away from it because it always felt a little too basic.
But this is nothing short of delicious. It really brings me back to my Midwest roots. One of the very first dishes I ever made was a Rachel Ray recipe that was very similar. To this day, my oldest brother raves about that Rachel Ray pasta. And now I have my own version here on the site.
I know you all will love this so much. It’s so easy to make!
These are the details…
Step 1: cook the meat
For this chili, I used my queso beef chili recipe as a base. You can use ground beef or ground chicken. Use what you and your family will love most.
Cook the meat along with an onion and a poblano or bell pepper. Then add the spices: chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne.
Step 2: Mix in the tomatoes + broth
Add a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, and chopped green chilies. Then season with salt and pepper.
Add the broth, then a couple of cups of water. The water is important and will help the pasta cook in the chili. Cook everything together until the pasta is al dente.
It’s important to stir the pasta frequently to ensure nothing is sticking. But other than that, everything is EASY.
Step 3: the cheese
Mix in the cream cheese and shredded cheese. I mix Colby jack, pepper jack, and cheddar cheese. This is the “queso” element of this chili cheese mac. It makes for the yummiest mac and cheese.
Finish the dish with extra cheese, then bake until it’s super melty.
Step 4: finish up
Now, the toppings. Most chili is delicious as is. But what makes a chili mac recipe over-the-top good are fresh herbs on top.
Sprinkle on lots of fresh cilantro and some green onions. So delish!
Looking for other easy family dinners? Here are a few ideas:
One Pot Buffalo Chicken “Helper”
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
One Pan Autumn Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Easy Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Cheese Stuffed Pasta Bolognese Bake
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese.
Can you swap in ground turkey instead of ground beef or ground chicken?
Yes! For this chili, I used my queso beef chili recipe as the base, but you can swap in ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey and apply all of the same spices.
What do you do with leftover chili mac?
This is one of those meals that makes a great lunch the next day! Keep in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to two days or in the freezer for up to a week or two – you can warm up this recipe for a great meal the next day.
Can you use other types of macaroni in this dish?
Yes! I used elbow macaroni, but you could also use macaroni shells, farfalle, fusille, ziti, rigatoni, or penne.
Could you use Mexican Cheese Blend as the cheese option?
Yes, absolutely – bagged shredded cheese of your choice or shred a cheese block. You can get creative with this recipe and the cheese you select will certainly impact the flavor.
What kitchen supplies do you need for this recipe?
A large braiser (12-14 inches), pot, or dutch over (one of the three), a wooden spoon, spoon rest and can opener!
One Pot Chili Cheese Mac
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 676 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground chicken)
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies
- salt and black pepper
- 2-3 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups shredded melty cheese (colby, cheddar, pepper jack)
- green onions and cilantro, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, add the meat and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the meat all over, breaking up the meat as you go.2. Add the poblanos, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. Cook for 5 minutes, until fragrant. Mix in the tomatoes, tomato paste, and diced chilies. Pour over the broth. Add 2 cups water and season with salt. 3. Add the pasta. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring often. Stir in the hot sauce, cream cheese, and 1/2 the cheese. Cook another few minutes until very creamy. Remove from the heat and top with cheese. Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.4. Divide the pasta and sauce among bowls and top with green onions and cilantro.
Very forgiving recipe and convenient. I had only about 1/2 cup cheese and used beans instead of meat. If it’s too spicy for you, add some sour cream when serving and some avocado slices-you won’t be sorry. Easy to pull together and makes a big pot so we have lunches for a couple days too!
Thanks a lot Kim!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad it was a hit! xT
Loved this! Very easy and flavorful. I didn’t bake it (I’m lazy)- and it was still super yummy. This will be going into my rotation. My husband was a big fan.
Hi Cori,
Amazing!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
I made as written and we kept going back for more, it was so delicious!
Hey Alix,
Love to hear this! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your comment! Have a great Monday! xT
I made this last night and everyone enjoyed it. We omitted the hot sauce and I used an 1/8 tsp of cayenne. Spicy enough for most but not for my husband. Four of us ate half of the pot which means 4 more meals! I love when that happens. This is my second recipe cooking the noodles in the sauce and it takes much longer than what the recipe says. Yesteday I cooked the noodles at least 20 minutes. Thanks for another tasty meal!
Hi Sally,
Happy Sunday! I appreciate you making this dish and sharing what worked well for you:) So glad it was enjoyed! xT
This dish looks so good,but was super mediocreand bland. Unfortunately no one in my family liked it. I followed the recipe exactly except, I omitted the 1/4 cup of hot sauce, which I’m glad I did. Was easy to make, but just not a spectacular or stand out dish in any way . My family told me to never make it again.
Hi Tara, So very sorry to hear this dish was not enjoyed. Please let me know if there is something that I can help with! xx
Made this tonight on a cold blustery day. My family loved it! Super easy. Loved the spice. Used ground pork because that is what I had on hand. We have leftovers for tomorrow. Thank you!!
Hi Vanessa,
I appreciate you giving this dish a try, so glad to hear that it was enjoyed! Hope you get some warmer weather soon:) xT
this chili mac n cheese was soooo good, and so easy to make. substituted ground turkey for the beef, but all else was per the recipe. will def be on my rotation list. delish!
Hi Kathy,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks for trying it and your comment! Happy Friday:)
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! Normally, I make baked spaghetti or tacos with ground beef weekly but loved having something new to try. I did use the poblano pepper and all of the spices and it wasn’t too hot at all. My husband likes spicy food so I added Frank’s Hot sauce to his when I served it. My 1 1/2 year old grandson even liked it. I’ve made my own cookbook (binder) full of your recipes that I have printed. I make notes on them so I will remember if I tweaked anything. My daughter in law loved it so much she asked for one for Christmas. Thank you Tieghan for making cooking fun again!
Hey Becki,
Happy Friday! Wow, thank you so much for your kind message and making so many recipes:) I am so glad to hear that this dish was enjoyed by your family! Have a great weekend! xT
This turned out great. I omitted the hot sauce and cut back on the green chilies and ended up adding some balsamic vinegar near the end.
Thanks so much Krista!! Love to hear this:) xT
Hi I skipped the beef and used pinto beans instead. It was very good !!! Thanks
Such a great idea Wendy!! Thanks so much for trying this dish and your comment! Have a great evening! xT
Great recipe that pleased my whole crew. I omitted most of the heat ingredients; but added some buffalo sauce to a few bowls prior to serving- perfect balance of spice & savory. I’d love all your Instagram recipes in a book one day…
Hi Jill,
Awesome! I love to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
Just made this for dinner tonight and I heard “you can make this again” and “wow – I love it”
Thanks for another amazing recipe Teighan!
Hi Kim,
That’s so awesome!! Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing your feedback! xT
We really liked this — the best chili mac/mac and cheese I’ve ever made! I did chop the onion and poblano together and sauteed them in 1 Tbsp olive oil for a few minutes before adding the ground beef and cooking them all together. I also only used 2 cups of broth (ingredients say 2-3, although directions say 2, which is the right amount). All the spices plus the poblano and the hot sauce made it quite spicy, just the way we like it! Such a creative recipe, and one I’ll be making again (and again).
Hey Helen,
Wonderful! I am so glad to hear that this dish turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! xT
This was delicious! I omitted the poblano and hot sauce and it was about as spicy as normal chili which was perfect. This will be added to my rotation. Thank you!
Hey Hannah,
Fantastic!! So glad to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks for making it! xT
Made this tonight for a rainy day cozy meal, seriously so freakin good. Will definitely be making again.
Hi Katie,
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for making this dish:) Hope you are having a great day! xT
This was so great! My 3 year old has been so picky and even he willingly sat at the table and ate it (and even asked for seconds!). We left out the hot sauce and it still had so much flavor and just enough kick. We also used gluten free noodles and turned it out perfectly!
Aww, so glad to hear this, Jordan! Thanks for trying this recipe and your comment! xT