Description
This hearty Chili Mac recipe combines creamy mac and cheese with flavorful chili beans, ground beef, and mild Rotel tomatoes for a comforting one-pan meal that’s quick and perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 box (24 oz) Family Size Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 (16 oz) can chili beans (do not drain)
- 1 (10 oz) can mild Rotel (do not drain)
- 1 packet mild chili seasoning
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream, for serving
- Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
- Thinly sliced green onions, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the macaroni noodles from the deluxe mac & cheese box following the package directions. Drain but do not rinse the noodles and set them aside. Keep the cheese sauce packet for later use.
- Brown Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef along with the finely diced onion until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are softened about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked pasta, chili beans with their sauce, mild Rotel tomatoes with juices, and the mild chili seasoning packet to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients and let the mixture cook for 5-8 minutes to meld flavors.
- Add Cheese Sauce: Pour in the cheese sauce from the foil packet included in the mac & cheese box. Stir thoroughly to incorporate the creamy cheese into the chili mac mixture.
- Serve: Serve the chili mac hot, optionally topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced green onions for extra flavor and garnish.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, use medium or hot Rotel and chili seasoning.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option.
- Drain excess grease thoroughly to avoid a greasy final dish.
- Add additional toppings like jalapeños or crushed tortilla chips for texture and heat.
- Leftovers reheat well and can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
