{"id":773907,"date":"2018-08-31T10:31:00","date_gmt":"0001-01-01T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/origin-www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/chili-macaroni-and-cheese\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T13:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T19:32:23","slug":"chili-macaroni-and-cheese","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/chili-macaroni-and-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Chili Mac and Cheese"},"content":{"rendered":"
This recipe puts two comfort foods together in one slow cooker. For this chili mac and cheese, we cook the beef, tomatoes, peppers and beans in the slow cooker for hours before adding the cooked macaroni and shredded cheddar. It’s a quintessential Crockpot recipe<\/a>: a speedy prep time but plenty of slow-cooked flavor.<\/p>\n Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the beef, onion and peppers for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up the beef into crumbles. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender, then drain all the oil.<\/p>\n Transfer the beef, onion and peppers to a 7-quart slow cooker.<\/p>\n Stir in the tomatoes, beans, chili powder and cumin. Cover and cook on low until the flavors blend, five or six hours.<\/p>\n While the chili cooks, prepare the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, then add it to the slow cooker once the chili is done.<\/p>\n Add the shredded cheese and stir until melted. If desired, serve with a dollop of sour cream and additional shredded cheese.<\/p>\n This chili mac and cheese is ideal for leftovers, and since it reheats so well, you can even cook it a day ahead of time. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to five days.<\/p>\n Yes! Make sure it’s cooled down, then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.<\/p>\n If your chili mac and cheese is in the fridge, reheat it in the microwave, on the stovetop or in the oven at 375\u00b0F until it’s bubbly and melted through. If it’s frozen, let it thaw overnight before reheating it. Either way, add a bit of extra cheese on top when reheating!<\/p>\n You can enjoy slow-cooker recipes without the slow cooker. For stovetop chili mac and cheese, follow the instructions but prepare everything<\/em> in a large Dutch oven on the stovetop. Let it simmer for 30 to 45 minutes before stirring in the pasta and cheese.<\/p>\n This mac and cheese chili is truly a meal in itself. Pair with homemade cornbread<\/a> or biscuits, or one of our coleslaw recipes<\/a>. I also love chili mac with boiled corn on the cob<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What could be tastier on a cold winter day than chili or mac and cheese? Put them together and you have a terrific dish that warms you up and fills you up as well! \u2014Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7061,"featured_media":2119783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[304032,307308,305969,304328,304292,305487,304338,304515,304390,303966,307320,304368,303887,306848,307536,306317,304268,307307,307514,306297,304558,324623,304388,304078,304560,303883,304403],"categories-v2":[308623,310347,311685,311683,308988,308984,308481,308305,310796,308992,308880,308761,308495,310362,308745,308478,309603,310514,312180,259483,310342,310497,312156,308910,309177,308752,308698,309004,308915,308476,308812],"coauthors":[340582],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Potluck Macaroni and 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Cheese","post_link":"\/recipes\/chili-mac-cheese\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Artichoke-Chicken_EXPS_TOHD_24_150984_LauraScherb_14.jpg"},{"post_title":"Saucy Taco Mac and Cheese","post_link":"\/recipes\/taco-mac\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/EXPS_TOHD24_12409_SheriSilver_6.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pizza Macaroni & Cheese","post_link":"\/recipes\/pizza-macaroni-cheese\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Pizza-Macaroni-Cheese_exps162286_TH132767A05_03_3bC_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chili Macaroni","post_link":"\/recipes\/chili-macaroni\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps38937_CFT1192412D59A.jpg"},{"post_title":"Macaroni and Cheese Casserole","post_link":"\/recipes\/macaroni-and-cheese-casserole\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps11774_CX10094C49D.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chili Macaroni 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Mac and Cheese","datePublished":"2018-08-31","dateModified":"2025-02-27","prepTime":"PT25M","cookTime":"PT05H00M","totalTime":"PT05H25M","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chili-Macaroni-and-Cheese_EXPS_TOHWinter26_218901_DR_02_07_16b.jpg","height":1200,"width":1200},"recipeCategory":["Dinner"],"description":"This chili mac and cheese combines hearty, spicy chili with mac and cheese. It's a comfort food mashup!","recipeIngredient":["2-1\/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)","1 medium onion, chopped","1 medium green pepper, chopped","1 banana pepper, finely chopped","2 cans (28 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained","2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained","2-1\/2 teaspoons chili powder","2 teaspoons ground cumin","2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni","4 cups shredded cheddar cheese","Optional: Sour cream and additional shredded cheddar cheese"],"recipeInstructions":[{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Slow-cook the chili","text":"Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the beef, onion and peppers for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up the beef into crumbles. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender, then drain all the oil. Transfer the beef, onion and peppers to a 7-quart slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, chili powder and cumin. Cover and cook on low until the flavors blend, five or six hours.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chili-Mac-and-Cheese-TOHWinter26_218901_DR_02_07_10b.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Cook the pasta","text":"While the chili cooks, prepare the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, then add it to the slow cooker once the chili is done.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chili-Mac-and-Cheese-TOHWinter26_218901_DR_02_07_12b.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Stir in the shredded cheese","text":"Add the shredded cheese and stir until melted. If desired, serve with a dollop of sour cream and additional shredded cheese.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chili-Mac-and-Cheese-TOHWinter26_218901_DR_02_07_13b.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"12 servings (4-1\/2 quarts)","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Risa Lichtman"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 447 calories","fatContent":"21g fat (10g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"96mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"646mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"30g carbohydrate (7g sugars","fiberContent":"7g fiber)","proteinContent":"35g protein. "},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":4.3333335,"reviewCount":6,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5},"review":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2023-04-19","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"Lori4362"},"reviewBody":" Honestly it\u2019s good just needs a little improvement. First, the recipe doesn\u2019t have any salt, pepper, garlic powder etc. I added salt, pepper, and garlic salt to my meat. I also added two more teaspoons of chili powder. I\u2019m still not a huge fan, but it fills an empty stomach. A little too much tomato. Maybe replace one of the cans of tomatoes with canned corn, and a can of drained olives. My family liked it ok, just probably won\u2019t be adding this one to my recipe file.<\/p>","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":3,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2021-08-02","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"mrscessna"},"reviewBody":"I thought this was OK - a little dry. I think a diced jalapeno would be better than the banana pepper.","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":3,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2018-11-01","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"Beema"},"reviewBody":"Flavorful, easy to make, and definitely worth making again. I cut it in half, omitted the banana pepper (only because I didn't have one), and added a bit more chili powder. A keeper.","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2020-04-07","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"Janet"},"reviewBody":"Perfect. Just the right amount of spice. Will make again.","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2018-10-29","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"sstetzel"},"reviewBody":"Amazing","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2019-09-21","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"ChristineBlunt"},"reviewBody":"Made this recipe last night and it was a big hit. Definitely a keeper","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}}]},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"218901","romance_copy_dek":"This chili mac and cheese combines hearty, spicy chili with mac and cheese. 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Cook: 5 hours","MinimumServingQuantity":12,"MaximumServingQuantity":12,"Yield":"12 servings (4-1\/2 quarts).","DigitalTitle":"Chili Macaroni and Cheese","SubmittedTitle":"YUMMY COMFORT FOOD CHILI AND MAC AND CHEESE","RecipeTypeId":1,"AverageRating":4.33,"WebPublishedDate":"8\/31\/2018 10:31:00 AM","ContestPlacementId":null,"FbImage":"FB_SDON18_218901_C06_12_2b.jpg","PreparationTimeInMinutes":25,"CookTimeInMinutes":300,"TotalTimeInMinutes":325,"ServingDescription":null,"IsTestKitchenCertified":true,"IsContestWinner":false,"IsCommunityRecipe":false,"PublishedProjectTitle":"Chili Macaroni and Cheese","OriginalSourceProject":"Chili Macaroni and Cheese","ContestPlacement":"","Trailer":"Chili Mac and Cheese Ingredients<\/h2>\n
\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Slow-cook the chili<\/h3>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 2: Cook the pasta<\/h3>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 3: Stir in the shredded cheese<\/h3>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Chili Mac and Cheese Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Chili Mac and Cheese<\/h2>\n
Can you freeze chili mac and cheese?<\/h3>\n
How do you reheat chili mac and cheese?<\/h3>\n
Chili Mac and Cheese Tips<\/h2>\n
DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Can you make chili mac and cheese on the stovetop?<\/h3>\n
What can you serve with chili mac and cheese?<\/h3>\n
Test Kitchen tips<\/B>\r\n
Test Kitchen tips<\/B>