Description
This Chili Mac recipe is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal combining creamy mac and cheese with spicy chili beans, ground beef, and zesty Rotel tomatoes. Perfect for a family dinner, it comes together quickly in about 25 minutes and serves 8, making it a convenient and satisfying comfort food.
Ingredients
Mac and Cheese
- 1 box (24 oz) Family Size Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
Chili Components
- 1 (16 oz) can chili beans (do not drain)
- 1 (10 oz) can mild Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies (do not drain)
- 1 packet mild chili seasoning
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the macaroni noodles from the box of Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese according to the package instructions. After cooking, drain the noodles but do not rinse them. Set them aside for later use, and keep the foil packet of cheese sauce untouched.
- Brown Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and finely diced yellow onion. Cook and crumble the beef until it is no longer pink and the onions are softened. Drain off any excess grease to keep the dish lean.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the beef and onions. Pour in the can of chili beans (with liquid), the can of mild Rotel tomatoes (with liquid), and sprinkle the mild chili seasoning over the mixture. Stir everything thoroughly and allow it to cook together for 5 to 8 minutes, letting the flavors meld.
- Add Cheese Sauce: Open the foil packet of cheese sauce from the mac & cheese box and pour it into the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients into a creamy, savory chili mac mixture.
- Serve: Serve the chili mac immediately while hot. Optionally, top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced green onions for added flavor and garnish.
Notes
- Do not rinse the cooked pasta after draining to retain the sauce’s ability to cling well.
- Draining the grease from the cow meat helps reduce fat content and keeps the dish lighter.
- For a spicier dish, consider using hot Rotel or adding extra chili seasoning.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for larger gatherings.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop.
