Description
Hearty Crockpot Chili Mac and Cheese blends comfort classics into one satisfying meal. Cheesy pasta mingles with robust ground beef and zesty seasonings, creating a simple slow cooker dinner perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Base and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 2 green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with diced onions and minced garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat, ensuring meat is fully cooked and crumbled. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Pour beef mixture into crockpot, combining with kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and classic chili spices including chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix ingredients until evenly distributed.
- Allow mixture to slow cook on low temperature for 6 hours or high temperature for 3 hours, developing rich, deep flavors.
- During final 30 minutes of cooking, introduce uncooked macaroni directly into crockpot, gently stirring to prevent sticking. Continue cooking until pasta reaches perfect al dente texture.
- Once pasta is tender, fold in shredded cheddar cheese, stirring continuously until cheese melts completely and creates a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions across the top for a bright, crisp garnish and added flavor dimension.
- Serve immediately while hot, ensuring each portion captures the hearty blend of chili and cheesy mac.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, lighter version that’s perfect for health-conscious eaters.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or monterey jack to add an extra flavor kick and customize the dish’s spice level.
- Prepare extra portions and freeze in individual containers for quick, convenient meals during busy weekdays – this chili mac reheats beautifully without losing texture or taste.
- For gluten-free options, replace regular macaroni with gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg