Description
This hearty Slow Cooker Chili Mac combines the best of both worlds – classic chili and creamy mac and cheese. Made with ground beef, beans, pasta, and plenty of cheese, it’s the ultimate comfort food that practically cooks itself.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups beef broth
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Optional toppings: sour cream, diced green onions, extra cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Drain excess fat.
- Transfer meat mixture to slow cooker. Add kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- In the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, stir in the elbow macaroni.
- Once pasta is tender, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve hot, topped with additional cheese, sour cream, and green onions if desired.
Notes
- Don’t add the pasta too early or it will become mushy. It only needs about 15-20 minutes to cook in the hot liquid.
- For best results, use regular elbow macaroni rather than whole wheat or gluten-free varieties.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- The chili will thicken as it stands. Add a splash of beef broth when reheating if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
