What to serve with chili mac?

Serving Suggestions This is a hearty meal on its own, but I love serving it with some cornbread . It would also go well with a side salad or even some biscuits! To make The Best One-Pot Chili Mac Recipe, start by browning your ground beef with the onion and garlic.

How do you reheat chili Mac?

How do you reheat chili mac? Reheat chili mac on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating . Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe dish and heat in short intervals, stirring in between. How do you make leftover mac and cheese better?

What is the difference between goulash and chili mac?

What's the Difference Between Chili Mac and Goulash? Chili mac is very similar to American goulash — a one-pot meal made with ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. American goulash, however, doesn't call for evaporated milk, and also isn't made with beans .

Is chili mac a northern thing?

It is a common dish in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States , and is also popular in other areas of the United States. Several variations of the dish exist, and prepared canned and boxed versions also exist. It can be a relatively inexpensive dish to prepare, and has been described as a comfort food.

Why does reheated chili taste better?

The meat releases collagen and gelatinizes into a thicker, more luxurious texture . Same deal with vegetarian chili; the starches in beans break down, adding richness and viscosity. Plus, during that overnighter, the flavors soak into each other for a chili that's greater than the sum of its parts.

How long does chili mac last in the fridge?

Storage Tips Leftover chili mac can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days . To Reheat. Warm gently in the microwave or on the stovetop in a large skillet sprinkled with a small amount of water or chicken broth to keep the pasta from drying out.

How long is chili mac good for?

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days . Leftovers can be frozen and do reheat well, be extra careful not to overcook the macaroni so that it's not mushy when reheated.

What are good sides to have with chili?

Discover 16 of our best side dishes to serve with chili. 01 of 15. Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread. ... 02 of 15. Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad. ... 03 of 15. Savory Roasted Root Vegetables. ... 04 of 15. Perfect Baked Potato. ... 05 of 15. Ann's Dirty Rice. ... 06 of 15. Cornbread Muffins I. ... 07 of 15. Loaded Tater Tots. ... 08 of 15. Creamy Spiced Coleslaw. More items... Feb 27, 2020

What pairs nicely with chili?

Chili, with its rich flavors and comforting warmth, is often hearty enough to stand alone, but the right sides can make it truly shine. Rice. ... Cornbread Casserole. ... Baked Potato or Sweet Potato. ... Fresh bread. ... Garlic Bread. ... Salads. ... French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings. ... Biscuits. Nov 3, 2023

What is traditionally served with chili?

Cornbread is a classic and time-tested accompaniment to chili, and for good reason. The slightly sweet, toasty flavor of the cornbread will complement the boldly-spiced chili. And whether you prefer your cornbread to be served oven-to-table in a cast-iron skillet or baked as muffins, our recipes are sure to satisfy.

What is macaroni traditionally served with?

In the United States, macaroni is traditionally used in macaroni and cheese , a popular staple across generations. The name comes from Italian word maccheroni (the plural form of maccherone). Macaroni pairs well with practically any type of sauce, baked recipes, soups, salads or stir-fry dishes.

One-Pot Healthy Chili Mac Recipe (30-Minute Meal!)

Home Recipes Dinner Chicken

4.80 from 20 votes

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This healthy chili mac recipe is made with ground turkey, whole wheat macaroni, and lots of flavorful spices. It’s the perfect weeknight meal everyone will love!

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Easy Chili Mac Recipe

Hi guys! Nicole from Cooking for Keeps, so glad to be back here again this month bringing you this healthy one-pot chili mac recipe.

We all have those meals that evoke nostalgic memories of our childhood, don’t we? While some of those memories can be derived from life-changing gourmet meals at James Beard Award winning restaurants, I’m willing to bet that for the majority of us, the memories that stand out the most vividly are those that are quite the opposite. Pot Roast from Grandma’s kitchen. Spaghetti and Meatballs courtesy of Mom. Drippy ice cream cones on hot summer days. Pancakes, bacon and sausage on Sunday mornings. Cake on your wedding day.

Of course, the aforementioned dishes are a few of the foods that elicit fond memories of childhood and food for me, but for you, I’m sure they’re vastly different. For example, for my Mom, there are two foods I know of that she adored growing up, and two foods that she still loves to this day – fried chicken and chili mac.

While she might have had homemade chili mac at some point in her life, the chili mac I always find tucked away in their pantry, where prying eyes aren’t likely to see, is none other than good ol’ canned Chef Boyardee. And keep in mind guys, my Mom is a foodie, from-scratch kind of cook like myself (where do you think I got it from?), so for her to have something pre-packed in her pantry is pretty hysterical. But, like me, she has her vices when it comes to food — mine mortifyingly being Hamburger Helper and Kraft Mac and Cheese — so really I have no room to judge.

I know she’s probably pretty happy with her guilty pleasure, but since I made my first one-pot dish a few weeks ago, I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to reprise my inaugural try. Chili mac and cheese seemed like the perfect way to go about it.

What I’m absolutely head over heels about is that it not only comes together in one pot, but also in under 30 minutes AND is seriously healthy. I swapped out whole-wheat macaroni in place of regular, used ground turkey breast instead of ground beef, and used only one cup of shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese.

Perfect for a weeknight meal….or a little trip down memory lane.

Homemade Chili Mac Ingredients

This chili macaroni is packed with real, good for you ingredients and lots of spices. Here’s what I used to make this homemade chili mac:

Olive oil
Onion
Green bell pepper
Jalapeño
Garlic
Ground turkey
Spices
Salt
Stewed tomatoes
Black beans
Macaroni noodles
Water
Shredded cheese

How to Make Chili Mac

The steps for this chili mac recipe really couldn’t be any simpler! A little bit of onion, garlic, green pepper and just a touch of jalapeño are sautéed in olive oil. Ground turkey breast is browned. Spices, tomatoes, black beans, macaroni and water are stirred in.

The whole pot simmers until the pasta is cooked, a handful of shredded cheddar cheese is tossed in, and this one-pot wonder is done.

Can I Prep This in Advance?

Chili mac is best enjoyed right away, but leftovers will keep well in the fridge. Just keep in mind that the pasta will likely soften over time as it’ll soak up some of the sauce.

Can I Make Chili Mac Vegetarian?

I grew up eating chili mac made with ground beef, but you’re welcome to omit the meat altogether if you’re vegetarian. If you omit the meat, I recommend adding a second can of beans to bump up the protein in this dish and make it stretch a little farther.

Tips for Making Chili Mac

I used ground turkey in this chili mac recipe, but you can also use ground chicken, pork, or beef. Pick whichever is your favorite!

An easy way to change up this chili mac and cheese is to use different types of cheese or a cheese blend. I used shredded cheddar, but provolone, white cheddar, Colby Jack, or pepper jack cheese would also work well in this recipe.

If you have leftover chili macaroni, I recommend reheating it in a saucepan with a splash of water. You don’t want the pasta to dry out!

More MACARONI RECIPES You’re Going to Love:

Instant Pot Southern Macaroni and Cheese
Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese
Ham and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe (with Sour Cream!)
Sweet Pork Macaroni and Cheese
Roasted Red Pepper Macaroni and Cheese
Easy Southern English Pea Pasta Salad
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
Southwest Pasta Salad
All our PASTA RECIPES here!

Here are some more CHILI RECIPES that you’ll love:

Award Winning Healthy Turkey Instant Pot Chili
Best Stove Top Chili
Brisket Chili
Cheesy Ground Beef Enchilada Chili
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili
Pumpkin Apple Cider Chili
White Chicken Chili
Surprise Chili
White Bean Turkey Chili
Dr Pepper and Chocolate Chili
The BEST Instant Pot Chili
All our Chili, Soup, and Stew Recipes here!

Looking for more easy healthy recipes?

Healthy One-Pot Chili Macaroni

Healthy One-Pot Chili Mac

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4.80 from 20 votes

Servings: 6 -8

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Description

This healthy chili mac recipe is made with ground turkey, whole wheat macaroni, and lots of flavorful spices. It's the perfect weeknight meal everyone will love!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, , diced
1 green bell pepper, , diced
1 jalapeno, stems and seeds removed, minced
3 garlic cloves, , minced
1 pound ground turkey breast
2 tablespoons chili powder
½ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
2 cans stewed tomatoes, 15 oz
1 can black beans, 15 oz, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups macaroni noodles
2 ½ cups water
1 cup shredded cheese, , plus more for topping

Instructions

In a large pot heat olive oil over a medium heat.
Add onion, pepper, jalapeno and garlic. Sauté until softened slightly, about three minutes.
Add turkey and break up into small pieces. Cook until brown.
Add chili powder, cumin, salt, tomatoes, beans, noodles and water. Stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium-low heat.
Cook until noodles are soft, about 12 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese.
Scoop into bowls and serve with more shredded cheese if desired.