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    Home » Recipes

    Chili Mac Casserole - Comfort Food Everyone Will Love

    by Patti Estep · Sep 28, 2018

    Jump to Recipe

    This recipe for chili mac casserole is a hearty comfort food dish that serves a crowd and is perfect for your next potluck dinner or game day party.

    Other Tasty Casseroles: 
    Chicken Black Bean Casserole, Philly Cheese Steak, and Eggplant Casserole

    Chili mac casserole serving

    Hearty chili and pasta is a no-brainer combination.

    I really don't know the origins of Cincinnati Chili but it's a pretty big deal there where they serve chili on top of spaghetti.

    We prefer small pasta, specifically elbow macaroni and have been eating it this way for years.

    Dried poblanos

    Something I've really enjoyed adding lately are these yummy, smokey dried poblano peppers that my brother-in-law gave me. They really add a nice depth of flavor to the chili without extra heat. 

    The red peppers are from my daughter's garden and they really pack in the heat for those of you who enjoy a little extra spice.

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    chili mac casserole dish

    This recipe makes a great casserole dish that you can serve at home or bring to your next get together. You can also keep the chili and macaroni separate. 

    If you are bringing this to a party or serving it to guests make sure to offer plenty of fun toppings.

    Topping Bar Ideas:

    • sour cream
    • grated cheese (cheddar, queso, manchego)
    • diced scallions
    • chives
    • diced raw onions
    • pickled or fresh jalapeno sliced
    • sliced black olives
    • salsa
    • guacamole
    • red pepper flakes
    • chopped tomatoes
    • tortilla strips or crushed chips

    Perfect for sitting in front of the TV on game days; chili mac casserole tastes great leftover too.

    A great hearty comfort food recipe for the fall and winter, however, I really like it all year long.

    chili mac casserole dish

    Chili Mac Casserole

    Patti Estep
    The delicious flavor of your favorite chile combines with macaroni for a wonderful homey casserole.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dinner Recipes
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 12
    Calories 286 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound elbow macaroni
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic crushed or grated
    • 1/2 large sweet onion diced
    • 1-2 dried poblano peppers chopped fine
    • 1 large green pepper
    • 2 fresh jalapeno pepper finely chopped optional
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
    • 1 can 15 oz chickpeas, drained
    • 1 can 15 oz pinto beans, drained
    • 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained
    • 1 can 28 oz crushed tomatoes
    • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
    • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Cook macaroni until slightly less than the package states. Drain, rinse and set aside.
    • Saute garlic, onions, and peppers in olive oil.
    • Add chili powder, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. Stir well. Saute for a few minutes to coat the vegetables and brown the spices.
    • Add ground beef and stir until brown all the way through.
    • Add beans followed by crushed tomatoes. Stir well
    • Simmer for 20 minutes on medium, low heat.
    • Combine chili with cooked macaroni and place in a 9 x 13 baking dish that has been sprayed with vegetable spray.
    • Top with grated cheddar and bake in a 325-degree oven for 10 minutes.
    • Serve with toppings of sour cream, jalapeno slices, sliced olives, chopped scallions, grated cheese, diced onion, salsa etc..

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 22gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 267mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    chili mac casserole collage
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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. lauren at laurenalforddesign.com

      October 07, 2018 at 9:31 pm

      definitely bookmarking this one, my husband would love it !

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        October 08, 2018 at 6:23 am

        Thanks Lauren. My husband loves it. I hope yours does too.

        Reply
    2. Carole West

      September 28, 2018 at 9:07 am

      Let's just say yum - things finally cooled down here and I was trying to figure out what comfort food sounded good. Thank you for helping guide my way this looks tasty.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 28, 2018 at 11:01 am

        Thanks Carole. It's great for cooler weather but to be honest I sometimes make it even when it's hot. 🙂

        Reply

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    I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects, including crafts, gardening, home decor, and tasty recipes

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