Description
A comforting and hearty dish that combines ground meat, pasta, and a robust chili sauce, topped with gooey cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, or vegetarian crumble)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni or any pasta shape
- 1 can chili beans
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced bell pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Cheddar preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Boil water in a large pot and cook the pasta until al dente.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté diced onions and bell peppers for 5 minutes.
- Add ground meat to the skillet, season with salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, and cumin, and cook until fully browned.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and chili beans, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the chili mixture and stir in half of the cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, pour any remaining sauce on top, and sprinkle the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving and garnish with fresh herbs or jalapeños.
Notes
For a crispy top, switch to broil for the last 2-3 minutes of baking. Adjust spices to taste throughout the process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Chili Mac, Casserole, Comfort Food, Pasta Dish, Family Recipe