Crockpot Chili Mac
Crockpot Chili Mac is one of my go-to ‘set-and-forget’ winter warming recipes!
You get to look forward to a bowl full of flavorful ground beef mixed up with tender elbow noodles in a rich tomato and beef broth sauce, seasoned to perfection with an array of spices. What could be better than that?
Letting Serve your crockpot chili mac as is or garnish it with some shredded cheese and enjoy it with some homemade dinner rolls or a light salad.
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RECIPE TIPS
- If you decide to modify this chili mac by adding in veggies such as corn, make sure that you only add these into the slow cooker around the same time that you add the elbow noodles otherwise you’ll end up with a mushy texture.
- The Crock Pot is a great cooking appliance for setting meals at the beginning of the day and coming home to a flavorful meal. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this on your stovetop or in the oven and use my Best Baked Mac and Cheese as a guide.
- Serve this Crockpot Chili Mac as is or with a side dish such Creamy Cucumber Salad or dinner rolls.
How to Make Crockpot Chili Mac
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned throughout.
- Place cooked ground beef in your crockpot and add in the onion, garlic, beans, tomato sauce, broth and broth. Add the seasoning to taste, then stir to combine completely.
- Secure lid on crockpot and set to high for 3 hours.
- In the last 20 minutes of cooking, stir in the elbow noodles and cook until they reach your desired consistency.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings.
HOW TO STORE CROCKPOT CHILI MAC
- This comforting and hearty Crockpot Chili Mac can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container once completely cooled.
- You can also opt to freeze this chili mac for up to 1 month. When ready to enjoy, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator to reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350℉ for about 30-35 minutes till hot and bubbly throughout.
WHAT VARIATIONS CAN I MAKE TO THIS CROCKPOT CHILI MAC?
- If you’re in the mood for some extra heat in your food then add in some hot sauce, red chili flakes, or simply increase the amount of chili powder used.
- Feel free to top each serving of your chili mac with shredded cheese. Something like Pepper Jack would be a delicious option!
- If you don’t have elbow noodles (aka macaroni pasta), then use another variety of short pasta but be sure to always check the cooking directions on the box. Remember too that if you use larger pasta then you may need more liquid since it will absorb more. Adding an additional ½ cup of liquid to the slow cooker and extra seasoning to account for flavor dilutions will be just fine.
- You could use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef although it may alter the taste slightly since the fat content in beef is what gives the dish a rich flavor.
- You could also add in some corn to this chili mac – it offers a lovely sweet and crunchy addition to the soft chili mac. If you do, I suggest adding the corn towards the end of the cooking time so that the corn doesn’t become too soft.
Crockpot Chili Mac
This Crockpot Chili Mac recipe is one of my go-to ‘set-and-forget’ winter warming recipes! Filling, easy to make and a family favorite!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 cup beef broth
- 14 oz cans beans of choice
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups elbow noodles uncooked
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned throughout.
- Place cooked ground beef in your crockpot and add in the onion, garlic, beans, tomato sauce, broth and broth. Add the seasoning to taste, then stir to combine completely.
- Secure lid on crockpot and set to high for 3 hours.
- In the last 20 minutes of cooking, stir in the elbow noodles and cook until they reach your desired consistency.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings.
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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