Serve with more cheese and tortilla chips. Ladle the chili mac into bowls and sprinkle with scallions. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.

Off the heat, add the evaporated milk and cheese and stir until the cheese is melted. Use a soup spoon to skim any grease off the top, if necessary. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring every so often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, until the pasta is tender, 9 to 12 minutes. Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, oregano, sugar and pasta. Then add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.Ĭook, stirring often, about 1 minute more.Ĭook, stirring and breaking apart the meat, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven medium heat until shimmering. I mean, with pasta, cheese, and ground beef, how can you go wrong with kids? Serve it with tortilla chips for dipping or crushing over the top. Now I make a big batch when my nephews, Max and Leo (ages 9 and 7), come for dinner. When my kids were younger, it was one of my go-to weeknight dinners. It’s a comforting one-pot dish that you can have on the table in less than 45 minutes. Garnish with chives and cheese of preference.Photo by Johnny Miller (Clarkson Potter, 2021)Ī regular menu item in the school cafeteria when I was growing up, chili mac is one of those nostalgic dishes that reminds me of my childhood.

Carefully and evenly portion the macaroni and beef on the four plates. Remove from heat if the sauce has thickened up.

Be careful not to burn yourself when tasting food. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. Mix, and bring to a light simmer, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through. Add the ¼ cup starchy water along with cherry tomatoes and the macaroni elbows. Add tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, broth. In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat until the oil is slightly smoking, quickly for about 30 seconds, saute garlic and then immediately add the beef. Cover with lid and keep warm.Ĭrumble Trifecta Beef by hands into a bowl and keep on the side until needed. Sprinkle a small splash of olive oil into the pasta and mix to coat all elbows. Save ¼ cup of the starchy water.ĭrain pasta over a colander and return elbow to the same pot. Cook pasta elbows as indicated by the box.

Recipe for mac and beef