In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer the meat to the crock of the slow cooker.
1 ½ lb ground beef, salt, black pepper
Add the beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato sauce, green chiles, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin. Stir well to combine. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
3 15-ounce can pinto beans, 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, 2 cup chicken stock, 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce, 1 4-ounce can green chiles (chopped), ¼ cup chile powder or ground chile, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin
At some point before serving, cook the macaroni to al dente, according to package directions. Rinse and drain. Chill if making several hours in advance.
12 oz elbow macaroni
At serving time, stir in the macaroni and serve with shredded cheese and chopped cilantro.
4 oz cheddar cheese (shredded), ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
Notes
Nutritional values are approximate and are based on ⅛ of the recipe. Serving Suggestions: Serve chili mac on its own with some fun toppings or with an easy vegetable tray or green salad on the side. It's pretty hearty on its own, so you may want a side of veg.To Make a Meal Prep: This recipe makes for easy lunches during the week. Prep the recipe as directed, allow the steam to blow off. Divide the chili mac among six containers with lids. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Consume within 4 days.Freeze Extra for Later: The dish may be frozen; just be sure not to overcook the noodles. Simply chill completely in the fridge and store covered in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator prior to reheating.Make a Plan for Leftovers: Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days. Reheat leftover chili mac in the microwave or for best texture, the air fryer. If you store your leftovers in clear containers, they’re more likely to get eaten.Be inspired to use leftovers creatively! If you've got leftover chili, you can cook up some noodles and combine them that way. Chili mac is delicious and can be made lots of different ways.Recipe Tips
Shop your kitchen. There are so many different subs you can consider based on what you have. Use whatever small noodles you have on hand. It doesn't have to be macaroni. Swap in all kinds of beans in combination or on their own. Top it with your favorite toppings or try some new ones you've never tried, like chopped pickles or black olives.
This is a great recipe for using leftover pasta. Since uncooked pasta can get gummy in the slow cooker, I prefer to stir it in near the end of cooking. If you cook extra pasta earlier in the week, this is a great recipe for using it up.