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This Chili Mac is a slow cooker favorite that everyone loves. 

This Slow Cooker Chili Mac is a family favorite classic.  Rich, hearty chili slow cooks all day before getting lots of melty cheese and noodles mixed in.  This is flavorful, delicious and always a hit.

I love delicious and easy dinners that I can just throw in the slow cooker and I know that everyone will love and this Chili Mac is one of our favorites.

I love that I can just throw everything in the slow cooker and have a delicious, flavorful dinner that everyone really enjoys.  Whenever I find a dinner that everyone in my house eats that is amazing because I have some picky eaters!  And for it to be in the slow cooker? That’s a double win!

This starts with an easy flavorful chili that slow cooks all day, then you stir in some noodles and cheese for the perfect chili mac recipe. 

I love that you can customize this to your family’s taste, make it spicier, add your favorite beans, add your favorite seasonings, you can totally make this recipe your own.  You can also top this however you like, I like to just add scallions but you can top it with black olives, jalapenos, cilantro, sour cream or avocado. 

Can we also take a minute to talk about how budget-friendly this dinner is?  Everyone is feeling the pinch with the grocery bill right now and you can’t get much cheaper than ground beef and a few other ingredients.  So this is a fabulous dinner when you are trying to save a few pennies and it makes a ton!

Next time you want a family-friendly dinner even the pickiest kids will love throw these ingredients together and let the slow cooker take care of the rest! 

I promise your whole family will love these Slow Cooker Chili Mac. 

You will want to make this dinner again and again! We do!

You will love this recipe because it is

• Easy and fast.
• Family-friendly.
• Budget-friendly.
• Full of flavor.
• A set it-and forget-it meal.
• Perfect for weeknights.
• Picky eater approved.

My favorite slow cooker for this recipe is this Hamilton Beach one.

Can I freeze this?

You can freeze this after cooking.  The noodles might not be quite the same texture but it should still taste delicious!

Can I use any protein?

Yes, you can use any ground meat you like, beef, chicken, turkey, pork.  You could even use diced up chicken tenderloins. 

What should I serve this with?

This is a great dish on it’s own but it is really good with a salad or some cornbread on the side.  I actually like to serve it with this Classic Corn Casserole.

Can I make this spicier?

You can add red pepper flakes or sriracha, add fresh or canned jalapenos to the chili while cooking or top with jalapeno slices before serving to give this a kick. 

 

Ingredients used

• Ground Beef – I like to use lean ground beef for this.
• Peppers and Onions – I use a frozen mix, saves me time and they get nice and tender.
• Chili Seasoning –  Use your favorite brand or you can make your own. 
• Garlic – You can use jarred or fresh. 
• Diced Green Chiles –  These add a great flavor but not a lot of heat.
• Can Tomatoes with Green Chiles –  Also add a great flavor.
• Can of Red Kidney Beans – Drain and rinse these.  I like to use the light red ones but use whichever you prefer.
• Can Black Beans – Rinse and drain these.  You could even use the preseasoned ones for more flavor. 
• Can of Tomato Paste –  To help create the base.
• Sugar –  Helps cut the acidity of the tomatoes. 
• Water or Beef Broth – This helps the noodles cook and get tender. 
• Macaroni Noodles – Of course you need macaroni noodles for chili mac but feel free to use any short pasta shape you like. 
• Cheddar Cheese –  I like sharp cheddar, freshly grated. 
• Scallions – These add such a great flavor to the finished dish. 

How to make Slow Cooker Chili Mac

 

1. FULL RECIPE BELOW
2. In a medium skillet over medium high heat, brown and drain your ground beef.
3. To your slow cooker add the ground beef, onion and bell peppers, garlic, green chilies, tomatoes, tomato paste, red kidney beans, black beans, sugar and beef broth.
4. Sprinkle on your chili seasoning.
5. Stir to combine.
6. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
7. 20 minutes before serving add the elbow macaroni.
8. 5 minutes before serving stir in half of the cheese.
9. Top with the remaining cheese.
10. Cover and let the cheese melt.
11. Top with your favorite toppings, serve!!

 

Want more Easy Family Friendly Dinners? Check these out!

• Copycat Taco Bell Nacho Supreme Fries
• Chili Pie Boats

• Air Fryer Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes

• Classic Spoonburgers
• Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches
• Easy 3 Ingredient Chili

Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

This Slow Cooker Chili Mac is a family favorite classic.  Rich, hearty chili slow cooks all day before getting lots of melty cheese and noodles mixed in.  This is flavorful, delicious and always a hit.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 cups frozen peppers and onions
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope chili seasoning
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (4 ounce) can of diced green chiles
• 1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 (15 ounce) can of red kidney beans, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (6 ounce) can of tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups water or beef broth
• 8 ounce macaroni noodles
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
• Scallions for topping

Instructions

1. In a medium skillet over medium high heat, brown and drain your ground beef.
2. To your slow cooker add the ground beef, onion and bell peppers, garlic, green chilies, tomatoes, tomato paste, red kidney beans, black beans, sugar and beef broth.
3. Sprinkle on your chili seasoning.
4. Stir to combine.
5. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
6. 20 minutes before serving add the elbow macaroni.
7. 5 minutes before serving stir in half of the cheese.
8. Top with the remaining cheese.
9. Cover and let the cheese melt.
10. Top with your favorite toppings, serve!!

Notes

You can add your favorite chili seasonings!

You can spice this up by adding diced jalapenos to the slow cooker.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can freeze this without the pasta in an airtight freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Top this with your favorite chili or taco toppings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 458Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 908mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 34g