Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Slow Cooker Chili Mac is a dump and start crock pot recipe. Delicious chili with some pasta added at the end makes this a hearty, economical one-pot slow cooker meal. Enjoy this crock pot chili mac recipe on Game Day, or any time you want a bowl of comfort food.

Slow Cooker Chili Mac

It’s chili. It’s macaroni. Together it becomes Chili Mac! We love this flavorful comfort food, with the hint of spice and a rich, yummy sauce.

This is a very easy recipe to make. You don’t even have to cook the meat first, you can just put it in the crock and make your Slow Cooker Chili Mac!

First of all, you may ask why don’t you need to cook the ground beef or turkey first. The meat will cook in the slow cooker with the other ingredients, and as long as you use extra lean meat, there is no extra fat to drain.

Of course, you do get bonus flavor by browning the meat in a skillet with the onion and garlic & spices. However, if you want to get dinner in the crock and get going, don’t bother to brown it first.

I have often made this Slow Cooker Chili Mac recipe with ground turkey, and it is still just as delicious. You can use chicken broth instead of beef when you use ground turkey, or still use the beef broth for its rich flavor.

Part of the fun with this crock pot chili mac recipe is adding all of the yummy toppings to your serving! The possibilities are many! I have found that my favorite combo is cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.

Keeping it simple and still so delicious!

The pasta will cook in the sauce of the chili. Adding the pasta about 20 minutes before serving will ensure a nice al dente texture. Different pastas may vary.

If you don’t want to add the pasta, you don’t have to. Just reduce the beef broth by about 1 cup. You can always add more at the end if it is too thick.

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Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

4 hrs

Total Time

4 hrs 10 mins

 

Slow Cooker Chili Mac is a dump and start crock pot recipe. Delicious chili with some pasta added at the end makes this a hearty, economical one-pot slow cooker meal.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Tex Mex

Keyword: crock pot chili mac recipe

Servings: 6 - 8

Calories: 499 kcal

Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

• 1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef or Ground Turkey (93%-97% lean)
• 1 Yellow Onion, chopped
• 4 lg Garlic Cloves, pressed or finely minced
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 Tbsp Chili Powder
• 1 Tbsp Cumin
• 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)
• 1 can Diced Green Chiles, mild
• 1 (14 oz) can Diced Tomatoes (with juice)
• 3 cups Beef Broth* (low sodium)
• 2 tsp Beef Bouillon
• 2 (14 oz) cans Beans (red kidney, black, or pinto) drained & rinsed
• 1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste
• 2 cups Small Elbow Macaroni (or 8 oz other pasta) dry

Instructions

1. Add the meat, onion, garlic, bay leaf, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir.

2. Add the diced green chiles, diced tomatoes, beef broth, bouillon, beans, and tomato paste. Stir well.

3. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or High for 3-4 hours.

4. If you add the pasta dry, add it 20 minutes before serving and cook on Low. If adding cooked pasta, add just before serving.

5. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Garnish with your choice of sour cream, cheese, avocado, diced onion, corn chips, cilantro, etc.

Recipe Notes

*If adding cooked pasta at the end, only add 2 cups of beef broth and add the third cup before serving, only if chili is too thick.