Description
Crock Pot Cheddar Chili Mac combines seasoned ground beef, mild chili beans, tomatoes, tender elbow macaroni, and melted cheddar in a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni, cooked al dente and drained
- 1 15-ounce can mild chili beans, undrained
- 1 10.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: sliced green onions, sour cream, crushed corn chips, or extra cheddar
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain the grease.
- Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain well.
- Drain the diced tomatoes with green chiles, but leave the chili beans undrained.
- Add the browned beef, cooked macaroni, chili beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and garlic salt to a 4-quart slow cooker.
- Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- Spread the mixture into an even layer and sprinkle the shredded cheddar across the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours or on high for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Rotate the slow cooker insert halfway through cooking when the appliance heats unevenly.
- Switch the cooker to warm once the center becomes hot and the cheddar melts.
- Serve warm with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- Cook the macaroni only until al dente so it does not become mushy in the slow cooker.
- Drain the tomatoes, but keep the seasoned liquid from the chili beans.
- Freshly shredded cheddar melts more smoothly than many packaged shredded cheeses.
- Slow cookers heat differently, so check the dish early during your first attempt.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Add a splash of broth, milk, or water before reheating thick leftovers.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 323
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 1082
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 27
- Cholesterol: 67