Description
Quick Pioneer Woman chili mac blends hearty comfort with zesty southwestern flavors in one skillet. Ground beef, pasta, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef (90-93% fat-free)
- ½ cup (120 ml) onion, finely chopped
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can small diced tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can tomato sauce
- 4 cups (946 ml) beef stock
- 8 oz (227 g) uncooked macaroni (roughly 2 cups)
- 1 ½ tbsps (22.5 ml) chili powder
- 2 tsps (10 ml) cumin powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
- 1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) ground black pepper
- shredded cheddar cheese for serving
- sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Meat: Heat a large pot over medium-high flame. Brown ground beef with diced onions, breaking meat into fine crumbles until beef develops a deep caramel hue and onions become translucent, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Build Flavor Base: Pour beef stock, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce into the pot. Incorporate chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, kosher salt, sugar, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly and allow mixture to gently simmer, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Cook Pasta: Add uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the simmering liquid. Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform cooking. Let macaroni absorb the spicy essence and become perfectly tender, roughly 12-15 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Ladle the steaming chili mac into serving vessels. Generously top each portion with sharp cheddar cheese, creating a melting cascade. Finish with a dollop of creamy sour cream, transforming the dish into a comforting, indulgent meal.
Notes
- Master Meat Browning: Crumble ground beef meticulously to develop deep, rich flavor and prevent large meat chunks, ensuring even caramelization and maximum taste absorption.
- Pasta Perfection Technique: Add uncooked macaroni directly into the simmering sauce to allow complete flavor infusion and prevent extra dishes, creating a one-pot wonder with perfectly tender pasta.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Let hot chili mac sit for 2-3 minutes after adding cheese to allow natural melting, creating a luscious, creamy texture without excessive stirring.
- Spice Balance Trick: Adjust seasonings gradually and taste throughout cooking, understanding that chili powder and cumin intensify as the dish simmers, preventing over-seasoning.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg