Easiest Chili Mac ‘n’ Cheese Recipe Ever: Comfort Food in 30 Minutes Budget Recipes Dinner Beef Pasta

This summer my younger son had the opportunity to go to an overnight camp with two of his buddies. He had fun and learned a lot. He made new friends and missed home. There were things he liked and things he didn’t. Among the things he liked best: the FOOD. We were not expecting this!

One of the simplest and most popular meals served at camp is Campfire Chili Mac. It’s about the simplest chili macaroni recipe you can imagine. Here it’s adapted for the stove – no campfire required! – and modified a bit by me. It’s great for bringing back campfire memories and also great for those busy weeknights when you:

• Crave comfort food.
• Need dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

Be sure to serve oven s’mores (no campfire required) for dessert.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 5 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 box (16 ounces) pasta of your choice (I prefer elbow macaroni or shells)
• 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 jar (23 ounces) pasta sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
• corn chips, for serving (optional)

Additional Ingredients to Consider

• oregano
• cumin
• red bell pepper
• diced tomatoes
• chopped green chiles
• black beans, drained and rinsed
• cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Here’s how to make it:

1. Boil pasta to al dente and drain (don’t overcook).
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and heat until cooked through, with no pink in the meat. Add pasta sauce and cheese.
3. Add chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir. Add pasta last. Stir until everything is well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with corn chips.

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