One Pan Chili Mac

10/19/26 recipe has been retested and updated

Looking for an easy dinner that the whole family will love? This One-Pan Chili Mac recipe combines savory ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, colorful bell peppers, warm chili powder, and plenty of melty cheddar cheese in one skillet. It’s a hearty, cheesy comfort food dinner that brings together the best parts of a pot of chili and homemade mac and cheese!

Why I love this one pan recipe

This is truly a one pan recipe!!  For reals!!  Some recipes say they are one pan, but then you find yourself washing that pan five times during the course of a five hour escapade of what was billed as the easiest one pan recipe known to man. Beware of pretty pics with words on pinterest.  Most of them will lie to you.

This easy one-pot meal is perfect for busy weeknights when you want to get dinner on the table without creating a sink full of dishes. Everything cooks together in a large, oven-safe skillet, allowing the pasta to soak up all those delicious, savory flavors. Finish it with extra cheese and serve it with Fritos or tortilla chips for a fun, family-friendly meal.

Whether you call it chili mac or one-pot chili mac, this satisfying dinner is sure to become one of your favorite meals. It’s easy to customize with ground turkey, extra lean ground beef, your favorite beans, or a blend of cheddar and pepper jack cheese. Add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of extra cheese, and you’ve got the ultimate comfort dinner!

Gather these ingredients

How to make One Pan Chili Mac

1. Brown the ground beef and vegetables. Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a deep, oven-safe 12-inch skillet, cook the ground beef with the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic until the beef is browned and the vegetables begin to soften. Spoon off any excess grease or liquid.

2. Add the beans and seasonings. Drain and rinse the pinto beans, then stir them into the beef mixture. Add the salt, cumin, Italian seasoning, and chili powder, stirring until everything is well combined. Keep the stovetop heat at medium to medium-low as needed.

3. Stir in the tomatoes and macaroni. Add the crushed tomatoes, Rotel diced tomatoes, water, and uncooked elbow macaroni. Stir well, making sure the pasta is evenly distributed throughout the sauce.

4. Bake until the pasta is tender. Cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid and carefully transfer it to the preheated 400°F oven. Bake for 20 minutes, allowing the macaroni to cook right in the flavorful tomato sauce.

5. Add the cheese. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and take off the lid. Sprinkle 1–2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the top, then return the skillet to the oven uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pasta is tender.

6. Add your favorite toppings and serve. Let the chili mac rest briefly before serving. Top with chopped cilantro, chili cheese Fritos, diced avocado, sour cream, or extra shredded cheese. Serve it straight from the skillet for an easy, hearty one-pot meal the whole family will love!

Why you’ll love this easy one-pot meal

• One-pan convenience: A hearty one-pot meal means less cleanup and more time around the table.
• Family-friendly comfort food: Ground beef, tender pasta, chili spices, and melted cheese make a satisfying dinner for the entire family.
• Easy to customize: Swap in ground turkey, add black beans or pinto beans, or use a Mexican cheese blend.
• Perfect for toppings: Serve with sour cream, extra cheese, tortilla chips, or chili cheese Fritos for added crunch. Anything you like on your chili will go on top of Chili Mac!

Tips for the best Chili Mac

1. Choose the right skillet. Use a large, deep, oven-safe skillet so the pasta and other ingredients fit comfortably.
2. Drain excess grease if needed. If you’re using ground beef with a higher fat content, remove excess grease after browning for the best results.
3. Use freshly shredded cheese. Fresh grated cheese melts better and is blends into the chili mac. Cheddar, pepper jack, or a Mexican cheese blend are all delicious options for a cheesy finish,
4. Customize the heat. Adjust the chili powder to your taste and add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you like a little extra kick.
5. Serve it your way. A handful of Fritos or tortilla chips adds crunch, while sour cream balances the warm spices.

This recipe is no lie. It’s easy, scrumptious, and quick! Cross my heart, hope to fly (I know it’s originally die, but well, I just changed it, so there), stick a needle in my eye. I truly am, hypothetically speaking, willing to jab my eyes out and take flight all in the name of helping you get your family around the table without much stress!

If life is busy and you’re struggling to find time to make dinner, give this easy One-Pan Chili Mac recipe a try! This hearty, cheesy comfort food dinner was developed out of the need to get a delicious meal on the table quickly, without much mess. Ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, savory chili spices, and plenty of melty cheddar cheese come together in one skillet to make a family-friendly dinner everyone will love. Because really, who has time to do dishes?

We’ve found this one-pot chili mac is marvelous scooped up with Fritos! Add a dollop of sour cream and a little extra cheese if you’re feeling fancy. It’s an easy, satisfying weeknight dinner that just might become one of your family’s favorite meals.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment below and let me know how your family liked it. ⭐ Rate the recipe in the recipe card, share it with a friend who needs an easy dinner idea, and pin this recipe on Pinterest so you can find it the next time you’re wondering what’s for dinner. If you share it on social media, tag #eat2gather so I can see what you’re cooking!

From my table to yours with love, Sheila