This chili mac recipe is simple to prepare and makes a great weeknight meal that even picky kids will love!
I know, I know.
It’s May. And I’m sharing a chili recipe.
You guys, I’m actually laying on a beach right now and dreaming about this Chili Mac. I don’t care how hot it is, I don’t care what time of year it is, I don’t care about grilling season or soup season or any of that other nonsense.
This Chili Mac is quickly outdoing my Creamy Baked Spaghetti as our family’s favorite meal. We are eating it on the regular.
We used to live in a little town with a Steak ‘N Shake. They had steakburgers and milkshakes and chili mac. Their chili mac used spaghetti noodles, but I prefer macaroni. I mean, you guys, it’s called Chili Mac. Why mac if there are no macaroni noodles??
I hear Skyline also does the chili mac. Anyone know if they use spaghetti or macaroni?
Anyway, the secret to this recipe is the bottled chili sauce. Do not skip it or this will just be a bowl of chili with noodles. The chili sauce does something magical and transforms this into something else entirely.
You can top this any way you like. I prefer diced onions, shredded cheese, and a little sour cream. My husband just goes for the cheese. My kids don’t put anything on theirs.
Also, we don’t put beans in our chili, because none of us really like beans. If you’re a bean-eater, you can totally add them here. Ain’t no thang.
Oh, and don’t judge me for using the packets of chili seasoning. I love them and I’ll never give them up no matter what you say. Everytime I make chili, I get requests for the recipe and my response is always “Follow the recipe back of the McCormick chili seasoning packet, but add a little brown sugar.” Bad food blogger!
Chili Mac
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 2 packets chili seasoning or your own mix
- 29 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 pound macaroni
- 1/2 cup Heniz chili sauce
- Grated cheese for topping
- Diced onions for topping
- Sour cream for topping
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain the fat and add the chili seasoning, tomato sauce, and brown sugar.
- Stir to combine and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
- While the chili is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to package directions. Drain and set return to the pan.
- Pour the chili into the pan with the cooked macaroni. Add the chili sauce and stir to combine.
- Serve with cheese, onions, and sour cream.
Nutrition Information:
Chloe @ foodlikecake says
That looks so good!! I love chili and this…YUM 🙂
Emma says
Karly I love this!
We are jet heading into winter here in Australia and this will be perfect! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Enjoy your vaycay
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Haha @ bad food blogger! I definitely use some seasoning packets…sometimes you just don’t mess with those things! I can’t wait to try this! I’ve never had steak ‘n shake, but there is a million here in FL! Now I’ll have to give them a go! Pinned!
Rachel Cooks says
Love this! Total comfort food.
Stephanie says
This is dinner!!! Thanks for a great recipe. I love using “help” too.
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Ok, chili sauce? I didn’t even know that was a THING?! My kids will love this!
Paula Atkinson says
You can find chili sauce on the aisle w/ the condiments. It’s usually near the cocktail sauce, tarter sauce, things like that, on the top shelf. It looks a lot like cocktail sauce, actually, but will say Chili Sauce on it! I use it to make sloppy joes!
Matt Robinson says
Killin’ me with this Karly! I don’t care if it’s May, this is getting made here!
Carla says
At my ripe old age and having cooked for over 60 years, I love easy recipes. I made some chili mac the really lazy way. My husband is gluten intolerant and has been for twelve years. Gluten-Free cooking is not difficult as there are so many GF options available.
I made a batch of GF Mac and Cheese, it is a mix and can be found at Aldi’s and other supermarkets, then I take a can of Brookdale Chili with beans, (the brand sold at Aldi’s) the all-meat chili contained wheat, I heat that in a pan on my stove or you can heat it in the microwave, it is your choice. Then I combine the two. Easy Chili-Mac and there is enough for two meals for us. I serve it with a salad.
If you do not have to eat GF, any canned chili or mac and cheese mix will do.
Kathy says
We eat things like this, year round! My kids would love it! And I absolutely love Steak N Shake and Skyline. Sadly, we don’t live in Cincinnati anymore to get those though! But I am thinking how good this chili mac would be with the Skyline meat sauce! I might just have to try making it at home.
Katie says
This looks freakin fantastic 🙂 and I totally agree, who cares what time of year it is, that’s what air conditioning is for!! I’m gonna crank down the AC put on my favorite sweats and dig in. I have a feeling the hubby will love this too!
marcie says
In my opinion, it’s never too hot for chili! This sounds so good, and I hope you’re having a wonderful time at the beach!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
Okay I will have to admit it is sunny and warm here and chili anything is not on my radar screen. But last week it was raining and grey, so it would have been perfect. Albeit having said that—-anytime is pasta time!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
Now I want chili mac. This looks so cheesy. Who cares if it’s hot. Pinned.
Darlene says
You heard correctly. Skyline Chili makes their chili mac with spaghetti noodles. Their chili is pretty good; it must be the cinnamon they put in it.
Michelle says
I replace ground beef with ground turkey in my recipes and it is sold in 1# packages. I’m wondering if I should just do 2# of meat and leave everything the same or 1# of meat and cut back to 1 seasoning packet. Any thoughts?
Karly says
You can do either. It shouldn’t matter too much. Alternately, buy 2 pounds and save a 1/2 pound for another use. 🙂
Jen says
I just made this and it was a huge hit for myself and my son! I believe his exact words were ” this was the goodest diner ever.” Hey six year olds don’t lie!! I will for sure cut the recipe in half for only two people or maybe I’ll try freezing some and see how it turns out! Thanks for a delicious and EASY/QUICK meal ????
Karly says
Glad to hear you and the kiddo enjoyed it! 🙂 I think this would probably freeze really well, so maybe give that a shot!
Jen says
The questions marks should have been a smiley face from my iPhone……
Scottdirk says
Aloha. It’s wonderful. Only that I changed it to be more Hawaiian kine. Cut the chili sauce a bit, then added a bit more brown sugar, and used a bit more onion, and chopped tomatoes, and garlic powder. Ono, like I remember. Served over steamed rice. Mayo, crackers, sour dough bread to dip. Totally Enjoying. Mahalo for the memories.
Heather C says
Is the chili sauce spicy? My kids do not like spicy so on a scale of mild, medium and HOT how would you rate it?
Karly says
It’s not spicy. Definitely mild. Like a much more seasoned ketchup. 🙂
Octavia J. says
I just made this with Morningstar Farms crumbles(substituted it for ground beef) along with the additional seasonings that I normally put in my chili(which coincided greatly with the ingredients in the recipe) and it was a success!!! Thanks Karly!!
Tracy S says
This is amazing! The only thing different I do is I add 2 cans of green chilies and a regular chili packet and a tex mex chili packet. Everyone asks for the recipe! Delicious!
Brandi says
Made this tonight. I was a little skeptical that everyone would like it, But it was a huge it. Even my pickiest liked it. I think next time I will use less brown sugar, it was a little too sweet for me. I did add a can of red kidney beans. I will make this again for sure!
Karly says
Glad the family enjoyed this one! 🙂
Tom says
Hi Karly, Thanks for sharing this recipie! I thought you would be interested to know
that Spaghetti is a Macaroni product so even though Steak N Shake uses a spaghetti noodle for their
chilli-mac, it is still considered Macaroni! Spaghetti is just a version of a macaroni!!
Thanks!
Tom
Sarah Baker says
I love chili Mac supreme at steak and shake but you never know how much you are getting! Sometimes it maybe a tbs or you may get an order! Depends on the server! It is like we may serve too much so they give you a tbsp!
Bonnie Hauge says
We live in Fort Worth, Texas (Where the West Begins) and I’ve never considered the weather when making a pot of chili! I like chili sauce very much so think I will add it to the pot next time – thanks for the idea!
wildwildrose says
O MY! I made this today and it is delicious! I made copycat Heinz Chili Sauce and homemade Chili Seasoning and after throwing it all together put it in the crockpot on LO for about and hour and a half. Yum! This is a KEEPER! Thanks for sharing. Now I am even more excited to try even more of your recipes!
Karly says
So glad it turned out! Great idea to use the crockpot. 🙂