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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Dinners

By Joanie Zisk Published: Dec 6, 2022 · Updated: Dec 6, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Chili Mac For One

Jump to Recipe
a blue bowl filled with chili mac on a silver tray next to a whole red bell pepper and a wedge of Parmesan cheese

Chili Mac is an easy one-pot meal that can be ready in minutes. Filled with ground beef cooked with macaroni noodles and topped with cheese.

a blue bowl filled with chili mac on a silver tray next to a whole red bell pepper and a wedge of parmesan cheese

Chili Mac is a comforting one-pot dish that you can have on your table in just 30 minutes. When my kids were younger, it was one of my go-to meals that they absolutely loved. We've scaled down our big batch recipe into this wonderful single serving version so that it's ideal for one or two people to enjoy.

Jump to:
  • What Is Chili Mac?
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Chili Mac For One
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How To Store
  • Variations
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
  • Recipe

What Is Chili Mac?

Chili mac is the ultimate combination of two popular dishes - chili and macaroni pasta. Our sensational ground beef dinner features plenty of vegetables, canned red or black beans (if you love chili without beans, simply leave them out), everyday spices, pasta, and cheese.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Incredibly delicious: We start by making the chili first. We brown lean ground beef and combine it with sautéed onions, red bell peppers, and garlic. Then we add in the seasonings, beans, broth, and pasta. As the pasta cooks in the broth, it absorbs all of the wonderful flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Ready in minutes: Our chili mac cooks in less than 30 minutes!
  • Recipe doubles well: This single serving chili mac is ideal for serving one person. If you'd like to make a little more, simply double the ingredient amounts.
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Ingredients

chili mac ingredients on a kitchen counter

Ingredient Notes

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

  • Ground meat: Use lean ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork. You can even make a vegetarian chili mac by adding extra beans, using vegetable broth, and leaving out the ground meat.
  • Vegetables: I love using chopped onions, red bell peppers, and garlic. This is a great recipe to be creative with. Consider using different vegetables like broccoli florets, carrots, or a handful of fresh spinach.
  • Seasonings: I recommend using ground cumin, chili powder, and salt.
  • Broth: I prefer using low-sodium chicken broth to control the salt content of the dish. If you use regular chicken broth, you might want to reduce the amount of salt you add. I always recommend tasting the finished dish and adding extra seasonings and salt if needed.
  • Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this easy chili mac recipe and in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains a more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil, but you may use lighter olive oil instead.
  • Beans: I prefer using canned rinsed and drained red beans. You can use black beans, garbanzo beans, or great northern beans instead.
  • Pasta:  I use 2 ounces (57g) of uncooked elbow macaroni or you can use another small pasta shape. Two ounces of dried elbow macaroni is about ½ cup.
  • Parmesan cheese: I like adding a little shredded Parmesan cheese as a topping.

How To Make Chili Mac For One

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes until tender.

Pro Tip: I believe the secret ingredient to good chili is fresh onions - but also garlic too. Technically, these are two ingredients but they seem to go hand in hand in so many good recipes. Freshly chopped onions and garlic add a depth of flavor that dried versions can't match.

chopped onions and red bell peppers in a skillet
  1. Add chopped garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute.

Pro Tip: Look for tomato paste that comes in a tube. You can find it in the same section of your grocery store where cans are found. A tube stays good in the refrigerator for much longer than canned. You can also freeze the leftover paste in ice cube trays. When frozen, pop the cubes out of the tray and store them in a zip-top bag in the freezer.

onions, garlic, bell peppers, and tomato pasta cooking in a skillet on the stove
  1. Add the ground beef to the pan breaking up the ground beef as it cooks. Cook, stirring occasionally until meat is no longer pink and is starting to brown, 5 minutes.

Pro Tip: The best ground beef for chili has a little bit of fat. I think 85-90% is ideal. The small amount of fat adds richness to the sauce and keeps the meat moist.

ground beef cooking in a skillet along with vegetables
  1. Pour in the broth, beans, cumin, salt, and chili powder and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the pasta, and cover the pot with a lid.
chili mac simmering on the stove
  1. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
  2. Transfer to a bowl, top with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy immediately.
chili mac in a bowl next to a white napkin

Expert Tips

  • Read through the entire recipe before beginning. This easy chili mac skillet recipe comes together quickly. Be sure to read through the recipe and the Ingredient Notes and gather your ingredients before starting.
  • Drain the fat: If you're using ground beef with a higher fat content, you will need to drain the fat once the beef has browned.
  • Add some heat: If you like chili with a bit of a kick, add chopped jalapeños or dried chili pepper flakes.
  • Use extra cheese: Many people love cheesy chili mac so feel free to stir in a handful of shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
  • Add a topping: Consider topping your dish with a layer of crushed tortilla chips for a nice crunch or a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between Goulash And Chili Mac?

Goulash and chili mac are very similar. Both of these ground beef meals are made in one pot. Goulash does not contain beans.

How Can I Make Chili Mac and Cheese?

Combining chili with mac and cheese is a great idea. To make this chili mac more of a cheesy chili mac add plenty of cheese to the chili mac as it heats on the stove. I prefer using sharp cheddar cheese, a blend of cheddar and mozzarella, or monterey jack.

Can I Make Vegetarian Chili Mac?

Yes! To make a vegetarian version simply replace the ground beef with a plant-based "meat" or use extra beans. Also, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Can I Use Different Noodles?

Absolutely. Although elbow macaroni is perfect for chili mac, you can use other types of pasta as well. I recommend using small shaped pasta like bowtie, penne, or rotini.

Can This Recipe Be Doubled?

Yes. If you'd like to make a second bowl of chili mac just double the ingredient amounts.

How To Store

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat chili mac in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat this dish in the microwave.

Variations

  • No Beans: If you like your chili without beans, leave them out. Keep the rest of the recipe the same.
  • Make It Spicy: Add a little extra chili powder or some freshly chopped jalapeños.
  • Mexican Chili Mac: Make a Mexican-inspired version by adding pepper jack cheese and taco seasoning.
  • Use Different Vegetables: Add in other vegetables that you may have on hand like broccoli florets or mushrooms.
  • Make A Dairy-Free Chili Mac: This is easy to do by simply leaving out the Parmesan cheese topping.

Serving Suggestions

You might like to enjoy your bowl of chili mac with any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

  • Mexican Street Corn Dip
  • Cornbread
  • Corn Muffins
  • Hush Puppies
  • Sautéed Green Beans
a bowl of chili mac and cheese with the spoon above the bowl

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch chili mac recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes.

  • Ground beef: Meat Sauce, Hamburger Casserole, Mini Meatloaf, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Stuffed Peppers
  • Onions: Mushroom Casserole, Chicken Tortellini Soup, Pizza Bowl, Green Bean Casserole, White Chicken Chili
  • Garlic: Corn Casserole, Chickpea Curry, Penne alla Vodka, Baked Pasta With Roasted Vegetables, Cowboy Caviar
  • Tomato paste: Coq au Vin, Mushroom Pasta, Chicken Tagine, Irish Stew, Crawfish Pasta
  • Chicken broth: Chicken and Dumplings, Risotto, Turkey Cutlets, Chicken and Rice Casserole, Potato Soup
  • Beans: Red Beans and Rice, Classic Beef Chili, Turkey Chili, Taco Soup, Chili Baked Potato
  • Cumin: Butter Chicken, Vegetarian Enchiladas, Baba Ganoush, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Southwest Wrap
  • Chili powder: Zuppa Toscana, Steak Fajitas, Beef Tacos, Tomato Soup, Beef Enchiladas
  • Macaroni: Macaroni and Cheese, Goulash, Swedish Meatballs, Tuna Casserole, Buttered Noodles

For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

If you’ve tried this single serving chili mac recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

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Recipe

chili mac in a bowl next to a white napkin

Chili Mac For One

Chili Mac is an easy one-pot meal that can be ready in minutes. Filled with ground beef cooked with macaroni noodles and topped with cheese.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 468kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • 10-inch skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped onions
  • ¼ cup chopped red bell peppers
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 4 ounces lean ground beef
  • ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
  • ¼ cup canned red beans , rinsed and drained
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ cup dried elbow macaroni (2 ounces/57g)
  • 1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes until tender.
  • Add chopped garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute.
  • Add the ground beef to the pan breaking up the ground beef as it cooks. Cook, stirring occasionally until meat is no longer pink and is starting to brown, 5 minutes.
  • Pour in the broth, beans, cumin, salt, and chili powder and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the pasta, and cover the pot with a lid.
  • Continue cooking, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
  • Transfer to a bowl, top with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Read through the entire recipe before beginning. This easy chili mac skillet recipe comes together quickly. Be sure to read through the recipe and the Ingredient Notes and gather your ingredients before starting.
  • Drain the fat: If you're using ground beef with a higher fat content, you will need to drain the fat once the beef has browned.
  • Add some heat: If you like chili with a bit of a kick, add chopped jalapeños or dried chili pepper flakes.
  • Use extra cheese: Many people love cheesy chili mac so feel free to stir in a handful of shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
  • Add a topping: Consider topping your dish with a layer of crushed tortilla chips for a nice crunch or a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped green onions.
Nutrition Facts
Chili Mac For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 468 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 0.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 13g
Cholesterol 75mg25%
Sodium 799mg35%
Potassium 815mg23%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 36g72%
Vitamin A 44IU1%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 86mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ray W. says

    December 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm

    I made this recipe tonight and was delighted that I did. It came together quickly, and the taste hit the spot. The only change I made was to use less salt. (I am trying to cut back on salt). I plan to use the left-over beans in Your Red Bean and Rice recipe.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Hodges says

    December 10, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    I like this with plenty of cheddar cheese instead of parmesan. I double the recipe for my husband and I and then we have 1 serving left over for lunch the next day.

    Reply
  3. J. Hegyi says

    December 06, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    Terrific recipe.

    Reply

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