The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is known for her hearty, flavorful, and family-friendly recipes. Among her many popular dishes, chili stands out as a classic comfort food. Building upon her renowned chili recipe, we bring you a delightful twist: Pioneer Woman Chili Mac. This recipe combines the robust flavors of her original chili with the cheesy, satisfying goodness of macaroni and cheese, creating a one-pot meal that’s perfect for cozy nights in, potlucks, or a comforting family dinner.
Chili mac is the ultimate comfort food mashup, marrying the best of both worlds. It’s essentially chili and macaroni and cheese combined into a single, glorious dish. This Pioneer Woman-inspired version takes the rich, seasoned base of her chili and blends it with tender macaroni, all topped with melted cheese for an irresistibly gooey and flavorful experience.
Whether you’re a fan of Ree Drummond’s cooking or simply seeking a delicious and easy chili mac recipe, this version is sure to become a new family favorite. It’s customizable to your liking, perfect for feeding a crowd, and can be made using various cooking methods to suit your schedule.
A close up shot of chili mac in a pot with a spoon lifting a cheesy portion.
Crafting Your Pioneer Woman Chili Mac
This recipe starts with a flavorful chili base, very closely adapted from The Pioneer Woman’s famous chili. We’ll then take that chili and transform it into a chili mac by adding macaroni and cheese. Here’s how to bring this comforting dish to life:
The Chili Base: Flavor is Key
The foundation of any great chili mac is, of course, the chili itself. The Pioneer Woman’s chili recipe is praised for its perfect balance of spices and hearty ingredients. We maintain that same balance here, using ground beef, a blend of chili seasonings, and beans to create a robust and flavorful base.
To start, you’ll brown ground beef until it’s cooked through and then drain off any excess grease. This step is crucial for preventing your chili mac from being overly greasy. Next, you’ll introduce diced garlic and tomato sauce, allowing their flavors to meld with the beef. The magic truly happens when you add the seasoning blend – chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and a touch of cayenne pepper. These spices create the signature warm and savory notes that define a good chili.
Ground beef being browned in a pot as the first step to making chili mac.
A secret ingredient to thicken the chili and add a subtle corn flavor is masa harina. Masa harina, a finely ground corn flour, is mixed with water to create a slurry and then stirred into the chili. This helps to bind the ingredients together and creates a more substantial texture. Finally, kidney and pinto beans are added for heartiness and classic chili flavor.
Transforming Chili into Chili Mac
Once your chili base is simmering and the flavors are developing, it’s time to turn it into chili mac. The simplest approach is to cook your macaroni separately according to package directions until it’s al dente. Drain the macaroni and then add it directly to the pot of chili.
For the cheese element, you have options. You can stir in shredded cheddar cheese directly into the chili mac for a creamy, cheesy sauce as it melts. Alternatively, for a truly decadent chili mac, you can prepare a classic cheese sauce using butter, flour, milk, and cheddar cheese, and then combine it with the chili and macaroni. A simple shortcut is to use a can of condensed cheese soup for a quick and easy cheese sauce.
Cooking Methods for Your Chili Mac
Just like the original Pioneer Woman Chili, this chili mac recipe is adaptable to different cooking methods, making it convenient for any home cook.
Stove Top Chili Mac
The stove top method is the most straightforward and allows for quick cooking. You’ll follow the chili base instructions in a large pot on the stove. Once the chili is ready, simply stir in the cooked macaroni and cheese sauce (or cheese) and heat through until everything is well combined and heated.
Crock Pot Chili Mac
For a hands-off approach, the crock pot is an excellent choice. You can prepare the chili base as directed, either browning the beef on the stove top first or using a stove-top safe crock pot to brown the beef directly in the pot. Once the chili base is in the crock pot, you can add the cooked macaroni directly into the crock pot for the last 30 minutes to an hour of cooking time, or cook the macaroni separately and add it in when serving. If adding cheese directly, stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking. For a cheese sauce, it’s best to prepare it separately and combine it with the chili and macaroni when serving or in the last few minutes of cooking to prevent curdling.
Instant Pot Chili Mac
The Instant Pot offers a quicker cooking time for the chili base. Use the sauté function to brown the ground beef, then add the remaining chili ingredients (except beans and masa harina slurry). Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes using the chili/beans setting. After pressure is released, stir in the masa harina slurry and beans, and simmer using the sauté function to thicken. Cook the macaroni separately and combine it with the chili and cheese sauce (or cheese) after the chili base is ready.
Pinto beans being added to a pot of chili as part of the chili mac recipe.
Pioneer Woman Chili Mac Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef, 80% lean
- 2 cloves garlic, diced
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup masa harina, white or yellow
- 1/2 cup water
- 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese sauce, see notes)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Chili Base:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add diced garlic and tomato sauce, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If chili seems too dry, add 1/2 cup water.
- Combine masa harina with 1/2 cup water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Stir into the chili.
- Add drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans. Simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Cook the Macaroni:
- While the chili simmers, cook elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
3. Combine Chili and Macaroni:
- Add cooked macaroni to the pot of chili.
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined, creating a cheesy chili mac. For a richer cheese sauce, prepare a cheese sauce separately and stir it in.
4. Serve:
- Serve hot, garnished with extra shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, or your favorite chili toppings.
Recipe Notes:
- Cheese Sauce Option: For a cheese sauce, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan, whisk in 4 tablespoons of flour, and gradually whisk in 3 cups of milk. Cook until thickened. Reduce heat and stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Spice Level: Adjust cayenne pepper to your preference for heat. For a milder chili mac, omit cayenne pepper.
- Variations: Add diced onions and bell peppers when browning the beef for extra vegetables.
- Masa Harina Substitute: In a pinch, you can use cornmeal or flour to thicken the chili, but masa harina provides a more authentic flavor and texture.
Serving and Storing Your Chili Mac
Pioneer Woman Chili Mac is a complete meal on its own, but it’s also delicious with sides like cornbread or a simple side salad. Garnish your chili mac with your favorite toppings such as extra shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or a dollop of guacamole.
Leftover chili mac can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen chili mac in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stove top or in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of milk or water when reheating to restore the creamy consistency.
Enjoy this hearty and comforting Pioneer Woman Chili Mac recipe! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings together the best of chili and macaroni and cheese into one delicious dish.
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Pioneer Woman Chili Mac
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
4.9 from 45 ratings
Servings: 6-8 people
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This hearty Pioneer Woman Chili Mac recipe combines the delicious flavors of chili and macaroni and cheese. Easy to make on the stove top, crock pot, or Instant Pot, it’s perfect for a family meal!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef, 80% lean
- 2 cloves garlic, diced
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup masa harina, white or yellow
- 1/2 cup water
- 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese sauce)
Garnish Options
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Diced Green Onions
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Instructions
Stove Top
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add diced garlic and tomato sauce, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If chili seems too dry, add 1/2 cup water.
- Combine masa harina with 1/2 cup water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Stir into the chili.
- Add drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- While chili simmers, cook elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- Add cooked macaroni to the pot of chili.
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined.
- Serve hot with desired garnishes.
Crock Pot
- In a large pot or stove-top safe crock pot, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add diced garlic and tomato sauce, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Transfer to the Crock Pot.
- Combine masa harina with 1/2 cup water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Stir into the chili.
- Add drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans.
- Heat on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Cook elbow macaroni separately according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- Stir in cooked macaroni and shredded cheddar cheese into the crock pot during the last 30 minutes of cooking, or combine when serving.
- Serve hot with desired garnishes.
Instant Pot
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Cook and crumble ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add diced garlic and tomato sauce, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Combine masa harina with 1/2 cup water in a small bowl to make a slurry.
- Add masa slurry, kidney beans, pinto beans, and 1 cup of water or diced tomatoes (optional for extra liquid) to the Instant Pot.
- Close lid and set pressure valve to sealing. Cook on Chili/Beans setting for 20 minutes.
- Quick release pressure. Stir in cooked macaroni and shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
- Serve hot with desired garnishes.
Notes
Masa Harina Substitute
- Flour or cornmeal can be used to thicken, but masa harina offers a more authentic flavor.
Cheese Sauce Variation
- For a richer cheese sauce, melt butter, whisk in flour, gradually add milk, cook until thickened, then melt in cheddar cheese. Stir into chili mac.
Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. There are 6-8 servings in this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 750kcal, Carbohydrates: 65g, Protein: 50g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 130mg, Sodium: 900mg, Potassium: 1300mg, Fiber: 16g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1200IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 300mg, Iron: 10mg
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Author: Pioneer Technology Content Team
Recipe Source: Inspired by The Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe
Beef Recipes Crock Pot Recipes Dinner Recipes Easy Recipes Instant Pot Recipes One Pot Meals Comfort Food Chili Mac Recipes
posted by Pioneer Technology Content Team on July 16, 2024 — 0 Comments »
