Tis the season for casseroles! I don’t know what it is exactly about this time of the year that has me craving casseroles, but I know I am not alone in this. There is something so comforting about a casserole. Not to mention that having the oven turned on for a bit, helps to take the chill out of the air.

Last weekend I was having such a craving for chili, so I made this chili mac casserole. It really hit the spot. It was also a welcoming site for my sister-in-law and mother after they returned from a long afternoon of shopping. That’s one of the things I love about a hearty casserole recipe like this, there is usually enough to share with extended family and friends.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (16 ounces) chili beans, undrained
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- dash or two of hot sauce
- 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

Instructions:
Step 1: Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain of excess fat. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, tomato paste and seasonings.
Step 2: Drain macaroni and add to beef mixture. Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Yields 10 servings.

Chili Mac Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can 28 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can 16 ounces chili beans, undrained
- 1 can 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper dash or two of hot sauce
- 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain of excess fat. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, tomato paste and seasonings.
- Drain macaroni and add to beef mixture. Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.


Yummy! I love comfort food in the fall/winter. This looks like a good dish for that! 😀
That looks really good! I love chili and mac.
Looks awesome:) I love mac and chilli, this looks fab!
This sounds perfect for a chilly day! Thanks for the recipe!
I love spicy food, and I am sure I would like to eat it too. I will share it with my wife and lets see how she cooks it. Thanks
What a great meal for a cold day like today! Yum!
That looks so good. I love chili. Great share.
That looks so fulfilling and savory! My husband has been wanting to make chili lately. Maybe I’ll suggest this recipe to him instead. 🙂
This sounds like a great cool weather meal. Deelish.
This looks so yummy. I would love to have some of this for dinner tonight.