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My Chili Mac Recipe is a comforting, hearty meal everyone at the dinner table loves! Beefy, cheesy, and so flavorful, this is an easy dinner recipe you can always count on to make you smile.
Plus, it takes under 15 minutes to make in just a few steps using simple ingredients!
Chili Mac
My family absolutely loves this easy Instant Pot recipe. I love how easy it is to whip up during a busy weeknight. This is my favorite Instant Pot recipe. Here's why -
- It's so easy! Hardly any effort goes into making this easy chili mac recipe.
- Simple ingredients! This dish uses simple ingredients only. You may have most of them on hand already!
- Quick to make! When we say this recipe takes less than 15 minutes to make, we mean it. It is ready in a snap!
- It's just so yummy! Even the pickiest of eaters will love this chili mac and cheese.
My recipe for chili mac is tasty, filling and so easy to make in no time. Plus, you make it all in just one pot! What could be better?
Chili Mac Recipe Ingredients
- olive oil
- ground beef
- onion chopped
- minced garlic
- seasoning mix
- diced tomatoes
- beef broth
- milk
- pinto beans drained
- pasta
- shredded cheddar cheese
- tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to make Chili Mac in the Instant Pot
- Set your Instant Pot to saute mode. Once hot, add olive oil. Allow the oil to heat, then add in ½ onion and minced garlic. Cook down for 2-3 minutes until soft.
- Add ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking down as the beef cooks. Allow it to sear a little on one side before you start to break it up, for best results.
- Once beef browns, add chili seasoning mix plus salt and pepper to taste, then pour in pinto beans and beef broth. Finally, add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and pasta. Make sure the pasta is submerged!
- Lock the lid into place and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release when the time is up. To finish the dish, mix in milk and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir well until fully mixed through.
Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe Tips
- Want a slightly more al dente pasta? Cook for around 3 minutes instead of 5.
- Scrape up those brown bits from the bottom of the pot! This will add so much flavor to your chili pasta.
- Try adding your favorite chili toppings! We keep it simple with our ground beef mac and cheese, but you can add toppings like cilantro, tomatoes, onion, or even jalapenos if you like.
Chili Mac FAQs
Chili with macaroni is so easy to make ahead of time! Follow the instructions to prepare the ground beef and beans, then store for up to 3 days ahead of time. When ready to serve, add the beef back to your Instant Pot. Follow the instructions to add the tomato sauce and pasta, then cook and finish the dish.
Cheddar cheese is definitely a favorite but you can use almost any type of these that melts easily.
Instant Pot Chili Mac Variations
You can have a lot of fun making our Instant Pot Chili Mac recipe exactly how you like it! Try mixing up which cheeses and seasonings you use until you find your perfect combination. Here are a few suggestions:
- Use your favorite cheese: We use cheddar cheese, but you can try other cheeses like Monterey Jack or a Mexican cheese blend. Use your favorite melty cheese!
- Mix up the seasoning: We use a chili seasoning mix, but you can use your favorite seasonings for chili to put a personal spin on this dish.
- Try different pasta shapes, penne, cavatelli, or campenelle.
Best Ground Beef Recipes
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Korean Ground Beef
- Hamburger Casserole
- Instant Pot Goulash
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Homemade Chili Recipe
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📋 Recipe
Chili Mac Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp. chili seasoning mix
- 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 5 cups beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 15.5 oz. can pinto beans drained
- 16 oz. boxed pasta
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ 3.5 oz. can tomato sauce small can
- Salt and pepper to taste
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to saute mode. Once hot, add 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Allow the oil to heat, then add in ½ a chopped onion and 1 Tbsp. minced garlic. Cook down for 2-3 minutes until soft.
- Add 1 lb. ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking down as the beef cooks. Allow it to sear a little on one side before you start to break it up, for best results.
- Once beef browns, add 2 Tbsp. chili seasoning mix plus salt and pepper to taste, then pour in 1 can drained pinto beans and 5 cups beef broth. Finally, add ½ small can tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and 16 oz. uncooked pasta. Make sure the pasta is submerged!
- Lock the lid into place and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release when the time is up. To finish the dish, mix in 1 cup milk and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese. Stir well until fully mixed through.
Janae says
When do you add the pasta?
Em Beitel says
Hi Janae! You add it in step 3, with the tomato sauce. Thank you for your question!
Jenn says
When do you add the diced tomatoes?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Jenn, So sorry for the confusion, they are added at the same time as the tomato sauce, step 3.
Sherri Head says
Have you ever doubled the recipe? Or even made it like 1 1/2? I was planning on making it tonight but I only have 1 1/2 pound packages of hamburger meat...
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Sherri! So nice to hear from you. I would suggest adding another half of each ingredient. Or, if you want it extra meaty, add the normal ingredients and then there will be more meat to enjoy. Let us know how it turns out!
Victoria Kukorola says
Hi. Can you cook this in a crockpot or on the stove? What is the milk for? Does it make the cheese creamy.
Em Beitel says
Hi Victoria! Yes, the milk makes it extra creamy. You can absolutely make this on a stovetop or a crockpot. If you make it in the crockpot, cook for about 6 hours, but don't add the pasta until the very end or it will get mushy. To cook it on the stove, use a large pot with a lid and heat over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. Once it's hot add your onion and garlic and cook as instructed before adding the ground beef.
Brown the beef, break it down as it cooks, and then season as instructed. Don't add the pasta yet!
Wait until the mixture begins to simmer, then add the pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until the pasta is soft.
Remove from heat and mix in the cheese. Enjoy!
Hiroko says
Is there a substitute for milk for those of us who are lactose intolerant? Or can it be excluded from the recipe?
Em Beitel says
Hi Hiroko! You can exclude the milk from the recipe or substitute soy milk or rice milk. Thank you so much for your question - enjoy!
Talia says
Hi I’m wanting to add cassava pasta to be compliant with my diet but from what I’ve read on cassava you’ll want around a 1 minute cook time with a 10minute natural release, do you think that will work in this recipe 🤞🏼😁 Thanks for any feedback!
Em Beitel says
Hi Talia! I haven't tried cassava pasta with this dish, but I think 1 minute cook time with 10 minute natural release should be fine if that's what's called for with the pasta. Please let me know how it turns out, and enjoy!