Description
A hearty one‑pot meal combining chili, macaroni, beans, and cheese—for a comforting, easy dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper (capsicum), chopped
- 500 g ground beef (or meat of choice)
- 800 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 420 g red kidney beans, drained
- 2½ cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 250 g elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterrey Jack, or your favorite)
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (or pure chilli powder) – adjust to taste
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1½ tsp onion powder (or garlic powder substitute)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1¼ tsp salt
- Fresh coriander/cilantro, chopped for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the garlic and onion; cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chopped bell pepper and continue cooking until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the ground beef; cook, breaking it up, until browned.
- Once the meat is browned, add crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, and the uncooked pasta. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for about 12 minutes (or until the macaroni is al dente), stirring occasionally so pasta doesn’t stick.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in half of the shredded cheese—allow residual heat to melt it a bit.
- Top with the remaining cheese, cover, and let sit for 2 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with chopped coriander/cilantro (if using) and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can swap ground beef for turkey, chicken, or a plant‑based substitute.
- Beans can be varied (black beans, pinto, etc.).
- Adjust spice levels (cayenne/chilli powder) to your taste.
- For a lighter version, use lean meat, reduce cheese, or use reduced‑fat cheese.
- Leftovers freeze well; reheat gently to avoid overcooking pasta.
- If the dish becomes too thick, add a splash more broth or water when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ≈ 1 large bowl (≈520‑525 g)
- Calories: ≈ 768 kcal
- Sugar: ≈ 12 g
- Sodium: ≈ 1630 mg
- Fat: ≈ 35 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈ 14 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 75 g
- Fiber: ≈ 11 g
- Protein: ≈ 44 g
- Cholesterol: ≈ 103 mg
