This chili cheese macaroni casserole is the ultimate comfort food - made with fresh ground beef, black beans, green chilies, seasoning and an incredibly generous amount of CHEESE for that ultra creamy, cheesy goodness.
My favorite kind of one pot meal. Cheesy, beefy, soul warming baked pasta. Really, does it get any better than this?
Who doesn't love a gooey, cheesy bowl of deliciousness - like this air fryer mac and cheese we also love? On top of being so freakin' good, this baked chili mac casserole is just such an easy recipe. And if you're looking for even more simplicity, or just don't feel like heating up the house with the oven, this easy instant pot chili mac is incredible!
Why this cheesy chili mac casserole recipe works
- It's ultra easy to make for an easy weeknight meal - plus it's kid approved!
- It can be made with mostly pantry items, making it an ultra convenient dish to make when you don't have time for the store.
- This is the perfect meal for leftovers - it's almost even better the second day!
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The ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
We use traditional elbow macaroni in this recipe, cooked al dente to prevent it from getting too mushy when baking.
I'm in love with black beans, so we use them a lot, including in this recipe.
I'm all about the grated sharp cheddar and of course, Velveeta. The Velveeta adds the creaminess, while the shredded cheese gives that gooey cheese effect.
For the ground beef, I recommend going with 85/15 ground sirloin. That gives us the rich, beefy flavor we want for this dish, without an excess of fat.
The sour cream in this recipe is optional, but I HIGHLY recommend garnishing your baked chili mac with it. It adds that perfect extra bit of tang that pulls the whole dish together.
Substitutions and variations
- If you prefer a lean beef, you are more than welcome to substitute. Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be used as a substitute.
- Substitute Monterrey jack, pepper jack, Swiss, or any other cheese you like for the grated cheddar cheese.
- Substitute pinto beans, kidney beans, or any other type of bean, for the black beans if you prefer. You can also leave the beans out if you prefer.
- Add a diced jalapeno or ½ teaspoon of chili powder, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or any other diced hot pepper for some added spiciness.
Step by step instructions for cheesy chili macaroni casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook and drain the pasta. Then place it in a 9 x 13" baking dish and set it aside while we cook the cheesy chili.
- Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and cook the beef until browned. Remove from skillet and drain any excess fat off. Set aside.
- Add the onions and garlic to the skillet and sauté until softened and browned in the edges.
- Add the beans, chilies, tomatoes and seasonings. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the ground beef cheese sauce and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
- Pour the chili over the cooked macaroni and stir well to coat all the pasta. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese over the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes until it is all bubbly and the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Remove from heat and let stand for 5-10 minutes.
Serve it with extra grated cheese, sliced green green onions and sour cream. The sour cream is my favorite part guys. We LOVE this served with instant pot cornbread, air fryer cornbread or even this cornbread pudding casserole.
It's also really good with these air fryer biscuits or this air fryer garlic bread.
How to make creamy cheese sauce
To make these cheese sauce, heat the Velveeta cubes and milk in a saucepan over low heat and stir until it melts together.
Expert tips
- Cook the pasta al dente to ensure it doesn't become too mushy when baking in the oven.
- Be sure to drain the excess fat from the beef, otherwise your casserole will be very greasy.
- Stir the cheese sauce regularly while making it to prevent burning or scalding of the milk.
Frequently asked questions
You can assemble the casserole in advance and store it in the fridge overnight until you are ready to bake it. Remove from fridge and bake according to the recipe instructions.
You can also assemble it in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw the unbaked casserole in the fridge, then bake according to the recipe instructions.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat in a 350°F oven or a microwave until warmed through.
Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat per above instructions.
More comfort food recipes
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Recipe
Chili Cheese Macaroni Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni cooked al dente
- 1 pound ground beef 85/15
- 1 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 4 ounce can green chilies
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces Velveeta cubed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Sour cream for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the pasta according to the instruction on the package (2 minutes less to ensure al dente), drain and pour into a 9 x 13" baking dish.
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain; set aside.
- While the beef is cooking, combine the Velveeta and milk in a saucepan and heat over medium low heat until a sauce forms. You can also heat the Velveeta and milk in the microwave, cooking in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until a sauce forms.
- Heat the skillet over medium heat and add the onions and garlic; cook until soft and starting to caramelize.
- Add the black beans, green chilies and seasonings. Cook for 1 minute then add the tomato sauce and ground beef and mix together.
- Add the Velveeta sauce to the skillet and mix well.
- Pour mixture over the pasta in the baking dish. Cover with grated cheddar cheese and bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve with sliced green onions and sour cream.
Expert Tips:
- Cook the pasta al dente to ensure it doesn't become too mushy when baking in the oven.
- Be sure to drain the excess fat from the beef, otherwise your casserole will be very greasy.
- Stir the cheese sauce regularly while making it to prevent burning or scalding of the milk.
Nutrition
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
My boys would be all over this pasta recipe. I love simple and comforting flavors like those in this pasta. This one is a real winner!
Danielle says
This is one of my boyfriends favorites too 🙂
Kevin | Kevin Is Cooking says
My kind of comfort food... DELISH!
Danielle says
Thanks Kevin! Sometimes you just need a little comfort 🙂
Susie says
OOOHHHH This looks so good! I love a good casserole that is easy to put together. I saved this on pinterest so I can make it next week.
Danielle says
The boyfriend begs for this CONSTANTLY. It's one of his favs. Plus, who doesn't need a little Velveeta in their life?
Healthy World Cuisine says
When you are craving a bowl of comfort, noodles all the way!!! We are right there with your boyfriend. This might just be a our new favorite go to meal. Super easy and you can do the meal prep in advance. Love that!
Danielle says
This is totally an easy dump and bake meal for when you're super busy and need to feed your boyfriend for days LOL!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
My mother used to make chili mac when I was a kid and it was always a favorite with us kids. Your baked version sounds even more homey -- I just wish I had a fork to dive into that casserole dish right now.
Danielle says
Thanks Lisa! It's one of those ultimate comfort meals 🙂
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter says
This is a perfect comforting winter recipe for the whole family! Can't wait to make it very soon!
Danielle says
Thanks Tania! I love this for an easy cold weather meal 🙂
Claudia Lamascolo says
oh I love comfort food like this and this one would be loved by everyone in our home. I must try this!
Danielle says
It's super awesome for a quick meal that everyone loves!
Demeter says
Looks like dinner the whole family is going to fall in love with! Fantastic!
Danielle says
Totally! Thanks Demeter!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites says
I love the addition of black beans in this recipe and all those seasonings work so great together! YUM!
Danielle says
Thanks Lauren! Black beans are my favorite kind of beans 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
This has comfort written all over it! My family will devour this recipe and I'll enjoy the one pot clean up. Thanks for sharing!
Danielle says
Thanks kelly! My boyfriend is in love with this recipe - always begging me to make it 🙂
Kevin says
I'm in love with this recipe!
Christina says
Dang, this recipe sounds too freaking amazing! I love mac and cheese and chili so this recipe is a win-win for me! And I'm not going to lie, I haven't eaten Velveeta cheese since I was a kid. This recipe is the perfect excuse to relive my childhood and nosh on my velvety goodness! 🙂
Danielle@wenthere8this says
OMG Velveeta is so good! I know it has a bad rap for not being real cheese, but seriously, it's so good. I hope you enjoy the recipe!