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One-Pot Tex-Mex Cheesy Chili Mac Bake

Tex-Mex cheesy chili mac bake - featured image
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This One-Pot Tex-Mex Cheesy Chili Mac Bake is a comforting, crowd-pleasing family dinner packed with bold Tex-Mex flavors, tender pasta, hearty beans, and a gooey cheesy topping. It comes together quickly in one skillet and finishes in the oven for an irresistible golden crust.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or any neutral oil)
  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (or any color)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni (or any short pasta shape)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh cilantro or sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Gather all ingredients.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through (about 5-6 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving a little for flavor.
  3. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and diced bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  4. Stir in fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, black beans, broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Scrape the bottom to loosen any browned bits.
  5. Add elbow macaroni and stir to submerge pasta. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is just tender.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Sprinkle the top evenly with shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Do not stir.
  8. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
  9. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro or green onions if desired.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and add another can of beans or corn. Use gluten-free pasta if needed and adjust cook time. Add extra veggies like zucchini or spinach for more nutrition. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer to a casserole dish before baking. Let the bake rest before serving for best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili mac, one-pot, cheesy bake, Tex-Mex, family dinner, comfort food, skillet meal, easy dinner, pasta bake, ground beef, black beans, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/one-pot-tex-mex-cheesy-chili-mac-bake-easy-family-dinner-recipe/