Chili Mac
When I think of cold weather comfort foods, chili and mac and cheese instantly come to mind. I was looking for something to make for a large group recently, and I remembered seeing this recipe in my Google Reader. I made it a day in advance because I’m a big believer that most pasta dishes, and chili, are both better the next day.
On the day it was to be served, we reheated it in the crockpot. It got nice and thick and the flavors really melded together nicely. This makes a LOT of Chili Mac, so either cut it down, or be ready to serve a crowd.
One Year Ago: Chipotle Honey Lime Pork Tenderloin
Two Years Ago: Homemade BBQ Sauce
Chili Mac
Chili mac combines two comfort foods that are awesome on their own. They're definitely even more awesome together!
Yield: Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
For the Chili
1 pound ground turkey
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 small yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
14.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes, strained (without the juice)
14.5 ounce can kidney beans
2 tsp chipotle hot sauce
For the Mac and Cheese
2 cups dried macaroni
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded colby jack
1/2 cup pepper jack
Directions:
For the Chili
In a skillet, cook the turkey, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and garlic powder until meat is brown. Remove meat from the pan.
In the same skillet, heat olive oil over medium and cook onions and garlic. Cook until onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Cook another 30 seconds then edd meat back to the pan.
Stir in tomatoes, beans and hot sauce.
Reduce heat to low and simmer while you make the mac & cheese. If the chili seems dry, add beer or water until it's not soaked, but not dry.
For the Mac and Cheese
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to the directions on the package.
Strain the mac when it's done cooking and set aside. In the pan the macaroni was cooked in, melt the butter over medium heat.
Whisk in the flour for one minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook for one minute.
Slowly add the cheeses, season with salt & pepper, and mix until melted.
Return mac to the pan and stir until evenly coated.
Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
Mix the chili into the mac and cheese until well incorporated.
Recipe adapted from Kitchen Trial and Error
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I don’t really like pork, but you make it looks so good! 🙂
Happy 250th post. <3
[http://dlishfoods.wordpress.com]
Thanks Taylor! This really is an amazing pulled pork recipe if you are ever in the mood for pork.
I really need a crock pot – this looks great and I am bookmarking it for when I do get one, my husband loves pulled pork sandwiches.
This looks awesome! I love making pulled pork in the crockpot 🙂
This looks great! I have been in search of a good pulled pork recipe.
Happy 250th post!
I love all the spices you used on the pork – it looks so tender and yummy! Congrats on 250 posts!
Hey Jen, this is Ashley (formerly) from Performance in Evendale! I found your blog through some others and I love it …. we tried this recipe last night and it. was. amazing. Thank you! Your kitchen is going to be gorgeous, can’t wait to see the final pictures.
Hi! I made your recipe last night for my extended family. They RAVED about it! I posted a link back to this post. Thanks again!
Hey Ashley! I always get a kick out of when people I know in real life find my blog. We LOVE this recipe.
Well, 6 months later, I come upon your recipe through Google and it is amazing!! I served this up to some dinner guests and we all loved it!! It IS the best pulled pork recipe and I thank you for leaving it here for me to find!
We tried this recipe over the weekend (with a couple of minor tweaks) and it came out great!
Thanks for posting.
This is our new favorite pulled pork recipe! Thanks for posting it!
About how many did this serve?
Joshua and Stacie – the recipe says it serves 6, but I’d say it serves more like 8.
thanks for the recipe. I’ve been searching for a good one.
This was a great recipe! It was my first pork roast, and it was so easy. My 7 lb roast was fork tender in 8 hours.
Started this the other day and had it in the crockpot all day today. So delicious. Very satisfied husband. Thanks for posting this!
beantownbaker — June 10th, 2013 @ 12:33 pm
So glad your husband enjoyed this. This recipe is in our regular rotation.
Love this recipe. Have used it many times and it always gets rave reviews. Making it again this weekend.
beantownbaker — July 4th, 2013 @ 1:44 pm
Glad you enjoy it! We love it too and make it on a regular weekend. Especially since it freezes so well!
What Barbeque sauce did you prefer. There are so many different flavors out there these days?
beantownbaker — August 22nd, 2013 @ 11:16 am
I actually make my own BBQ sauce, but any flavor that you prefer works in this recipe.
Only complaint from people when I made this was…”Why didn’t you make more??!?!” Love Love Love this recipe!
Thanks for publishing!
beantownbaker — October 23rd, 2013 @ 12:25 am
I get that a lot too! So glad you enjoyed it!!
This recipe is awesome!!! I have only made pulled pork a few times but was never a huge fan as I found them to be too BBQ sauce flavored! I saw this recipe on pinterest and decided to try it tonight for dinner! OMG it is FANTBULOUS!!!!!! I love the rb idea and honestly I could have done without the BBQ sauce as the drippings and sauce in the pot was amazing with the pork on its own! I did add the bq sauce however and was still quite impressed! This recipe had changed my whole opinion of pulled pork! Kudos on a great spice rub blend!!!
beantownbaker — October 23rd, 2013 @ 12:28 am
So glad I was able to convert you to a pulled pork fan! I actually have a batch of this cooking in the crockpot as I type. It’s going to cook overnight for my sister and her husband since they’re new parents and it freezes so well.
This is the easiest and I’m sure tastiest recipe I’ve ever found. I just rubbed all the spices on the pork and it’s marinating in the fridge right now…. I will cook it tomorrow morning I’m very excited about serving this to my family. I’ll come back and post how it was!
beantownbaker — October 23rd, 2013 @ 12:29 am
I’ve got a batch cooking in the crockpot right now! I hope you and your family enjoy it.
I tried this tonight and OMG it was delicious! That rub really makes it. I couldn’t let it sit in the fridge for days but it was still amazing. I will definitely be making this again.
beantownbaker — December 17th, 2013 @ 10:55 am
So glad you enjoyed it! We really love this recipe and make it all the time.
Hi. I am making this as we speak for tomorrow. My only concern the spices seem a little over powering. When I opened the crockpot to check on it it seemed very spicey. Is that what you experience?
This is one of the best crockpot pork recipes ever! I use Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce or make my own secret barbecue sauce. Either way it is the best. We also use the rub when my husband cooks a shoulder on the grill. Great find – thanks!
Sounds delish! What brand and flavor bbq sauce did you use, exactly?