Our family is a big fan of chili and we make a variety of kinds, White Chicken Chili, South Western Chili, and Buffalo Chicken Chili are among the favorites here.
The kids love when I use different-shaped pasta to make this easy pasta dish so mix up your meal with various shapes and make it fun.
Their favorite is always the twist or spring pasta as they call those shapes.
The chili is a basic recipe you can use mine listed here or your favorite you make for your family.
There really isn't much to this one, it's just a filling comfort satisfying meal and a great second meal if you have that big pot of leftover chili.
I also include a quick hamburger helper suggestion below for those who don't even like making chili!
We also love pouring chili on a hamburger or over a taco bowl salad, nachos chips for an appetizer, tortilla casserole, or making hot pockets.
Making a huge pot never goes to waste in our home, we always have another idea to use it up.
Check out the recipe ideas and scroll down to print this off.
This is a delicious comforting meal during the cooler months in winter.
Easy Meal
If you're looking for an economical meal, this is it!
It's fun to eat and making a new meal out of leftovers saves time and money.
I sure know what it's like to juggle a busy day around,
Sometimes coming up with new ideas is challenging.
Pasta is always a fun choice and this dinner seems to satisfy even the picky eaters.
I even make a huge pot of chili ahead of time and freeze it in containers, thaw overnight and it's ready to dump on my favorite pasta when I need a quick meal.
Ingredients for Chili Mac to Keep on Hand
- Leftover Chili with beef, chicken, turkey, or just a Vegetarian Chili
- Your Favorite Pasta
- Shredded Cheeses
- Taco Toppings
- Sliced Olives
- Sliced Peppers
- Shredded Lettuce
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Tortilla Chips
Making Chili Mac Quick Version
- can of beans in chili sauce cooked ground beef with added taco seasoning
- pasta, rice, or polenta cornmeal cooked to package instructions and drained
- combine beans and beef with taco mix and cook until flavors are combined around 8 minutes pour over pasta
Serving Suggestions for Chili
- Use over pasta
- Use over rice
- Use over tortilla chips
- cooked cornmeal (polenta)
- Use on top of salad
- Use over baked potatoes or french fries
- Use over steamed or any cooked squash
- Not a meat-eater? Make Vegetarian Chili
- Use as a filling for tacos, enchiladas or burritos
Pasta to Use
- elbows
- baby shells
- penne
- wagon wheels
- rigatoni
- spirals any other shape you prefer
Pin for Later Chili Mac
More Recipes We Love
Fusillioni Pasta with Sausage
Pasta and Broccoli Aioli
Roman-Style Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Get Creative
This Chili Mac and is fun and delicious to eat.
Everything tastes better with melted cheese, doesn't it?
Just get creative with making another delicious meal with leftovers, most of the time, it's better than that original pot of chili, since it's all dressed up.
I even fooled them thinking I made it all the same day and it wasn't leftovers, seriously.
Sometimes things can all taste the same and get really boring, just a few extra toppings will make this
absolutely delicious and hey the more cheese the better right?
Yield: 10
Chili Mac
This is leftover chili used with your favorite pasta, a terrific repurposed meal everyone loves in the cooler months.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min
Ingredients
- Choose from My Favorite Chili Recipe Links Below or 1 batch of your favorite Chili Recipe
- Here are some of our favorite links we make:
- Italian Merlot Chili
- Old World Style Chili
- Buffalo Chicken Chili
- See below for more options on Chili Recipes
- Garnish with any of these depending on how you like chili, you can also add the same garnishing with your pasta dish here are some suggestions:
- Grated cheese
- Shredded mozzarella or cheddar
- Sliced Black olives
- Hot pepperoncini or jalapenos
- A dollop of ricotta cheese or sour cream
- Shredded lettuce and tomatoes
- Crushed Tortilla chips
- Garlic Bread
Instructions
- Boil your favorite pasta to the package instructions and drain.
- (Twists, Spirals, Seashells, Elbows ( just to name of few)
- Heat the leftover or freshly made chili in a pan, and fold the drained pasta into the child or just pour a big scoop of chili on top of the pasta of choice.
- Depending on how much chili you have, I usually make 1/2 pound of the boxed pasta, cook it and add to around 8 cups of leftover chili.
- Note: for more sauce add 1 can of jarred favorite sauce or 1- 12 ounces can of crushed tomatoes.
- Garnish with any toppings your family likes.
Notes
Making Chili Mac Quick Version
- can of beans in chili sauce cooked ground beef with added taco seasoning
- pasta, rice, or polenta cornmeal cooked to package instructions and drained
- combine beans and beef with taco mix and cook until flavors are combined around 8 minutes pour over pasta
Ingredients for Chili Mac to Keep on Hand
- Leftover Chili with beef, chicken, turkey, or just a Vegetarian Chili
- Your Favorite Pasta
- Shredded Cheeses
- Taco Toppings
- Sliced Olives
- Sliced Peppers
- Shredded Lettuce
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Tortilla Chips
Serving Suggestions for Chili
- Use over pasta
- Use over rice
- Use over tortilla chips
- cooked cornmeal (polenta)
- Use on top of salad
- Use over baked potatoes or french fries
- Use over steamed or any cooked squash
- Not a meat-eater? Make Vegetarian Chili
- Use as a filling for tacos, enchiladas or burritos
Nutrition Facts
Calories
275Fat (grams)
22 gSat. Fat (grams)
11 gCarbs (grams)
9 gNet carbs
16 gSugar (grams)
7 g
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Pin for Later Chili Mac
Don't Forget To Try My Chili Recipes!
Old World Chili
Italian Chili Merlot
Vegetarian Chili
Guinness Chili
White Chicken Chili
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2017. It was edited and re-published in 2019.