One-Pan Cheeseburger Chili Mac (Printable)

Hearty skillet combining cheeseburger flavors with macaroni in 35 minutes

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes or diced tomatoes
05 - 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped

→ Pasta

06 - 8 ounces elbow macaroni

→ Dairy

07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1/2 cup milk

→ Sauces & Condiments

09 - 1/4 cup ketchup
10 - 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
11 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

→ Liquids

17 - 2 cups low-sodium beef or chicken broth

# Directions:

01 - In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the cherry tomatoes, pickles, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
04 - Pour in the broth and milk, then add the macaroni. Stir to ensure the pasta is fully submerged in the liquid.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy throughout the mixture.
07 - Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the top. Cover and let sit for 2 minutes to melt completely.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with extra pickles if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like someone spent hours perfecting it, but you'll have it on the table in 35 minutes flat.
  • The pickles and mustard create this unexpected brightness that keeps it from ever feeling heavy or one-note.
  • Every person at your table gets a completely different favorite ingredient, which somehow makes everyone happy.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining excess fat from the ground beef, because that greasiness will make the final dish feel heavy instead of comforting.
  • Stir occasionally while simmering so the pasta on the bottom doesn't stick and burn, which creates a bitter note that no amount of cheese can fix.
  • The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so if it looks a tiny bit more saucy than you want at first, trust that it'll reach perfect consistency within a few minutes.
03 -
  • Use whole wheat pasta if you can find it, because the nuttier flavor pairs beautifully with the mustard and Worcestershire without needing anything else to shine.
  • Don't be shy with the pickles, because they're not a garnish, they're actually an essential ingredient that defines the entire flavor story of the dish.
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