Vegetarian Chili Mac
A cozy, spoonable mash-up where zesty vegetable chili meets ultra-creamy macaroni and cheese in one comforting skillet.
Cost: $11
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil use a mild or extra virgin oil
- 1 cup chopped onion yellow or white onion both work
- 1 bell pepper chopped small any color bell pepper you like
- 2 medium carrots chopped into ¼-inch pieces peeled for best texture
- 3 cloves garlic minced fresh cloves for best flavor
- 1 tablespoon chili powder adjust to taste if sensitive to spice
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin freshly opened for stronger aroma
- ½ teaspoon salt fine sea salt or kosher salt
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes regular canned, not drained
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies use mild or spicy depending on preference
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni pasta whole wheat or regular both work
- 15 ounces black beans rinsed and well drained
- 15 ounces red kidney beans rinsed and well drained
- 2 cups water hot water helps it cook faster
- 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar Monterey jack mozzarella or a blend
📋 Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a large, wide skillet or pot over medium heat, then add the onion, bell pepper, and carrots and cook, stirring now and then, until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 6 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt and cook just until the spices smell toasty, about 30 seconds.
- Add the diced tomatoes, the tomatoes with green chilies, the dry pasta, both kinds of beans, and the water, then stir well to combine everything evenly.
- Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat, cover, and cook, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12–15 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in most of the shredded cheese until creamy, then scatter the remaining cheese over the top and serve right away.
📝 Notes
Big, cozy skillet energy with just enough spice to keep things interesting. This is the kind of dinner that disappears fast and makes everyone ask for seconds.
🥗 Nutrition
Serving: 420g | Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 1029mg | Potassium: 920mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4811IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 306mg | Iron: 5mg