Another family favorite is this recipe for Chili Mac. It was originally titled Taco Macaroni Skillet, but we know it as Chili Mac. This is a fast and easy meal all cooked in one pan. My kind of meal. It is my go-to meal when I am in a hurry or forget to plan. 🙂

You can add buttered bread and a salad to square it out.

My husband likes more noodles, so I increase the macaroni to 2 cups and add about 1/2 cup more water. I also use regular milk because I don’t usually have evaporated milk on hand. I also mix together my own taco seasoning. The original recipe called for 12 ounces of ground beef, I add one pound. These are pretty much how I made it our own. 🙂

This is another recipe that I have made for years. I originally found it in The Very Best Baby magazine, which I subscribed to when the kids were born. I searched the internet for the recipe, but could not find it. Of course I was searching for Chili Mac. LOL! The magazine I am not sure if it is still around. As I was typing this post, and looking at the recipe beside me, I noticed its true name, Taco Macaroni Skillet. Once I searched for that, I found it! It is actually from Nestle. You can find it here if you would like to print it out.

Chili Mac

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
2 cups water
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
1 package (1.25 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
2/3 cups evaporated milk
1/4 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

Directions

Cook beef in a large nonstick skillet, stirring frequently until brown; drain. Stir in water, tomatoes, chilies, and seasoning mix. Cook until mixture comes to a boil.

Add pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 14 to 16 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Stir in evaporated milk. Remove from the heat; stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Sprinkle additional cheese over top. Cover; let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Taco Seasoning
This is the recipe I use from AllRecipes. I add 2 tablespoons to the Chili Mac. When I make this, I usually quadruple it so I have some on hand for tacos and other dishes.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions
In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy,