Homemade Chili Macaroni

My (husband’s) homemade chili macaroni recipe is a crowd favorite!  It’s quick, easy, can be made healthy and is CHEAP!  Our family of four will eat it for two meals and it costs about $5 to make.  Sometimes more, depending on sale prices.  This recipe can be easily halved for a smaller family.  You can also freeze this chili macaroni, beautifully, for a make ahead meal!

Chili Macaroni Ingredients:

• 2 pkgs of your favorite mac n cheese (I use the cheap stuff!)
• 2lbs ground turkey (or beef)
• 2 pkgs chili seasoning (we sure store brand)
• 1 med onion minced
• 2-3 tbs minced garlic (we use the stuff in a jar)
• 1/2 cup milk (we use skim)
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• 1 can black beans drained and rainsed
• 1 can rotel (we sure store brand)
• Shredded cheese (for topping)
• Pickled jalapenos (can be omitted)

Chili Macaroni Directions:

• First open the black beans, corn and rotel.  Dump them into a strainer or colander and let stand until needed.
• Next, pour a little oil into your pot (this is a 2 pot meal no skillet needed) and turn your stove on med/high
• While your oil is heating, put a pot of water on to boil for your macaroni.
• Begin browning your meat.  Once cooked through, add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent.
• Check your macaroni and adjust heat as needed
• Add black beans, corn and rotel to browned meat mixture.
• Pour milk into browned meat mixture and stir well.
• Add cheese from mac n cheese box and stir until well incorporated
• Strain your macaroni noodles and add to mixture.
• Stir well and let stand for 5-10 min for flavors to incorporate

Chili Macaroni Serving Suggestions:

• Top with shredded cheese, green onions, jalapenos (my fave!), black olives, etc.
• You could make this meatless for a great vegetarian meal.
• You can also make it with beef or sausage.  A combo of ground turkey and sausage is one of my favorites.
• Turn up the heat with added red pepper, hot chili seasoning, or your favorite hot sauce

If you do try this recipe, please come back and leave me a comment.  I would love to hear what your family thinks of this great chili macaroni recipe.