Cheesy Chili Mac Skillet
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If you hang around here long enough, you'll begin to see a pattern with many of my recipes. So much of what I share here on the blog could be categorized as comfort food. I like it that way, and since you're here, I'm guessing you do,too. At the end of the day all I want are quick, satisfying dishes that my family is sure to love and appreciate. One of the things I love most about comfort food is that it tastes even better the next day. What can be better than that?
This Cheesy Chili Mac Skillet is so easy to throw together and once you have it on the stove, you can just let it simmer there for awhile to allow all of the wonderful flavors to meld.
It all begins with ground round, onions, butter and garlic. I asked my husband if it was too gross to post a pic of the raw burger, and he was on the fence. So I said, "Heck with it. We're real around here. It's getting posted."
So, next comes the noodles. I always like to prepare the noodles while I'm browning the beef mixture. In the recipe I just included the cooked noodles as an ingredient. I didn't think you'd need a lesson on boiling noodles.
I really don't have the timing down on pasta myself, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret that I use each time I boil noodles. I keep tasting them. Yep, that's it. That's my secret. Stick with me here. I'm very wise. 🙂
After the meat is browned and the noodles are ready, you start putting everything together.
It may look a little liquidy (is that a word?) at this stage, but don't worry, it's going to thicken up! Turn the heat down and just let this heavenly mixture simmer. This is where you're going to thank me because your house is going to smell incredible and your family members will start coming out of the woodwork. The cat who always hides in the basement may even make an appearance. You never know.
After about 30-45 minutes you'll see that the skillet is beginning to thicken up. If it's too thick for you, you can always add some extra water or beef broth. Just before you're ready to serve, place 6 slices of Muenster cheese on top and place a cover on the pan for about 3-5 minutes. If you don't have Muenster cheese, you can substitute Mozzarella, but Muenster is where it's at. End of story. If you can't get enough of it, like me, you need to check out this Muenster Chicken!
I love Muenster cheese SO much that I even ended up putting another slice on top of my chili mac before I devoured it. Soooo good. You all won't be disappointed with this recipe, I promise. If you love comfort food as much as I do, you're going to be a fan. This skillet dish is also great for parties and can be kept warm in a crock pot as long as you stir it every so often and add some water or beef broth if you see it's getting too thick. Just go ahead and make this. You will have no regrets. I can't wait for you to try it!
Cheesy Chili Mac Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground round
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 3 cups of beef broth
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 6 oz can of tomato paste
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup bloody mary mix (I used Mr. & Mrs. T)
- 3 cups medium shell noodles (cooked and drained)
- 6 slices Muenster cheese
- Extra Muenster cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground round with the butter, garlic and onions until the meat is no longer pink.
- Slowly add the tomatoes, beef broth, paste, parsley, brown sugar, basil, bloody mary mix and water to the meat and combine well.
- Stir in the cooked noodles and simmer for 30-45 minutes on the stove top stirring every 15 minutes or so.
- Lay slices of cheese on top of the chili mac mixture in the skillet. Cover and allow the cheese to melt for 3-5 minutes.
- Top individual portions with extra cheese cut into strips, if desired.
Notes
- Meat Browning: When browning the ground round with butter, garlic, and onions, ensure that the skillet is sufficiently hot before adding the meat. A hot skillet helps to sear the meat, creating a flavorful crust and preventing it from releasing excess moisture. This step enhances the overall texture and taste of the dish.
- Simmering Time: While simmering the chili mac mixture on the stove, make sure to stir it every 15 minutes or so. Stirring prevents the noodles from sticking to the bottom of the skillet and ensures that all ingredients are evenly distributed. It also helps to blend the flavors together, resulting in a well-balanced and delicious dish.
- Cheese Melting: When melting the Muenster cheese slices on top of the chili mac mixture, cover the skillet to create a steamy environment. The steam helps to melt the cheese evenly and quickly, ensuring that it coats the dish in a smooth, creamy layer. Be mindful not to overcook the cheese to maintain its gooey texture and rich flavor.
I've made this several times and it is a hit with everyone who eats it! Quick question.....could I simmer uncooked pasta in the chili mac mixture until it's tender? Trying to eliminate that step (and pot and colander!). Thanks!
As long as you feel there's enough liquid in the pan, that should work!
This looks like the perfect comforting dinner! Thanks for linking up to the Pretty Pintastic Party! 🙂