Uncle John's Chili Mac (2024)

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Uncle John’s Chili Mac is an incredibly hearty one pot comfort food dish that’ll spice up dinner any night of the week!

Comfort food season is lookin’ mighty fine at our house lately guys.

And today’s incredibly hearty, Chili Mac is a one pot meal that’ll spice up your weekly menu AND feed a crowd this holiday season.

I saw this dish on my brother-in-law’s IG feed a few weeks back, and I knew I’d have to share it here at the BHK.

My brother-in-law, aka Uncle John, is an amazing cook.

He truly enjoys being in his kitchen and creating meals for his family and anyone who comes to visit.

He never cuts corners and everything he makes is from scratch with fresh, quality ingredients.

I was intrigued by his Chili Mac because I’ve made chili tons of times, but never have I thought to add pasta to it.

Talk about a satisfying dish!

It’s protein-packed with a combination of two kinds of beef; beef stew meat and ground beef. And flavor-packed with a generous helping of chili powder, Mexican oregano, cumin, garlic, jalapeños and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

A Few Cook’s Notes for Chili Mac Recipe:

McCormick’s makes a Mexican Oregano, but if you can’t find it regular dried oregano will also work.

Before adding the dried oregano, crush the leaves between your fingers. This releases more flavor.

I followed Uncle John’s suggestion and served my Chili Mac with homemade cornbread on the side.

This is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day too. The flavors meld and the sauce gets richer and more concentrated.

This is the perfect comfort food dish for when everyone is home for the holidays folks. I’m also thinking this has Super Bowl 2019 written all over it.

I guarantee it would be a fan favorite. Thanks Uncle John! Enjoy!

If you’re looking for some other satisfying soups and stews, try my Chicken Tortilla Soup, my Italian Wedding Soup, or my Tomato Tortellini Stew.

Uncle John's Chili Mac

Author: Uncle John

Servings: 10 servings

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Uncle John's Chili Mac is an incredibly hearty comfort food dish that'll spice up any night of the week!

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided
2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized chunks
2 lbs. ground beef
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeds and ribs removed and finely chopped
3 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo, plue 3 tablespoons of the adobo sauce
6 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 heaping Tbsp. dried Mexican oregano, crushed a bit between your fingers
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 bottle Negro Modelo beer
2 28-oz. cans diced tomatoes, with their juice
6 cups low-sodium beef stock
1 lb. elbow macaroni
shredded cheddar, finely diced red onion, sour cream, scallions and finely chopped parsley, for garnish, if desired

Instructions

In a very large Dutch oven, heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
Season the stew meat well with salt and pepper, then sear it in the oil. When well seared, about 7-10 minutes, remove the meat from the pot using a slotted spoon. Discard the oil and any rendered fat from the pot. (Appropriate time to treat yourself to half a lager according to Uncle John!)
In the same pot, heat another 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and jalapenos, and season with salt and pepper. Stir to coat the veggies with the oil. Cover with a lid. Let the vegetables sweat and release much of their liquid, 7-10 minutes. (Now it's time to drink the other half of your lager.)
Remove the lid and let the liquid evaporate mostly, then add the ground beef and brown until no longer pink. Add the chili powder, cumin and oregano. Stir until well combined. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 1 minute. Add the chopped chipotle and adobo sauce.
Add the stew meat back to the pot with any accumulated juices. Add the Negro Modelo to deglaze. Let the liquid come to a boil and cook for a few minutes to cook off the alcohol. (Time for another lager for yourself!)
When the Negro Modelo has reduced a bit, add the two cans of tomatoes with their juices and 6 cups of beef stock. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot with the lid, leaving a small space for the steam to release. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-2 1/2 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes, until the stew meat is tender.
While the chili simmers, it would be the perfect time for another lager for yourself!
At the 2 hour mark, or when the stew meat is tender, give the chili a stir and add more beef stock if needed (up to 2 cups. I didn't need to add any more than the initial 6 cups). Cover completely with the lid and turn off the heat. Adjust seasoning, if needed.
Boil salted water for elbow macaroni. Cook the pasta six minutes to partially cook, because it will finish in the chili. When pasta is done, drain and add to the chili, stirring to combine. Let the pot sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Ladle into bowls, top with desired garnishes.
Cook's Note: You can substitute two glasses of wine for the three lagers you consume during the making of this dish. Lol!

Nutrition

Keyword: Cheese, Chili, Comfort Food, Pasta

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Dish, Soup

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About MaryAnn Dwyer

Hello and welcome! My name is MaryAnn and I am the recipe developer, photographer and creator of The Beach House Kitchen.

Here at the BHK it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. No long lists of ingredients and difficult directions, just simple, fresh and approachable recipes for delicious meals to enjoy with family and friends.

Be sure to check out my about page to learn more about me.

Reader Interactions

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Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
It is definitely cold here and I am feeling ALL the cozy eats! And, chili mac is my kinda comfort food! Especially THIS chili mac! This looks amazing, Mare!!! So cozy, hearty and ultimately delicious! All I need is a big ‘ole bowl of this and a loaf of crusty bread. ;) Pinned to try! Cheers!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Thanks Chey!
  Reply
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Your brother in law sure must know how to cook because this looks delicious Mary Ann! I’m all about comfort food any time of year, but especially now. Love how hearty this one is! Pinned and trying soon :) Have a wonderful weekend ahead, my friend!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  He does Dawn! He could definitelt school me on a few things in the kitchen. Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
  Reply
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
It’s going to be a rainy few days here so I’m craving comfort food even more than usual. This sounds perfect–especially with the homemade cornbread. Have a great weekend, Mary Ann! PS–now I’m craving cornbread so I think I know how I’ll be spending my evening :)
Reply
- Mary Ann
  This will totally fit the bill Kelsie!
  Reply
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
There is just no beating a combination of chili and pasta. Perfect comfort food! Putting this one on the menu this weekend :)
Reply
- Mary Ann
  I know, right?! Hope you enjoy it Jennifer!
  Reply
Gerlinde/Sunnycovechef
Can uncle John come over to my house and prepare some meals for us. This chili looks like the perfect comfort food. Have a great weekend Mary Ann!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Ha! He loves to cook for everyone Gerlinde! Hope you have a great weekend too!
  Reply
  See Also
  The Ultimate Chili Recipe - Once Upon a Chef
Matt Robinson
Big thumbs up to you and Uncle John on this one, so perfect for this time of year!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Thanks so much Matt!
  Reply
annie@ciaochowbambina
This is precisely the kind of meal I like to make when everybody arrives home for the holiday!!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Hope you give it a go Annie! It’s a crowd pleaser!
  Reply
Leigh Ann
This looks like the ultimate comfort food! Uncle John knows what the good stuff is! I am definitely going to have to try this noodle version the next time I get a chili craving!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Hope you enjoy it if you give it a go Leigh Ann!
  Reply
Marissa
Looks like you and Uncle John have perfected the Chili Mac, Mary Ann! Making this soon and I’m sure it will make a repeat appearance for the Super Bowl!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  I’m totally making this for the Super Bowl Marissa!
  Reply
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
Lawdy – so much comfort food Mare! I love chili mac too… and its easy enough to pull together for weeknight meals. I can imagine this on a lazy weekend night next to a roaring fire! Delicious!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Oh it would be perfect Traci! Tom and I really enjoy it. It’s even better as leftovers!
  Reply
sue | the view from great island
Your photos literally made my mouth water, I’m going out to get the ingredients for this now, the sauce sounds pretty amazing.
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Thanks so much Sue! I drool over ALL your photos/recipes too!
  Reply
Laura | Tutti Dolci
This is the perfect recipe for when the temperatures drop, there’s nothing more cozy than a bowl of chili mac!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  I totally agree Laura!
  Reply
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Gimme all the chili mac!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  It’s such a great comfort food dish Jennifer!
  Reply
Kevin
This is an ultimate comfort food especially for the winter season, thanks for sharing!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Yes it is Kevin! It’s keeping us cozy!
  Reply
Chris Scheuer
Uncle John sounds like a five star cook! How fun to have a brother in law who also loves to cook. I love the pasta in here. It not only makes the chili more hearty, it makes it a total meal in a bowl!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  He totally is Chris! I LOVE the addition of the pasta!
  Reply
Natasha
My husband would love a giant bowl of this, Mary Ann! Looks so comforting!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  It’s sooooo delish Natasha!
  Reply
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I need an Uncle John in my family! Actually we have tons of great cooks and everyone does have a specialty, but I don’t think anyone has an amazing chili recipe! This chili mac sounds delish!
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Yes you do Kathy! He’s an awesome cook!
  Reply
Uncle John
Man, that Uncle John sounds like a real peach! E honest Mary Ann, he’s your favorite brother in law, amirite?
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Total peach for sure!! Of course he’s my fave! Need to share more of his recipes in 2019! Wink wink!
  Reply
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I haven’t had Chili Mac in years and Uncle John’s version sounds great. I’m pinning…thank you to both of you for the inspiration.
Reply
- Mary Ann
  It really is Karen! He’s such an awesome cook! Hope you give his recipe a go! Happy New Year!
  Reply
Emma @ Savor the Flavour
This looks beautiful! My Mom makes a variation of chili mac called hamburger mac, which is very hearty and filling–perfect for cold winter days. :)
Reply
- Mary Ann
  Hi Emma! It’s such a hearty meal! My brother-in-law is quite the chef! This is one of his specialtys!
  Reply

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