One-pot turkey chili mac is full of ground turkey, beans, diced tomatoes and chili seasonings, plus elbow pasta and plenty of cheese to bring it together. This easy dinner is ready in just 30 minutes and is sure to be a family favorite!
Today I'm so excited to be sharing this one-pot turkey chili mac, which is a fun mash-up of chili and mac and cheese.
Those happen to be two absolute favorites in my house.
My son adores my game day chili, which I perfected over the course of several years during the Super Bowl. And now I make it year-round cause he can't get enough.
My daughter's favorite is this white turkey chili, a recipe I've been making for nearly 20 years now! (It's also one of my go-to recipes to take to friends in need, whether it's a new baby or a death in the family.)
And my just regular southwest turkey chili is a staple in the fall and winter.
As for mac and cheese, my two kiddos can agree on that. They adore my easy stovetop mac and cheese, which takes just 15 minutes to make from scratch. Way better than a box! (Though you know I don't judge. And I usually have one in the pantry, just in case.)
I personally prefer the crunchy topping that goes with this classic baked mac and cheese. I mean, swoon! Or check out my many, many variations of macaroni and cheese; there's lots to choose from!
But today, we're putting those favorite flavors together to make a healthy chili mac.
We've got ground turkey, beans, diced tomatoes and chili seasonings, then we're adding elbow pasta, cooking everything together until tender and oh so tasty, and adding all kinds of cheesy goodness.
What's not to love about these favorite flavors coming together?!
Plus, this is a one-pot pasta, where everything cooks together in one big pot.
That means less mess and easy clean-up!
And one more bonus: This is ready in about 30 minutes, start to finish.
That's my kind of weeknight dinner winner! And shoot, weekend dinner winner too. I don't necessarily love spending tons of time in the kitchen on the weekends, either.
This dish is one your whole family will love!
(You might also like this Chicken Fiesta recipe for another all-in-one meal. Or easy one-pan Goulash for a comfort food favorite.)
OK, so let's get cooking so we can get to eating!
Notes on making turkey chili mac:
Ground turkey: Lean ground turkey (the 93% lean kind) is my go-to here. You could also substitute lean ground beef, just be sure to drain off any excess grease.
Beans: Light red kidney beans are my preferred type, but regular kidney beans would work too. You could also try this recipe with black beans, pinto beans or chili beans if you prefer.
Pepper: I use just a regular green bell pepper, but any color would work.
Diced tomatoes: Feel free to use a can of regular diced tomatoes or opt for a fire-roasted diced or petite diced.
Cheese: Cheddar is an easy go-to, but you can absolutely swap in some pepper Jack or Monterey Jack or use a Mexican blend cheese. Even some American cheese would be good to get all melty in there.
So as you can see, you can definitely tailor this to suit your tastes and make it your own. Or just to be able to use what you already have on hand. I love recipes like that.
Topping ideas for chili mac:
- Extra shredded cheese
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Avocado or guacamole
- Pickled jalapeno slices
- Chopped green onions
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Hot sauce
Mix and match your favorites and add any of your other favorite chili toppings!
As for serving, I think this is pretty much a complete meal on its own.
We've got the turkey, pasta, beans and veggies.
However, you could also serve this alongside a small side salad if you'd like. Some fresh greens never hurt!
There you have it!
I think this turkey chili mac is going to be a new favorite dinner in your house! It's such a crowd pleaser and such a fun mash-up. And it's just so cozy, no matter the time of year.
Happy cooking and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
One-Pot Turkey Chili Mac
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 small green pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (not drained)
- 1 (15 oz.) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional toppings:
- Extra cheese, avocado, Greek yogurt or sour cream, pickled jalapeños, sliced green onions, chopped fresh cilantro, hot sauce, etc.
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot. Add the ground turkey, onion and pepper and sauté for 7-8 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the turkey is cooked through. Be sure to break up the turkey with a spatula as it cooks.
- Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, beans and seasonings. Bring to a simmer. Add the pasta, return to a boil, then reduce to maintain a simmer and cook for 12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender, stirring every few minutes.
- Stir in one cup of the shredded cheese until melted. Turn off the heat then add the remaining cup of cheese to the top of the pasta. Cover and let sit for 2 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Save This Recipe
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Marsha Rountree says
Thank you, this recipe had a really nice flavor. I made it a little different. I used ground beef, 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth and in place of pasta, I used 1 cup white rice. I followed your directions to start and after the meat and vegies were done I mixed everything together in a casserole dish and baked at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour and 400 degrees for 10 more minutes.
Kathryn Doherty says
That sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Sue says
This was yummy! It was so easy to make, too. I have lots of leftovers (just me and hubby) for another meal. My only switch up was that I didn't use cheddar, I used pepper jack cheese, and it was delicious. The type of meal you'd want to serve, or bring, on Superbowl Sunday!
Thanks so much, Kathryn!! Another winner.
Kathryn Doherty says
Oh that's so great to hear! I'm glad you all loved it Sue, thanks so much for sharing! : )