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Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese

This Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese is hearty, delicious, and loaded with beef and veggies. Load up your Crockpot for this easy weeknight dinner.

chili mac and cheese in a Crockpot slow cooker
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This post was originally published in 2017. It has since been updated.

Are yall ready for two of my favorite things? Mac and cheese + chili! What a combination.

dry elbow pasta, ground beef, homemade chili seasoning, and garlic in separate bowls

What Type of Pasta to Use

Elbow macaroni is typically used. You can also use cellentani. It has a corkscrew shape and a ridged surface which works great in a dish like this. In general, use whatever you like.

Do You Have to Cook the Beef First?

No. You can cook raw ground beef in the slow cooker. I don’t because you will get more flavor from the beef if you sear and cook it in a pan. This will caramelize the beef, along with the vegetables which simply provides immense flavor, along with my Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe.

You can skip this step and add your raw meat to the Crockpot if you wish. Raw beef will cook for 4-5 hours on Low or 2-3 hours on High. You risk the pasta getting mushy with this cook time, so I recommend cooking the pasta on the stove and adding it at the end along with the cheese.

chili beans, black beans, beef broth, chopped green peppers, chopped red peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, and chopped onions in separate bowls

What Type of Beans to Use

You can use whatever you like. Just about anything will pair nicely. You can use red kidney beans, black beans, chili beans or any legumes. Be sure to drain your beans first.

What Type of Cheese to Use

I like to use a combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack. For cheddar, you have options, mild, medium, sharp, extra sharp, etc. Aging is the only difference between mild and sharp Cheddars. The longer cheese is aged naturally, the sharper and more pronounced the Cheddar flavor becomes.

Mild Cheddar cheese is generally aged for 2 to 3 months, whereas an extra sharp might be aged for as long as a year.

Mild cheddar has a creamy, subtle taste.
Medium cheddar has a little more flavor in comparison to mild, but it lacks the distinct bite found in sharp cheddar.
Sharp cheddar has a distinct and prominent flavor.
Extra sharp cheddar has a very pronounced and sharp taste. (I typically don’t cook with it and use it for wine pairings and Charcuterie Cheese Boards.)

Taking all of this into account, sharp is typically my go-to for mac and cheese.

How to Make Slow Cooker Crockpot Chili Mac and Cheese

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat.
  2. Add the ground beef and the chili seasoning. Break down the ground beef with a meat chopper.
  3. Stir and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the beef if necessary.
  4. Add in red peppers, green peppers, onions, and garlic.
  5. Add the cooked beef and vegetables to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients (with the exception of the cheese).
  6. Slow cook.
  7. Add the cheese before serving.
collage of 4 photos with ground beef sauteed in a pan with veggies

How to Make it Spicy

I’m a huge fan of spicy chili so I add a tablespoon of red cayenne pepper. If you want it to be slightly spicy, use a teaspoon and build from there if you wish.

If you don’t want it spicy omit the cayenne pepper completely. You may also need to test out the chili powder you use as well if you are extremely sensitive to spice. Sometimes, people report chili powder as spicy, but it should not be.

Topping Ideas

  • Shredded Cheese
  • Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Jalapenos
  • Cooked and Crumbled Bacon
  • Sliced Avocado
uncooked chili mac and cheese in a slow cooker
uncooked chili mac and cheese in a slow cooker topped with cheese

How to Make it on the Stovetop

Cook your pasta in accordance with the package instructions. Follow the instructions for how to cook the vegetables and ground beef.

Once cooked add the pasta, cooked vegetables and ground beef, and the remaining ingredients (with the exception of the cheese) to a Dutch oven or soup pot. Simmer for 25-30 minutes and then add the cheese.

How Long Will it Last in the Fridge

You can store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days, tightly covered.

chili mac and cheese in a Crockpot slow cooker
chili mac and cheese in a Crockpot slow cooker

Freezer Tips

You can freeze this tightly sealed for up to 6 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. When you reheat there will likely be some separation due to the dairy and cheese.

Cornbread Recipes to Pair with Chili

Homemade Southern Cornbread
Cornbread Muffins
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Honey Cornbread

Air Fryer Cornbread
Pumpkin Cornbread
Keto Low Carb Cornbread

Southern Cornbread Dressing
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Homemade Maple Butter
Cornbread Casserole
Homemade Blueberry Cornbread
Sweet Potato Cornbread

slow cooker chili mac and cheese in a white bowl

Mac and Cheese and Pasta Recipes

Seafood Mac and Cheese
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese
Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese

Seafood Stuffed Pasta Shells
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Smoked Mac and Cheese

More Chili Recipes

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Instant Pot Beef Chili
Keto Low Carb Beef Chili
Pumpkin Chili
Sweet Potato Chili

Leftover Turkey Chili
Creamy Seafood Chili
Buffalo Chicken Chili

Chili Cheese Fries
Butternut Squash Chili
Slow Cooker Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

Check out all of our Chili Recipes and Slow Cooker Crockpot Gumbo, and Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup here.

slow cooker chili mac and cheese in a white bowl
chili mac and cheese in a Crockpot slow cooker
Print Pin
4.89 from 60 votes

Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese

This Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese is hearty, delicious, and loaded with veggies. Load up your Crockpot for this easy weeknight dinner.
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword chili mac and cheese, Crockpot Chili Mac, slow cooker chili mac
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings 7 servings
Calories 346kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1/2 cup chopped red peppers
  • 1/2 cup chopped green peppers
  • 3 garlic cloves Minced
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 15 oz fire roasted tomatoes
  • 15 oz canned black beans Drained. You can use any canned beans you like.
  • 15 oz canned chili beans Drained.
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese I use sharp.
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet on medium-high heat.
  • Add the ground beef and the chili seasoning. Break down the ground beef with a meat chopper.
  • Stir and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the beef if necessary.
  • Add in the red peppers, green peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are soft.
  • Add the cooked beef and vegetables to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients (with the exception of the cheese). I use a 7 quart.
  • Cook on Low for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or on High for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Check in periodically. It has finished cooking when the pasta is soft.
    I do not recommend preparing this as a "Keep Warm" recipe. Most slow cookers are still pretty hot when on the "Keep Warm" setting. You risk the pasta turning mushy. If you plan to let the dish sit, add your pasta at the end when the dish is done.
  • About 10-15 minutes prior to serving, add the cheese to the cooker. Sprinkle it throughout the top.
  • Allow 10-15 minutes for the cheese to melt.
  • Cool before serving.

Video

Notes

  • You can also buy a pre-packaged chili seasoning pack if you don’t want to make your own.
  • You can cook raw ground beef in the slow cooker. I don’t because you will get more flavor from the beef if you sear and cook it in a pan. This will caramelize the beef, along with the vegetables which simply provides immense flavor.
  • You can skip this step and add your raw meat to the Crockpot if you wish. Raw beef will cook for 4-5 hours on Low or 2-3 hours on High. You risk the pasta getting mushy with this cook time, so I recommend cooking the pasta on the stove and adding it at the end along with the cheese.
  • If you want a super cheesy dish (similar to my Mac and Cheese recipes), you will need a lot more cheese. I typically use 4-6 cups of cheese in those recipes.
  • You can use any type of broth you wish.
  • You can substitute any vegetables you wish.
  • To use an Instant Pot you will need 4 cups of broth. Cook the ground beef using the Saute function, and follow the steps noted in the recipe. Add all of the ingredients (excluding the cheese) and pressure cook for 4 minutes with a natural release of steam. Add the cheese when finished.
  • To make it on the stovetop, Cook your pasta in accordance with the package instructions. Follow the instructions above for how to cook the vegetables and ground beef. Once cooked add the pasta, cooked vegetables and ground beef, and the remaining ingredients (with the exception of the cheese) to a Dutch oven or soup pot. Simmer for 25-30 minutes and then add the cheese.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 8g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Slow Cooker Chili mac and cheese
Recipe Rating




Joyce

Wednesday 19th of July 2023

I made this tonight. It was good. For some reason, just the 1 can of tomatoes wasn't enough so I added a 2nd one. I also added more chili powder. Very tasty and will make again. I didn't have the chefs on hand, only the Mexican blend finely shredded... it works but would rather have sharp cheese. Yum

staysnatched

Friday 21st of July 2023

Glad to hear you will make it again.

Sara

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

I made this today. It DOES NOT WORK IN THE CROCKPOT! The noodles turn to mush and there is not enough liquid in the recipe for the pasta to cook in the crockpot. Either add more liquid or follow the stove top directions.

staysnatched

Tuesday 18th of July 2023

Interesting. It’s worked just fine for me and others. It sounds like you need to adjust your cook time. You cooked it too long. Every crockpot will cook at varying speeds and you need to keep watch for how long yours needs.

Jules

Sunday 18th of June 2023

I've been severely depressed lately and have had trouble feeding myself as a result. This recipe has a lot of shortcuts that make it easy. A V8 and a bowl of this, and I can feel the difference. Thanks!

staysnatched

Sunday 18th of June 2023

I'm glad it worked out!

Joanna

Monday 22nd of May 2023

This is one of my favorite recipes on the blog & I make it every couple weeks. I've made it both in the crockpot & on the stove. It is so easy to pull together using ingredients I usually have on hand, and it is so delicious!

staysnatched

Monday 22nd of May 2023

I’m so glad you enjoy it!

Jaylene

Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

I have been missing out! This one had the whole family wanting more. Delicious as always!

staysnatched

Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

I’m glad you tried it!