Name: Cheesy Texas Chili Mac
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1.5 cups white onion, chopped; 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained; 15-ounce can tomato sauce; 12-ounces Skinner Texas Shaped pasta; 2 cups pepper jack cheese, grated and divided in half

Weeknight family dinner just got even easier. Kids and adults love this cheesy Texas chili mac. It’s made with Skinner® Texas Shape pasta, which is almost too cute to eat. The combination of hearty chili and cheesy pasta is perfect for family meals, weekend potlucks, and even tailgating before the football game.

I received Skinner Texas Shape pasta and Skinner linguine to create an original sponsored recipe.

bowl of chili mac next to a cast iron skillet

Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, Keri Houchin earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

In case you didn’t know, chili is the official state dish of Texas. At my house, we eat it at least once every week or two when the weather is cold. We also eat it occasionally when the weather is hot!

My kids love chili and I love a simple meal that is hearty and filling. Our other dinnertime staple is pasta.

So naturally, the combination of chili and pasta and cheese is a match made in heaven {or Texas}. This Texas chili mac is an easy weeknight family meal that is both budget-friendly and something I can feel good about feeding my family.

The Skinner® Texas Shape pasta makes it perfect. It’s made here in Texas {Houston, specifically}, is the number one pasta brand in the state and has earned Non-GMO Project Verification. While Texas is the only state shape, Skinner makes tons of other delicious shapes that are perfect for every pasta dish you might want to make.

How to make cheesy Texas chili mac

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1-1/2 cups white onion, chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
spices:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
15-ounce can pinto beans, drained
15-ounce can tomato sauce
12-ounces Skinner Texas Shaped pasta
2 cups pepper jack cheese, grated and divided in half

Instructions

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet and brown the ground beef. Drain the fat if necessary.

Add the spices and stir thoroughly. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Stir to combine.

diced onion, green bell pepper, and red chilis

skillet with browned beef and diced vegetables

Next, add the beans and tomato sauce. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes.

skillet with beans and tomato sauce added

If you time it just right, the water should be boiling now. If not the chili can simmer a few minutes longer until the pasta is ready. Add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes.

Drain the pasta and add it to the chili.

Add 1 cup of the cheese and stir until it is melted and combined.

Serve immediately and top each bowl with additional cheese if desired.

meat, sauce, beans, pasta, and cheese stirred together in a skillet

Tips:

To make it more spicy use chopped fresh cayenne pepper instead of ground.
To make it less spicy leave out the cayenne pepper altogether. You can also substitute monterey jack cheese.
The pasta holds its shape fabulously, so leftovers will reheat and be almost as delicious.

Texas chili mac recipe

Yield: Serves 8