• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Cooking Basics
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
    • Food Holidays
  • US Travel
    • One Day in...
    • Pacific
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
    • Hikes Near & Far
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cozy Living
  • Road Trips
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cozy Living
    • Road Trips
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Grammi's Classic Chili Mac

    October 16, 2019 • Updated: November 3, 2021 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Grammi’s Classic Chili Mac recipe

    Delicious, comforting, classic Chili Mac (i.e., American Goulash, or American Chop Suey) is neither sophisticated nor fancy, but Grammi’s Chili Mac recipe is one thing you can always depend on. 


    My mom was good cook, but she wasn’t a great one: she’d tell you that herself if you asked her. Her culinary repertoire was limited, and her midcentury Midwestern roots restrained her from doing much "outside-the-box" experimentation. However, there were a handful of recipes Mom made so well that I wouldn’t trade away one bite for anything.

    Her Chili Mac recipe was one of them.

    Grammi’s Classic Chili Mac recipe
    This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.

    Growing up, I’m pretty sure Chili Mac was served at our dinner table more often than any other entrée (with the possible exception of creamed chipped beef on rice). Mom made Chili Mac at least twice a month, plus then we had leftovers.

    Neither sophisticated nor fancy, Mom's Chili Mac was one thing I could always depend on to be good, even when nothing else in life was. Now, it is the taste of home for me.

    This legacy of comfort has passed down to my girls as well. Chili Mac was one of the last meals Mom ever made for us when she was still cooking, and at least one of my daughters makes it for herself now whenever she is in need of a little extra comfort.

    Let’s talk Seasonings for a minute. 

    The other day, one of my daughters mentioned that she had made my lasagna recipe for her friends. 

    “Your lasagna is great, Mama, but I added a bunch of spices to it and think I made it even better! I mean, who only uses a teaspoon of basil anyway?”

    I explained to her that when it comes to listing seasoning amounts in recipes that I share, I tend to go conservative, because (I think) most people are inclined to add more of something as opposed to less, or add their own spin and seasonings to a recipe.

    In any event, I don’t want them to overdo it. Too much salt in a preparation, for example, can ruin a whole meal. Add too little and the worst thing you'll have to do is add a little more salt. 

    “Yeah,” she told me, “But I don’t think people my age cook like that anymore. Almost everyone I know follows the recipe exactly as it’s written. If a recipe says put in ¼ teaspoon of salt, they’ll only put in a ¼ teaspoon of salt.”

    I have to say, that was a little surprising to me.

    Don't get me wrong: I go to great lengths to provide exact measurements for my recipes here on the blog: I know that many cooks measure with both a spoon and a knife. However, when it comes to home-style comforty sorts of recipes like this one, I think of the seasoning amounts fall into a special category that, by definition, requires some flexibility.

    For example, if a recipe says "one clove of garlic," I'm almost always going to add at least two, because Mr B and I like garlic a lot. Conversely, if a certain daughter is visiting, I'll back it off, because garlic isn't her friend. When you are cooking, you adjust. 

    So I'm curious: what about you? Are you a meticulous recipe follower, or do you use a recipe more like a roadmap?

    As far as I’m concerned, Chili Mac is one of those meals that, as you finish it up, you really need season to your own tastes. Maybe you toss in a little more paprika, or add a little Himalayan sea salt, or maybe even dash of nutmeg. Have some fun - make it your own. It’s all part of the cooking process. 

    That said, the seasonings in Grammi’s Chili Mac Recipe below are pretty much exactly as Mom made it. Season at your own risk!

    Classic Chili Mac recipe
    Grammi’s Classic Chili Mac recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Classic Chili Mac

    Neither sophisticated nor fancy, Chili Mac is the solidly dependable taste of home.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
    Prep Time:30 minutes
    Total Time:30 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 269kcal
    Author: Renee

    Equipment

    • 10-inch Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 4-6 ounces raw bacon chopped into ½" pieces
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 30 ounces chopped tomatoes 2 cans
    • 1 ½ cups chicken stock or water
    • 1 teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
    • ½ teaspoon hot sauce
    Garnish
    • shredded cheese Parmesan or cheddar are both good choices.

    Instructions

    • Heat a 10-inch Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven or large, heavy skillet on stovetop over medium high heat until a drop of water sizzles on the surface. Add cut up bacon and cook, stirring frequently until bacon pieces are crispy. Turn off heat, remove bacon from pan and set aside.
    • Return heat under pan to medium and add chopped onion to hot bacon fat. Sauté onion until it begins to become translucent, 3-4 minutes.
    • Add ground beef (or other ground protein). Stir and cook until browned.
    • OPTIONAL STEP: Use a colander to drain fat from mixture, and then return it to pan. If you choose to do this step, DO NOT RINSE!
    • Reduce heat to medium-low. Add canned tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, garlic salt, and paprika and bring to a simmer.
    • Stir in elbow macaroni. It should be completely submerged in mixture. (If the mixture looks too dry or if too much macaroni is sticking out of the liquid, add another ½ cup of chicken stock or water.)
    • Simmer, stirring frequently, until macaroni is just barely al dente: about 7-8 minutes. Cover, remove from heat, give it one good stir, and let set for about 10 minutes. (The resting time allows the flavors to blend and the macaroni to finish cooking on its own. This method will help you avoid overcooking the macaroni.)
    • Stir reserved bacon pieces back in. Taste and season again before serving.

    Notes

    INGREDIENT NOTES:
    • Ground Beef - You can use the ground protein of your choice. I often make this with ground turkey or ground chicken Italian sausage with great results.
    • Canned tomatoes - I almost always use Petite Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic & Oregano. 
    • Dried Basil & Oregano - If I use the aforementioned canned tomatoes, I don't usually add as much dried seasoning. 
    • Hot Sauce - This is Totally Optional! Mom never used this, by we like to add a little kick to our chili mac.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 25.8g | Fat: 310g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 515mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 4.2g | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 12mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Do you love classic comfort food? You're going to love our scratch-made Classic Homemade Chicken Pot Pie recipe!


    THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

    Grammi’s Classic Chili Mac recipe
    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
    « Spaghetti Squash with Garlic & Almonds
    Almond-Raspberry Brie in Puff Pastry (Easy Baked Brie with Jam) »
    400 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa says

      March 17, 2020 at 5:38 pm

      Looking for a good new recipe to try while I'm stuck at home. Looks like this will do just the trick!

      Reply
    2. Vanessa says

      October 17, 2019 at 10:11 am

      I love the way you fancied up the Chili mac. The recipe brings back fond memories.

      Reply
    3. Nicole Hinrichs says

      October 17, 2019 at 6:38 am

      I absolutely love eveything Mac & Cheese related. This is perfect for the fall season, I will be trying soon. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Erin says

      October 16, 2019 at 6:42 pm

      I also grew up in the Midwest on meals like this, and your mom’s chili mac looks so comforting for those cold Midwestern nights! Now that I cook for myself and my partner regularly, I totally appreciate meals like this that we can stretch into at least two meals. I think your daughter has a point when making a dish for the first time or when you are young and just learning to cook. I used to follow recipes to the T, but now that I’m more confident in my cooking skills, recipes are more like guidelines than instructions. And, I’m with you on adding more garlic!

      Reply
    5. Sara Welch says

      October 16, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Love this dish so much; it is the ultimate comfort food! Can't wait to enjoy this on a cool evening; yum!

      Reply
    6. Mahy says

      October 16, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      I can see why you can always depend on this recipe - it is bulletproof. It is one of those recipes that is just a no-fail no matter how and when you do it 🙂 I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        October 17, 2019 at 3:58 pm

        Exactly!

        Reply
    7. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says

      October 16, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      This is the perfect weeknight meal!

      Reply
    8. Andrea Metlika says

      October 16, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, I love a big bowl of comforting food like this. Brings back memories. Great list of variations too!

      Reply
    9. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      October 16, 2019 at 1:44 pm

      This looks like such delicious comfort food! Can't beat a big bowl of chili mac!

      Reply
    10. Tami says

      October 16, 2019 at 11:33 am

      Chili mac is one of our favorites. Our recipe differs a bit but you value that.

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        October 16, 2019 at 11:38 am

        I think everyone puts their own spin on recipes like this, and that's a good thing. ?

        Reply
    11. Shayla Marie says

      October 16, 2019 at 11:15 am

      My husband was just requesting something like this! It looks wonderful. I'm making a big batch of chili today so I'll have to make this too!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Adorable middle-aged couple in forest setting. (i.e., Me & Mr B)

    Join me & Mr B for the best in home cooking and cozy living - from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    More about us →

    Follow Us

    BBq & Potluck Favorites

    • Honey Citrus Pasta Salad with Turkey
    • Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzadiki Sauce
    • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings
    • Potluck-Worthy Big Cuban Salad

    fresh recipes

    • Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie
    • Creamy Seafood Enchiladas
    • Old-fashioned Bread & Butter Pickles
    • Sweet Potato & Butternut Samosas

    Soup & Salad

    • Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad (Applebee's Copycat Recipe)
    • Classic French Onion Soup
    • Smoked Salmon Chowder (with Leeks & Fresh Tarragon)
    • Armenian-style Eggplant & Carrot Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    400 shares
    400 shares