Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac
A cheesy skillet-style dinner made by stirring cooked macaroni and cheddar into leftover Cincinnati chili. It takes about an hour and uses one slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes1
hourA cheesy skillet-style dinner made by stirring cooked macaroni and cheddar into leftover Cincinnati chili. It takes about an hour and uses one slow cooker.
Ingredients
4 cups leftover Cincinnati chili
1 cup beef broth, plus more to loosen
8 oz elbow macaroni, cooked 1 minute short of tender
2 cups finely shredded mild cheddar, divided
1 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup finely diced onion, for topping
Oyster crackers, for serving
1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
Directions
- Spoon the leftover chili into the slow cooker and pour in the broth. Break up any cold lumps with a spoon.
- Cover and heat on HIGH for 15 minutes until the chili is hot and steaming at the edges.
- Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in well-salted water until 1 minute short of the package time. Drain it well and toss with the butter so it does not stick.
- Stir the hot macaroni into the chili along with 1 cup of the cheddar, the cinnamon, garlic powder and pepper. Stir until the cheese has fully melted into the sauce.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes. The dish is ready when the sauce clings to the macaroni and bubbles gently around the edge.
- Check the consistency halfway through. If the macaroni has soaked up the sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of hot broth at a time until it is creamy again.
- If using peas, stir them in for the final 5 minutes so they stay bright green.
- Scatter the remaining cheddar over the top, cover for 3 minutes until melted, and turn off the heat.
- Serve in bowls topped with diced onion and oyster crackers.
Notes
- Use leftover chili that has been refrigerated for no more than 4 days. Small shells or rotini work in place of elbows. Make this on HIGH only; LOW is too gentle to heat the pasta through. Leftover chili mac reheats well with a splash of broth for 3 days. It does not freeze well once the pasta is added.
Turning leftovers into a new dinner
This is a second-day dish. The chili is already flavored, so the macaroni only needs a short boil and then finishes in the pot, soaking up broth and the cheese that melts into it. It tastes like a cheesy stovetop mac with a spiced chili base.
Undercooking the pasta slightly keeps it from going soft in the heat.
Swaps and what fails
Small shells, rotini or cavatappi work in place of elbows. Pepper jack can replace some of the cheddar. Do not use pre-shredded cheese with a heavy coating, which gets grainy, and do not try this on LOW.
How to serve it
A scoop with diced onion and oyster crackers on top is the traditional finish. A crisp green salad balances it.
A common mistake
Using old chili. If it has sat more than a few days, make a fresh pot instead. Also keep the pasta separate if you freeze the base.
Stir the cheese in off the heat in two additions, so it melts smoothly rather than clumping. Top each bowl with a little extra and a few sliced scallions if you like.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac at a glance
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 1 hour
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 11, led by leftover Cincinnati chili, beef broth, elbow macaroni, finely shredded mild cheddar
Tips for Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac
Use leftover chili that has been refrigerated for no more than 4 days. Small shells or rotini work in place of elbows. Make this on HIGH only; LOW is too gentle to heat the pasta through. Leftover chili mac reheats well with a splash of broth for 3 days. It does not freeze well once the pasta is added.
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac FAQ
How long does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac take?
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac takes 1 hour of cooking after 10 minutes of prep.
How many people does Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili Mac?
11 ingredients, led by leftover Cincinnati chili, beef broth, elbow macaroni, finely shredded mild cheddar. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 10 Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili Recipes for Spaghetti Night
