Now, this is a delicious casserole. It is super-simple, and best of all, it’s a huge pan of bowl-you-over goodness that will feed the entire family.
Ingredients :
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 medium onions small diced about 3 cups
- 2 jalapenos, stemmed and minced, optional
- 1 tablespoon salt, plus more for pasta cooking water
- 2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
- 5 tablespoons Mexican chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 (28 ounces) can whole plum tomatoes, broken with your hands, with juices
- 2 cans kidney beans, drained
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1 pound medium cheddar cheese
- Sour cream for serving, if desired
Directions :
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 6-quart soup pot. Add onions, jalapenos (if desired), and 2 teaspoons of the salt and cook until soft, 2 minutes. Add ground beef, chili powder, oregano, and garlic and cook, breaking up any clumps of meat with a spoon, for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, and 1/2 cup of water, stir, and bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thickened to chili consistency, about 20 minutes. Taste and add 1 more teaspoon salt, if needed.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
While the chili is simmering, cook macaroni according to package directions in boiling salted water, drain in a colander, rinse under cool running water, and set aside. Grate cheddar cheese and set aside.
Place a 9 x 13.5-inch or another 3-quart casserole dish on a baking sheet. Once the chili has finished cooking, fold in the cooked macaroni and 1/3 of the cheddar cheese. Transfer chili-mac to the baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Serve each portion garnished with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.
