Peaceful Kitchen Creations

Who else has been freezing the last few weeks with all the snow, ice, and cold? I don’t know about you, but cold weather always makes me crave comfort food. Growing up in the Midwest, I found comfort in dishes like beef stew, shepherd’s pie, and chili.

Today, I want to share a classic comfort dish: Chili Mac. I know many of us are trying to eat a little healthier, and the good news is you don’t have to give up the foods you love to do that. One simple change I make is keeping the noodles separate so I can control how much I add. I also like to defrost some frozen mixed vegetables. In my bowl, I usually do ¼ noodles, ½ vegetables, and ¼ chili, then mix it all together. So good and still comforting!

Ingredients

• 1–1½ lbs ground beef (choose 80% lean or higher)
• 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans (choose minimal preservatives)
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (no-salt-added if possible)
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 2 large shallots, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp chili powder (choose one without onions if sensitive, or use a homemade blend)
• 1 package small noodles (elbows work great)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional Toppings:
  Green onions, cheese (if tolerated), jalapeños, mixed vegetables

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
2. Once fully cooked, drain excess grease from the pot.
3. Add the garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
4. Stir in the kidney beans and cook for another 1–2 minutes.
5. Add diced tomatoes, chili powder, and tomato paste. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
6. Add 2 cups of water to the pot. I like to rinse the tomato cans with water and add that to the chili to capture all the flavor.
7. Simmer for at least 20 minutes, stirring often. If the chili starts sticking to the bottom, add a little more water.
8. While the chili simmers, bring a separate pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package directions.
9. Once everything is ready, build your bowl! I typically use ¼ noodles, ¼ chili, and ½ mixed vegetables, then top with green onions or other favorites.