Crouton’s Cafeteria Chili Mac
Ditalini put me in charge of the kitchen last night, so I decided to indulge myself in some good old comfort food. We’ve both been away, things have been hectic and disorganized, and a simple one-dish hot meal seemed like just the thing. Remember the chili mac they served in the school cafeteria? Here’s my version, adapted from a recipe I saw on food.com, something even the most backward, kitchen-averse husband can handle:
Crouton's Cafeteria Chili Mac
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed & chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 4 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 lb elbow pasta
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
Directions
Fill a pot of water for the pasta. As it comes to a boil, brown and crumble the ground beef in a large frying pan. Add onion & garlic to the beef and cook until translucent. Drain grease if necessary. When water boils, add the pasta and cook. Meanwhile add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce to the beef, then the chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Mix well and continue to cook on medium heat. When the pasta is cooked, drain it and stir it into the beef/tomato mixture (the beef/tomato mixture should still have plenty of liquid, but if it doesn’t add a little pasta water). Salt & pepper to taste. Stir in half the cheese and let it melt. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. Dip serving portions directly out of the pan.
