Chili-Mac Casserole

Cream Puff's Note:

I created this recipe when I wanted to use up some leftover home-made chili. Great comfort food you can make as spicy as you like!

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 4 -5 cups chili (home-made or canned)
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni
• ½ cup ketchup
• 8 ounces monterey jack pepper cheese , shredded
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese , shredded
• jalapeno pepper , sliced (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In medium saucepan, simmer chili until heated through.
3. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well and set aside.
4. Grease a deep 8-quart or similar casserole dish.
5. Spoon 1 cup of chili evenly on bottom of dish. Next, layer half of the macaroni, drizzle half of the ketchup (approx. 1/4 cup), half of the remaining chili and half of the cheeses. Repeat layering with remaining macaroni, 1/4 cup ketchup, remainder of chili and remaining cheeses. Top with jalapeno slices, if desired.
6. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.
7. *NOTE: I prefer my home-made chili in this recipe, but if I use canned chili, I like to add chopped green pepper, chopped onion, 4 oz. can green chilies, cayenne pepper or whatever I have on hand to "doctor" it up.

Reviews

[gailanng]

A real gem and did you know that my bottle of ketchup makes rude noises?

[ChefDLH]

Thanks Cream Puff! We really enjoyed this comfort food. So good it was eaten before I got a picture of it. The ketchup was an unexpected but good flavor enhancer. I think next time I will add in onions. I say error on 5 cups of chili as I used four and it could have used more. I used my 13x9 baking pan and did two layers but spread out. Lovely. Enjoy! ChefDLH

[Miss Tinkerbell]

This is exactly how I make our Chili-Mac. I used leftover home made chili, add cooked elbow macaroni, and shredded cheese, and bake. I omit the ketchup. Delicious!