Crock Pot Chili Mac
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cold winter nights got you down? Make this delicious Crock Pot Chili Mac! The chili is slow cooked all day long and then the pasta is added at the end to finish off the recipe. It’s a great weeknight dinner night without much fuss that the entire family will enjoy.

We love making chili in our crock pot because the flavors are so amazing from simmering all day long, but the kids love pasta for dinner every night of the week. That’s why this Crock Pot Chili Mac is the best of both worlds.
A base of chili that you add pasta to at the end of it’s cooking time. A heart and delicious dinner perfect for the weeknight when this are crazy busy!
Why this recipe works!
- Simmers all day in your slow cooker for amazing flavor. All you have to do is add the pasta when you come home!
- Prep it the night ahead then just turn it on in the morning to let it cook for an easy dinner.
- Hearty, thick and filling for a comforting dinner that’s easy during the week!

Ingredients Needed
- Ground Beef – Use a lean ground beef so there’s not a lot of extra grease. No matter what ground beef you use make sure to drain off any excess grease after browning the hamburger. You can also use ground turkey or a mix of ground beef and ground Italian sausage to mix up the flavor combos.
- Onion – A quick tip is to always have frozen diced onions in the freezer so you don’t have to chop the onions!
- Tomato juice
- Diced tomatoes – If you have picky eaters use a petite diced tomato to sneak them by!
- Celery ribs
- Brown sugar
- Chili powder – Feel free to adjust this. This is a mild chili if you want it to have more of a kick add more chili powder
- Salt & Pepper
- Prepared yellow mustard
- Kidney beans – You could also use chili beans, but do not rinse these. It will add a bit more spice to your chili because of the sauce.
- Elbow macaroni – Any short pasta should work if you don’t have elbow macaroni
Steps to Prepare
- Brown Hamburger – Over medium heat, cook beef and diced onion, drain
- Mix – Add to the slow cooker. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the pasta
- Slow Cook – Cook on low 6-8 hours
- Add Pasta – One hour before the dish is done add the pasta and cook for an additional hour
Top it!
Set out your favorite toppings when you make this so everyone can add their special touch to their bowl of chili mac. This is a great idea if you are hosting a chili bar too.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Corn Chips
- Green Onion
- Cottage cheese

Make it a Meal!
- The easiest way to round out this meal is to toss together a salad or buy a salad kid at the store.
- Roasted Vegetables are another way I like finish off this meal.
- You can never go wrong with these quick and easy Cheddar Bay Biscuits!
Love this? I knew you would! Be sure and leave a five-star rating below!
And if you get a chance to snap a photo, be sure and tag me at @julieseatsandtreats on Instagram or just use a hashtag – #julieseatsandtreats. Enjoy!!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

Crock Pot Chili Mac
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 46 oz tomato juicecan (1 can)
- 28 oz diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 3 celery ribs chopped
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp prepared mustard
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 16 oz kidney beans rinsed and drained (1 can)
- 1 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
Instructions
- Cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
- Place in slow cooker. Stir in the tomato juice, tomatoes, celery, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, mustard, pepper and kidney beans.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours.
- One hour before the dish is done add pasta and let cook for the last hour.
Jessica says
Could you make this ahead and freeze minus the noodles? Then put into crock pot frozen to cook all day?
Julie Evink says
Yes you could!
Madison says
Can this be cooked at a faster rate on a stove top? I want to make this but I don’t have the time to let it cook that long today! Thanks!
Julie Evink says
Yes of course, the flavors just don’t meld together as good!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
This chili looks like a perfect meal for chilly MN evenings! Love the addition of pasta!
Karen says
My mother has to have some medical tests done tomorrow and I wanted to have a comforting meal prepared when she gets home…… this is perfect!
She loves a good chili mac and this sounds delicious. Thank you! 🙂
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoyed it Karen and that the tests went fine!
Jenny says
Hi! I really am looking forward to trying this! Do I cook the pasta first and then put it in the crock pot or just put the pasta shells in?
Julie Evink says
Put the noodles in uncooked!
Kelly says
This look so cozy and delicious! Love the chili mac twist and making it in the slow cooker sounds perfect!
Malinda @ Countryside Cravings says
I have been using my slow cooker more and more. My family loves chili mac so this will be great addition to my slow cooker files! 🙂
Katerina @ Diethood says
That just looks like the most amazing comfort-food meal! I wish I could just take a ladle through my monitor and fill up my bowlS!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I need to use my slow cooker more often because it makes dinner so much easier. I love chili in the fall because it is the perfect warm and comforting meal. This version looks delicious!
tonya says
I heart hearty meals! This looks amazingly delicious!
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
You were not kidding when you names this a hearty recipe! Love that bowl of goodness, must be perfect on a rainy day!
Danielle - The Creative Bite says
This looks like the perfect comfort food to come home to on a cold winter day! My husband would love this for a quick meal in the field as well.
Trisha says
I just made this today. It is delicious!!!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it Trisha!
Abby says
This sounds so yummy!!! This may be a silly questin but what’s the difference between regular yellow mustard and prepared mustard?
Julie Evink says
Hey Abby, it’s the same thing. It’s just listed as prepared mustard so someone doesn’t add dry ground mustard instead 🙂
Sunshine says
I love chili too!
http://www.cancerinthecity.com