If there are two things we love in my house, it is chili and macaroni & cheese. Either dish is the best comfort food. Since it has been so snowy and cold this winter in Wyoming, I am constantly looking for dinners to warm us from within. Combining chili and macaroni and cheese on a cold winter night seemed like a fabulous idea! And, to give it a slightly healthy twist, I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. So, why not combine them into turkey chili macaroni & cheese? Any ground meat can be substituted for the meat in this dish.
The Turkey Chili Macaroni & Cheese is an instant hit with my tribe. So, I am sure your family will enjoy it as well!
Turkey Chili Macaroni and Cheese
A delicious combination of turkey chili and macaroni and cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups macaroni
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 1 small red onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 4 tsp chili powder
- 3 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 15oz kidney beans, can, undrained
- 1 15oz diced tomatoes, can, undrained
- 2 TBS butter
- 2 TBS flour
- 2 cups milk
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
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Cook the macaroni noodles in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions for al dente results. Drain and set aside until cheese sauce is ready.
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In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chopped red onions and cook until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper and cook 3-5 minutes longer. Add ground turkey and brown the turkey while breaking the meat into small pieces. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika and oregano. Add salt and pepper as needed. Add beans and tomatoes and mix well. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
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In a separate saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Whisk in milk, and raise the temperate to high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and add in cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine the pasta noodles and cheese sauce.
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Mix the turkey chili with the macaroni and cheese. Top with additional shredded cheese, if desired.
Since we are talking about comfort food, are you looking for more comfort food ideas? Try my Million Dollar Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe. You won’t be disappointed!
Are you in the market for some new cooking pans? I absolutely LOVE my Cooks Essentials set of pots and pans. Check them out!