Chili mac is a dish prepared using
chili con carne and
macaroni
Macaroni (, Italian: maccheroni) is dry pasta shaped like narrow tubes.Oxford DictionaryMacaroni/ref> Made with durum wheat, macaroni is commonly cut in short lengths; curved macaroni may be referred to as elbow macaroni. Some home machines ...
as primary ingredients, which is often topped or intermingled with cheese.
Some versions are made using prepared or homemade
macaroni and cheese.
It is a common dish in the
cuisine of the Midwestern United States, and is also popular in other areas of the United States.
Several variations of the dish exist, and prepared canned and boxed versions also exist. It can be a relatively inexpensive dish to prepare,
and has been described as a
comfort food.
Similar dishes include Spaghetti Red, a chili-topped spaghetti popular around Joplin, Missouri,
and
Cincinnati chili.
Preparation
Several preparation methods exist. Basic versions may be prepared using chopped meat, tomato, spices, and elbow macaroni.
Another basic preparation method incorporates boxed, prepared macaroni and cheese and canned chili. Some recipes incorporate all of the ingredients together, while others are prepared with the ingredients separately layered.
Those that use cheese may use grated cheese atop the dish,
while others mix the cheese throughout the dish. Sometimes, onions or beans are added.
Some
diner
A diner is a small, inexpensive restaurant found across the United States, as well as in Canada and parts of Western Europe. Diners offer a wide range of foods, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a com ...
s in St. Louis, Missouri, serve a version called "chili mac a la mode", in which the dish is served topped with fried eggs.
The dish may be prepared on a range top in a skillet, in a
slow cooker,
or baked as a
casserole
A casserole ( French: diminutive of , from Provençal 'pan') is a normally large deep pan or bowl a casserole is anything in a casserole pan. Hot or cold
History
Baked dishes have existed for thousands of years. Early casserole recipes ...
.
Vegetarian and vegan versions of the dish are sometimes prepared.
Versions
Chili mac has been a
staple dish
A staple food, food staple, or simply a staple, is a food that is eaten often and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet for a given person or group of people, supplying a large fraction of energy needs and ...
at American military dining facilities for years. It was introduced into the
Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) field ration menu in 1995 and is one of only three of the twelve MRE meals offered in 1995 that has remained on the MRE menu to date.
A variation called "taco chili mac" has been consumed by
NASA astronauts in space.
It is processed by NASA as a
freeze-dried product.
sells a boxed version named "Chili Macaroni".
Similar dishes
Spaghetti Red is a chili-topped spaghetti popular around
Joplin, Missouri.
is a spiced meat sauce used to top spaghetti which is often referred to as chili spaghetti.
See also
*
List of casserole dishes
*
List of pasta dishes
*
List of stews
References
External links
Skillet Taco Macaroni Food.com.
{{pasta dishes
Chili con carne
Casserole dishes
Ground meat
American pasta dishes
American meat dishes