Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings

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This Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese is a hearty, healthy one pot pasta that comes together in 30 minutes or less! With step by step recipe video.

turkey chili mac in blue braiser with melted cheese on top and grey towel in the background

It’s actually difficult for me to write this post and not have a big bowl of this Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese here with me, because it’s so good and I’m so hungry!

This is one of those one pot meals that I could make over and over and no one would get sick of it.

It has a lot of our favorite things — lean and versatile ground turkey, pasta, sauce and cheese — and it’s made with just one pot and in 30 minutes or less, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights (and there seem to be a lot of those around here!)

We love using ground turkey for easy meals because it cooks up quickly and can take on a wide variety of flavors, so it’s perfect for almost anything you’re cooking. Burgers, meatballs, pasta and so many more of our favorites!

You should see the look of relief on my kids’ faces when they see this on the dinner table and it’s not another one of mom’s experiments ๐Ÿ˜‰

Some of their other favorites? These Turkey Stuffed Peppers, this Healthier One Pot Skillet Lasagna, and this Turkey Pot Pie!

Variations on this Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese:

  • To make this Chili Mac dairy free: you can skip the cheese or use a dairy-free cheese.
  • To make this Chili Mac gluten-free, you can substitute gluten free macaroni. Be sure to keep an eye on them for doneness as they tend to get soft much quicker.
  • You can up the spice with a pinch or 5 of red pepper flakes, or a dash of hot sauce.
  • You can add a barbecue twist to this Chili Mac by adding a dollop of your favorite barbecue sauce with the other sauces.
  • You can add in more veggies, just use your own judgement as to when they should be added based on how long they usually take to cook. Mushrooms, spinach, finely chopped kale, shredded carrots or peppers are always great options.
turkey chili mac and cheese on white plate with grey towel and parsley in the background
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How to prep Chili Mac ahead for a busy week:

  • You can cook this Chili Mac entirely, spread into a greased baking dish, cover and refrigerate for 3 days. When you want to serve it, simply bake (covered) at 350 degrees F just until warmed through. If you know you’re cooking it ahead to bake later, leave a little more bite in the pasta than you normally would.
  • You can keep 1lb portions of cooked ground turkey in the freezer for quick dinners on busy nights.
  • You can chop the onion, shred the cheese and rinse the beans in advance to help cut back on prep time.

How to store Turkey Chili Mac:

You can store leftover Chili Mac in the fridge up to 3 days, provided your ingredients were fresh when you started cooking.

This Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese can also be frozen! Keep in mind that pasta does get softer after being frozen, so if you know you want to freeze it, it’s a good idea to leave the pasta with a bit of a bite.

To thaw and serve, cover with foil or a lid, and bake at 350 degrees F for 60-90 minutes until warmed through.

To heat faster, leave the baking dish at room temperature for 6-8 hours before baking.

turkey chili mac and cheese overhead in pan with blue handles on marble

More one pot pastas you’ll love!

*This recipe is generously sponsored by Turkey Farmers of Canada and I was compensated for my time in creating this post — thank you for supporting those that make The Recipe Rebel possible!

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Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese

4.96 from 21 votes
This Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese is a hearty, healthy one pot pasta that comes together in 30 minutes or less! With step by step recipe video.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 662cal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 540 ml canned kidney beans, rinsed (19oz)
  • 1 3/4 cups tomato sauce
  • 3 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable or poultry broth
  • 3 cups whole grain macaroni, dry (340-375g)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown turkey (you may want to lightly grease the pan if your turkey is very lean) on medium-high heat.
  • Add onion, chili powder, salt and garlic and cook until onion is softened, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Stir in beans, tomato sauce, and broth and bring to a simmer.
  • Stir in dry macaroni. Bring back to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, just until pasta is tender, stirring often.
  • Stir in milk and cheese (reserving a little for the top if you prefer). Serve.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 375grams | Calories: 662cal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1330mg | Potassium: 1234mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1529IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 8mg
Keywords chili mac

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Jen says

    My family and I truly enjoyed this recipe. I could only find whole wheat penne pasta but it was still a huge success. I didnโ€™t alter the recipe otherwise and it turned out perfect. Iโ€™m definitely adding this to the rotation and cannot wait to make it for others. Thank you so much for sharing!

  2. Maria says

    I made this Turkey Chili Mac and cheese and it is very good.
    Great way to use ground turkeyโ€ฆ..did not make any changes let every spice up if needed. Thank you!

  3. Jessica says

    Can I use mozzarella instead of cheddar? Iโ€™ve made this before but itโ€™s been awhile. We did enjoy it.

  4. Dean says

    I can just copy and paste every time I rate these amazing meals. Tonight Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Christine! I’ve not tested it out myself but I think it should be fine. Let me know how it goes, if you decide to try it!

  5. Melanie Wolczuk says

    This recipe is great. I added some extra veggies and chilli powder. Used GF macaroni and cream instead of milk. It was lovely. I will make this again.

  6. Jill says

    Looks SO good! I’m on WW and am wondering how you think fat free half and half might work to replace the milk? I’ve used it before in some recipes successfully and others it curdles and I can’t figure out why ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you!

  7. Michelle says

    Mine came out quite soupy… I think it needs less liquid.. or maybe not covering while it simmers… hmmm. Taste is good though

  8. Corina says

    Loved this and will make this again! It was a lot for 2 people so I will cut the pasta portion in 1/2 next time. I swapped out the kidney beans (didnโ€™t have any) for black beans and it was delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

  9. Cheryl L Ralston says

    I didn’t have ground turkey so i used ground Chuck. It was very good and made a lot. I cut in the chili powder in half cause I don’t do spicy. It made a lot! Next time I’ll cut it in half, since I’m single. I’ll cook this again when my family comes for a visit.

  10. Jana Eveswell says

    The meal looks great but I’m surprised by how high the sodium & potassium levels are per serving. Is this a correct breakout? If so, what is the main source of these 2 items.

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Unfortunately the nutrition information is automatically calculated by the recipe card and I feel it often estimates the sodium to be higher than it is. I always choose no salt beans and broth, as those are often the main culprits.

4.96 from 21 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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