About
Comfort food shouldn't be exclusive to winter! This Summer Comfort Dinner is here to make the warm weather not just exciting, but cozy! The secret... well actually, it's no secret why the Summer Comfort Dinner is so tasty! It's the perfect marriage of cheesy, creamy mac-and-cheese and savory, spicy chili, and it's all made in a slow cooker for extra ease! Beefy and beautiful, this is one comfort meal you'll want throughout the summer and the whole year to come!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
- 2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, whole leaves, for topping
Directions
Step 1 -In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, the onions, and the garlic and cook, while crumbing the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 2 -Drain the excess fat from the skillet.
Step 3 -Add the chili powder and the oregano to the beef mixture and cook, while stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 4 -In a 4-5-quart slow cooker, add the beef mixture, the broth, the beans, the tomatoes and their juices, the salt, and the pepper and stir to combine.
Step 5 -Cover the slow cooker and cook until the flavors have melded together, about 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Step 6 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, add the macaroni and cook it to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 7 -Drain the pasta.
Step 8 -Ensure the slow cooker is on the high setting.
Step 9 -Add the pasta and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese to the chili mixture in the slow cooker and stir to combine.
Step 10 -Cover the slow cooker and cook until heated through, about 30 minutes.
Step 11 -Serve topped with the remaining cheddar cheese and the cilantro.
