Easy and Healthy Chili Mac

This easy and healthy chili mac is not only delicious, but it’s packed in fiber and protein and makes for the perfect weeknight dinner! Not only is this meal toddler friendly but it’s kid friendly as well and your kids will have no idea that it’s not made with regular pasta! Did I mention that it’s also meal prep friendly as well?

You can enjoy this easy and delicious chili mac any time of the year!

If you love this recipe, you will love my easy slow cooker bison chili, easy and healthy instant pot chili , healthy chicken noodle soup, and healthy taco pasta.

Ingredients

• Avocado Oil: Heart healthy fat to absorb nutrients in the dish!
• Onions, Diced: Adds fiber and flavor to the dish.
• Ground Turkey or Chicken: The lean protein source for the dish.
• Chicken Bone Broth: Adds micronutrients, collagen and additional protein to the dish.
• Banza Elbow Banza: This adds additional fiber and protein to the dish in comparison to regular pasta.
• Chili Beans, drained: This adds fiber and nutrients to the dish.
• Tomato Sauce: Adds fiber and nutrients to the dish.
• Kinder’s Woodfired Chili Seasoning: This adds a smokiness and delicious flavor to the dish!
• Cheddar Cheese, Shredded: Adds protein and fat to the dish!

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

1. Start by cooking your banza pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Set aside.
2. Finely dice your onion. To a dutch oven on medium heat, add some avocado oil. Once hot, add in your diced onions and sauté for a few minutes until your onions are translucent. Then add in your ground turkey. Use a meat mincer to break apart the turkey and then add in your kinders woodfired chili seasoning. Cook for 7-10 minutes, using a utensil to break apart the chicken or turkey as it cooks to an internal temperature of 165F and the pink is no longer there.
3. Once your turkey has finished cooking, add in your drained chili beans, tomato sauce and bone broth. Cover and let simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once you have let your chili simmer a bit, add in your cooked banza pasta to the large dutch oven pot. Stir until pasta is well combined with the meat sauce and then add in your cheese. Stir again until everything is well combined.
5. Remove from heat and then serve!

Substitutions

• Dairy-free – use dairy-free shredded cheese or skip the cheese to make this recipe dairy-free.
• Vegetarian – use ground tempeh and vegetable broth to make this recipe vegetarian.

This recipe is gluten-free on its own.

Variations

• Spicy – add chili pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish.

This recipe is toddler and kid friendly on its own.

Equipment

All you need to make this healthy chili mac is:

• A Medium (6-7 quart) Dutch Oven: Here is a cheap dutch oven if you are in the market for one. I have the Le Creuset Enamled pan as well as the Caraway dutch oven which I also love! You can also just use a 6-7 quart pot.
• a small pot

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Storage

Store leftovers of this easy and healthy chili mac in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Dinner

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Pasta

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Jump to: Recipe

Easy and Healthy Chili Mac

This easy and healthy chili mac is not only delicious, but it's packed in fiber and protein and makes for the perfect weeknight dinner! Not only is this meal toddler friendly but it's kid friendly as well and your kids will have no idea that it's not made with regular pasta! Did I mention that it's also meal prep friendly as well?

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Baby Led Weaning Lunch, Dinner, Main Course, Meal Prep

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 470 kcal

Equipment

• Dutch Oven
• Large Pot

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
• 1 Small Onion Diced
• 1 Pound Ground Turkey or Chicken
• 1 & ½ Cups Chicken Bone Broth
• 1 Package (8 ounces) Banza Elbow Pasta
• 1 Can (15 ounces) Organic Pinto Beans, drained I used rinsed and drained chili beans because that's all I had
• 1 Can (15 ounces) Organic Tomato Sauce
• ½-1 Packet Kinder’s Woodfired Chili Seasoning per taste preference (Use ½ to reduce sodium intake)
• ½-1 Cup Low-Fat Cheddar Cheese Shredded

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Instructions

 

• Start by cooking your banza pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Set aside.
• Finely dice your onion. To a dutch oven on medium heat, add some avocado oil. Once hot, add in your diced onions and sauté for a few minutes until your onions are translucent. Then add in your ground turkey. Use a meat mincer to break apart the turkey and then add in your kinders woodfired chili seasoning. Cook for 7-10 minutes, using a utensil to break apart the chicken or turkey as it cooks to an internal temperature of 165F and the pink is no longer there.
• Once your turkey has finished cooking, add in your drained chili beans, tomato sauce and bone broth. Cover and let simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Once you have let your chili simmer a bit, add in your cooked banza pasta to the large dutch oven pot. Stir until pasta is well combined with the meat sauce and then add in your cheese. Stir again until everything is well combined.
• Remove from heat and then serve!

Video

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A post shared by Christina Klapper, RDN | Easy Dinners (@easyeatsdietitian)

Notes

Scroll up to see substitutions, variations and storage tips!

 

 

If you try this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and review!

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 47gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 963mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 9gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 58IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Chili mac, healthy chili mac

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Food Safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 F
• Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.