PREP TIME 10 Minutes
COOK TIME 40 Minutes
YIELD 6 to 8 servings
Emeril Visits Jon & Kate Plus 8.
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons olive oil 2 medium onions small diced, about 3 cups 2 jalapenos, stemmed and minced, optional 1 tablespoon salt, plus more for pasta cooking water 2 pounds extra lean ground beef 2 tablespoons Mexican chili powder 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 (28 ounce) can whole plum tomatoes, broken with your hands, with juices 2 cans kidney beans, drained 1 pound elbow macaroni 1 pound medium cheddar cheese Sour cream for serving, if desired Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse, courtesy Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.PREPARATION:
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 6-quart soup pot. Add onions, jalapenos (if desired), and 2 teaspoons of the salt and cook until soft, 2 minutes.
- Add ground beef, chili powder, oregano, and garlic and cook, breaking up any clumps of meat with a spoon, for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, and ½ cup of water, stir, and bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thickened to chili consistency, about 20 minutes. Taste and add 1 more teaspoon salt, if needed.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- While the chili is simmering, cook macaroni according to package directions in boiling salted water, drain in a colander, rinse under cool running water and set aside. Grate cheddar cheese and set aside.
- Place a 9 x 13.5-inch or other 3-quart casserole dish on a baking sheet. Once chili has finished cooking, fold in the cooked macaroni and 1/3 of the cheddar cheese.
- Transfer chili-mac to the baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving. Serve each portion garnished with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.