Description
Crockpot Chicken Chili Mac is a comforting slow cooked meal made with tender shredded chicken, bold chili spices, beans, pasta, and melted cheddar cheese. This recipe delivers rich flavor with minimal effort and is perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Chili powder
Paprika powder
Cumin powder
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Dried oregano
Black pepper
Salt
Red bell pepper diced
Yellow onion diced
Kidney beans drained and rinsed
Diced tomatoes with juice
Fresh garlic minced
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce or Stubb’s Original Bar B Q Sauce
Ketchup
Elbow pasta cooked to al dente
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese such as Tillamook or Cabot plus extra for topping
Chicken broth
Fresh chives diced for garnish
Instructions
1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot in an even layer
2. Mix the chili powder paprika cumin onion powder garlic powder oregano black pepper and salt in a small bowl until well combined
3. Season the chicken evenly on all sides with the spice mixture
4. Add the diced bell pepper onion kidney beans diced tomatoes garlic barbecue sauce ketchup and chicken broth to the crockpot
5. Gently stir the liquid ingredients around the chicken without breaking it apart
6. Cover and cook on low heat until the chicken is tender and fully cooked
7. Shred the chicken directly in the crockpot using two forks and mix well with the sauce
8. Add the cooked elbow pasta and stir until evenly coated
9. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy
10. Turn off the heat and let the dish rest briefly before serving
11. Top with extra cheese and fresh chives before serving
Notes
Cooking the pasta separately helps prevent it from becoming too soft
Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre shredded cheese
The sauce will thicken slightly as it rests
Adjust seasoning at the end to suit your taste
Leftovers reheat best with a splash of chicken broth to restore creaminess
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American