Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chili Mac
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This Gluten-free Chili Mac is a super-easy dinner that the whole family will love! It comes together in one pan, plus it has dairy-free and keto options too!
With just a handful of ingredients, you can have this “better than the box” meal on your table, nourishing you and your family in almost no time at all.
It's easy to want to resort to boxed mixes and convenience foods when you're leading a busy life, but it's not necessary.
Regardless of your time constraints, it IS possible to have wholesome meals on the table without too much fuss.
The key is pre-planning and picking the right recipes that cook quickly in one pan or a crock-pot while you’re busy with other things.
And this One-Pan Gluten-free Chili Mac is one such meal, and it's guaranteed to please.
Ingredients
Here's the simple list of ingredients you need to pull this delectable meal together. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card below.
- coconut oil or alternative healthy fat
- onion (finely diced)
- garlic (minced)
- ground beef (or any other ground meat as desired)
- tomato paste
- canned tomatoes (pureed, diced, or crushed)
- beef broth
- oregano
- chili powder
- gluten-free elbow pasta
- dairy-free cheddar cheese (or favorite cheddar; omit for paleo.
Recipe Notes
- Picky Eater Tip: Puree diced tomatoes with an immersion blender or regular blender first to hide big chunks of tomatoes that many kids don't like.
- Broth Tips: This Whole Chicken Bone Broth Recipe is a delicious recipe to use for this recipe. This Vegetable Broth Powder is another great option but you'll need to reduce the salt in the recipe if using this.
- Gluten-free Noodle Options: I really love Tinkyada Brown Rice Elbows. Use veggie noodles, spaghetti squash, or these noodles for a low-carb option.) Trader Joe's brown rice pasta is also quite good.
- Veggie Add-Ins: You can add just about any additional vegetable to this recipe for added nutrition. Bell peppers, carrots, spinach, or cabbage are all great choices.
- Garnish Options: Top this dish with garnishes like avocado slices, pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, fresh lime, parsley, or shredded cabbage.
- Grain-free Option: can be made grain-free using Konjac or another grain-free noodle.
- Gluten-free Pasta vs. Regular Pasta: Gluten-free pasta tends to absorb more water than regular pasta, but I've made this recipe with both regular and gluten-free pasta without altering the recipe, and it's turned out great both ways.
Gluten-free Chili Mac
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 onion (finely diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound ground beef (or any ground meat)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 14.5 ounces canned tomatoes (pureed or crushed; about 1 can)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (or to taste)
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free elbow pasta (uncooked)
- 1/2 cup dairy-free cheddar cheese (or favorite cheddar; omit for paleo. This DF Cheddar Powder looks like a great option.)
Instructions
- Preheat a 10-12″ skillet with a tight fitting lid over medium heat.
- Add the oil.
- Add the onions and saute until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Crumble the ground meat and add in the garlic, stirring to break the meat up.
- When browned, add in tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, and chili powder. Stir to combine.
- Mix in the noodles. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover. Cook until the noodles are al dente, about 7-10 minutes. The noodles will continue to soak up liquid as it sits, so don’t worry if it seems thin at first.
- Stir in cheddar shreds until melted. Serve with preferred garnishes.
Slow Cooker
- Add meat and spices to slow cooker and stir.
- Add tomato paste, tomatoes, and broth. Stir.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
- If adding dry pasta, add and stir 20 minutes before serving and cook on Low for the remaining time. If adding cooked pasta, add and stir just before serving.
- Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
Notes
- Broth Tips: This Whole Chicken Bone Broth Recipe is a delicious recipe to use for this recipe. This Vegetable Broth Powder is another great option but you'll need to reduce the salt in the recipe if using this.
- Gluten-free Noodle Options: I really love Tinkyada Brown Rice Elbows. Use veggie noodles, spaghetti squash, or these noodles for a low-carb option.) Trader Joe's brown rice pasta is also quite good.
- Veggie Add-Ins: You can add just about any additional vegetable to this recipe for added nutrition. Bell peppers, carrots, spinach, or cabbage are all great choices.
- Garnish Options: Top this dish with garnishes like avocado slices, pickled jalapeños, hot sauce, fresh lime, parsley, or shredded cabbage.
- Grain-free Option: can be made grain-free using Konjac or another grain-free noodle.
- Gluten-free Pasta vs. Regular Pasta: Gluten-free pasta tends to absorb more water than regular pasta, but I've made this recipe with both regular and gluten-free pasta without altering the recipe, and it's turned out great both ways.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
More Quick and Easy Meals
Here are some more easy healthy meals the whole family will love.
Gluten-free Vegan Mac and Cheese
Keto Fried Rice
Egg Roll In a Bowl
This Egg Roll in a Bowl is so simple and full of so many veggies!
Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Indian Lentils
(ready in as little as 9 minutes – not low carb)
What is YOUR favorite super quick meal?
Your Chili Mac looks awesome. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I switched to eating mostly Paleo for myself this week while still cooking regular real food for my family. I wanted to get the wheat out of my diet to see if that would help with my nasal congestion. It’s working! The nasal congestion is better, and I have more energy. I’m chronicling my changes at my new local food/cooking blog: frugallocalkitchen.com/blog/
I like that you mentioned the meals that are freezer-friendly. In these busy times of baseball and soccer, while I love cooking, I can’t always cook a full meal. Though, I do need to make a little extra time for the short-cuts to help me save time in the long run.
Glad you liked it, Lea, a family hit here too! And a mommy hit for being easy!
Just made this for dinner, so good, huge hit! I didn’t have elbow shapes so I broke up the last of 2 boxes of spaghetti noodles and called it chili spaghetti. Thanks for posting it!
You’re welcome! I plan to make it myself soon as well!
Great guest post Tessa! You know I love all your recipes!! Always winners in our house.
Hugs,
–Amber
Mmm, this sounds yummy. My daughter has celiac disease and we all eat Tinyada pasta. It’s good, huh?! Thanks for posting this recipe. I pinned it on pinterest!
too true Alea! The irony right? I try and explain to that to my husband when he wants to eat out…I can have the food on the table quicker than the time it would take to go to a restaurant or wait for delivery!
Great tips for serving your family healthy food. I find the pay off is worth the little bit of extra effort involved in cooking healthy food from scratch and when I cook fast and easy meals like you’ve shared I can do it in less time than it takes to heat a boxed pizza in the oven.
You’re certainly welcome Elsa!
Your Chili Mac sounds delicious! I love your tips on getting organized. I follow similar steps as well and it does save money, time, and especially frustration since I’m usually shopping with little kids. Thanks so much for sharing with the Hearth and Soul!