Chili Mac, also known as American Goulash, is a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian Goulash, however, the only real connection seems to be the name and the inclusion of beef. The primary difference between Chili Mac and American Goulash is the inclusion of beans.
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Ways to Make Chili Mac
Chili Mac is a dish of seasoned beef with various kinds of pasta, usually macaroni or egg noodles, ground beef cooked with any number of aromatics, usually onions and garlic, along with tomatoes of some sort, whether canned tomatoes (whole, diced, or crushed are all common variants), tomato sauce, or tomato paste. Some variations of Chili Mac include cheese.
How to Store American Goulash
This recipe makes quite a large portion, so if you don’t eat it all you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you wish to keep it for longer your best bet is to freeze it. Let it cool completely before spooning the American Goulash into zipped, freezer-safe bags. Be sure to label and date the bags; the frozen American Goulash will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
History of Chili Mac
Chili Mac, mentioned in cookbooks since at least 1914, exists in a number of variant recipes. The oldest reference to Chili Mac that I could find, comes from a man in Newark, NJ. He claims that his great uncle, who owned a restaurant in Newark, listed Chili Mac on his menu in the late 1890s.
The Metropolitan City of Newark, NJ
Newark is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and part of the New York metropolitan area. As one of the nation’s major air, shipping, and rail hubs, the city had a population of 311,549 in 2020.
Settled in 1666 by Puritans from New Haven Colony, Newark is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Its location at the mouth of the Passaic River (where it flows into Newark Bay) has made the city’s waterfront an integral part of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Today, Port Newark–Elizabeth is the primary container shipping terminal of the busiest seaport on the U.S. East Coast. Newark Liberty International Airport was the first municipal commercial airport in the United States, and today is one of its busiest.
A Brief History of Newark, NJ
The first people to live on the land now known as New Jersey were the Delaware Indians. They lived here starting at least 10,000 years ago. Anywhere from 8,000 to 20,000 Delaware Indians lived in the area when the first Europeans arrived in 1666.
The Delaware Indians lived in small communities made up mostly of extended family members. They lived by hunting, fishing, searching for clams off the Jersey shore, and growing squash, beans, sweet potatoes, and corn during the summer.
Newark was settled in 1666 by Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat from the New Haven Colony. It was conceived as a theocratic assembly of the faithful, though this did not last for long as new settlers came with different ideas.
In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and the first state to sign the Bill of Rights. In 1790, Trenton officially became the state capital of New Jersey. William Livingston became New Jersey’s first state governor.
New Jersey grew and prospered during the early 1800s. New factories sprung up throughout the state. Paterson became a textile center and later became known for producing trains, silk, clay products, iron, and steel.
The history of air travel has close ties to New Jersey. On May 3, 1919, the first passenger flight in American history was flown from New York to Atlantic City. Today, New Jersey is home to two international airports, Newark and Atlantic City. Newark Airport expanded its passenger and cargo services in 1963. In the 1980s, it became one of the world’s busiest airports.
Tourism in Newark, NJ
From great museums, scenic parks, and excellent restaurants to sports, theater, and music, Newark, NJ, offers plenty to see and do. Visit the largest museum in New Jersey, walk along the river in Newark Riverfront Park, explore the historic Ironbound neighborhood, and listen to a symphony performance. Our list includes great restaurants and cafes serving delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner with flavors from around the world, including burgers, sushi, steaks, and BBQ.
The Cuisine of Newark, NJ
The cuisine of New Jersey is derived from the state’s long immigrant history and its close proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. Restaurants in the state often make use of locally grown ingredients such as asparagus, blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes, corn, and peaches. New Jersey is home to approximately 525 diners, the most of any state. Various foods invented in the state, such as the pork roll, and saltwater taffy, remain popular there today.
– Featured Restaraunt –
The Soup Factory
467-469 W Market St, Newark, NJ 07107
Telephone: +1 973 482 2000
The Soup Factory has the type of customer service you only get in a locally owned restaurant where the owner really cares about the customer and the product. The soups have a lot of flavors!
How to Make This American Goulash Recipe
This one-pot recipe is very easy to make and is ready to eat in just 25 minutes. This recipe does NOT call for any hot spices, however, if you want to spice it up you can add a tablespoon of chili powder or a can of Ro*Tel diced tomatoes & green chilies to add some heat to the dish.
What You Need to Make Chili Mac
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef mince, I use lean
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14 oz kidney beans drained
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup ground coriander for garnish
How to Cook American Goulash
Time needed: 25 minutes
Chili Mac Cooking Directions
- Cook the Vegetables
Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Add garlic and onion and cook for 1 minute. Then add the bell peppers and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Cook the Beef
Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
- Add the Remaining Ingredients
Once the beef turns from red to brown, add the remaining ingredients except for cheese. Stir, bring to simmer, then turn the heat down to medium.
- Cover and Cook
Cover and cook for 12 minutes or until the macaroni is al dente, meaning just cooked, still a tiny bit on the firm side. It should be saucy but not tons of liquid.
- Stir in the Cheese
Turn the stove OFF but leave the pot on the stove. Stir through half the cheese – it should be a bit saucy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Top with remaining cheese put the lid back on and leave until the cheese melts – about 2 minutes (sauce will absorb further during this period).
- Season and Serve
Sprinkle with coriander, if desired, and serve immediately.
This fast and easy Chili Mac is packed with flavor that comes together in 25 minutes. It is a family favorite meal that will leave everyone full and doesn’t take much effort or planning!
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Chili Mac
Please Rate this Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 red bell peppers chopped
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef mince , I use lean
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14 oz kidney beans drained
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup ground coriander for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over high heat. Add garlic and onion and cook for 1 minute. Then add the bell peppers and cook until onion is translucent.1 tbsp olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 yellow onion, 1 red bell peppers
- Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.1 lb 80/20 ground beef
- Once the beef turns from red to brown, add remaining ingredients except cheese. Stir, bring to simmer, then turn the heat down to medium.28 oz crushed tomatoes, 14 oz kidney beans, 8 oz elbow macaroni, 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- Cover and cook for 12 minutes or until the macaroni is al dente, meaning just cooked, still a tiny bit on the firm side. It should be saucy but not tons of liquid (see video).
- Turn the stove OFF but leave the pot on the stove. Stir through half the cheese – it should be a bit saucy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Top with remaining cheese, put the lid back on and leave until the cheese melts – about 2 minutes (sauce will absorb further during this period).2 cups cheddar cheese
- Sprinkle with coriander, if desired, and serve immediately.1/4 cup ground coriander
Nutrition
Other Recipes That Go Well With Chili Mac
Photo Credits:
- By Taste The World Cookbook – Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
- By The Soup Factory – By https://www.facebook.com/The-Soup-Factory-102898304799462/
- By King of Hearts – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52718334
- By Jim.henderson – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6818651
- By Chaseandmorgan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5655919
- By Peter Greenberg – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37554252
- By King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40871129
- By Brooklyn4083 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51960875
