There is no better comfort food than this Chili with Pasta skillet meal. A comforting combination of ground beef, tomatoes, corn, and pasta come together with the perfect homemade chili seasoning to create an all in one meal you’ll love!
Chili with Pasta Skillet
I love a good one pot meal. It makes my life so much easier when I don’t have to worry about a ton of extra dishes to wash. Even if you have a dishwasher or kids who help with kitchen chores, nobody wants to make a mess in the kitchen.
This recipe is one that combines many of my favorite comfort foods into one meal.
Chili is always a great recipe when you are on a limited budget or just want something warm and comforting. Adding pasta to that gives you a way to stretch a meal a bit further, and in this case, makes it a bit easier to eat. What’s not to love about that?
Can I add extra vegetables to this skillet recipe?
Yes! This recipe is what I like to call a kid-friendly version. It has tomatoes which blend in easily and corn which everyone loves. If you like things like onions, bell peppers, and beans, feel free to add those to this recipe. You could even mix in diced mushrooms if you had them on hand. The spices are what add flavor to this dish, so feel free to play with the vegetables to make a blend you prefer.
If you like a bit sweeter chili, you may like my sweet potato chili pasta recipe instead. You might want to whip up my southwest skillet cornbread to go alongside either of these recipes.
Can I use ground chicken or ground turkey for this chili with pasta?
If you prefer to use a leaner meat, ground turkey or ground chicken also work in this recipe. I like the richness that beef offers, but know that any ground meat will fit the recipe. Some leaner meats are dryer, so you may want to add extra salsa for moisture.
Protip: For even more flavor, grab a package of sausage to add instead of ground beef! Spicy sausage, chorizo, or even chicken sausage can all add a different flavor profile to enhance flavors. Get creative to make this recipe your own.
Is this the same as chili spaghetti?
Chili spaghetti is a different recipe. While you could easily use spaghetti noodles for this recipe, it is not the same. A traditional chili spaghetti is from Cincinnati and is when you take a base of spaghetti and top it with a chili recipe that includes Greek spices, and top it with shredded cheddar and diced onions.
My slow cooker no bean chili would be a great option if you wanted to make a more traditional chili spaghetti recipe.
How I serve my chili pasta recipe
While many recipes for a chili and pasta mixture are more of a chili mac with loads of cheese, I prefer to add cheese just as a garnish. The purpose of the cheese is to add flavor, not to mask flavor. So, for me, adding cheese at the very end, or right on top of a bowl when serving is best.
Other fun ideas for serving that I have tried in the past are to add a dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado, or sprinkle fresh cilantro on top. These flavors are bold so a little mild creamy flavor works well to mellow it down. The cilantro on top just brightens things up so it doesn’t feel so heavy.
As mentioned before, this recipe is perfect just like it is listed, but it is also a great recipe to play with a bit to make uniquely your own. Mix in vegetables, use different salsas, and top with your favorite chili toppings!
Looking for more chili-inspired recipes? I’ve got you covered!
- Slow Cooker Hearty No Bean Chili
- Sweet Potato Chili Pasta
- Southwest Skillet Cornbread
- Slow Cooker Pizza Chili
Chili Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 cups rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ tablespoons chili powder
- 1 cup corn fresh, frozen or canned works well
- 2 roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 (16 ounce) jar chunky salsa any kind
- ¾ cup shredded cheese cheddar or cheddar jack
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- While pasta is cooking, brown and crumble ground beef and onion over medium heat in a large skillet. Drain and return to skillet.
- Add garlic powder, chili powder, corn, tomatoes and salsa. Stir to combine and then heat on low until warmed, about 4-5 minutes.
- Once pasta is cooked and drained, add to meat mixture. Stir to combine. Add shredded cheese and stir until melted. Top with additional cheese, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
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