Cook up another cowboy classic.
I had so much fun whipping up my Crockpot Cheesy Cowboy Potatoes that I decided to experiment with some more cowboy-style recipes. The only rule was that it had to be a one-pot meal that you could cook over a campfire if you wanted to – though of course, I’d be using my Crockpot instead.
Now, when I think of Western, cowboy-style meals, one that always pops to mind is chili. But I already have a good recipe for Crockpot Chili, so I decided to go a step further and make chili mac. This is a classic cross between chili and macaroni and cheese that’s a sure crowd-pleaser, and it’s easy to cook in one pot.
But this still didn’t seem all that new and different, so I decided to shake things up a bit more by using chicken instead of ground beef. After all, if you can make chicken chili, why not chicken chili mac? I didn’t even need to chop the chicken ahead of time; after several hours of simmering, the chicken breasts were tender enough to shred with a pair of forks.
And here’s the result: Crockpot Cowboy Chicken Chili Mac. It’s a warm, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal that will give you plenty of energy for the next day’s cattle drive. Or a day at the office, if that’s what you’ve got planned.
Crockpot Cowboy Chicken Chili Mac
Directions:
- Add chicken to your crockpot. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano black pepper and salt. Sprinkle seasoning over both sides of chicken.
- Next add in your red pepper, onion, beans, tomatoes, garlic, barbecue sauce, ketchup and chicken broth to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Once cooking time is up, shred chicken with 2 forks. And mix in crockpot until well combined. Stir in cooked pasta. Stir in cheese. Turn the crockpot off. Cover until cheese is melted, about 5 mins.
- Serve topped with cheese and diced chives.
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TOOLS USED FOR THIS CROCKPOT COWBOY CHICKEN CHILI MAC
Slow Cooker: Here is one of my favorite crockpots!
Slow Cooker Liners: Do you love easy clean-up jobs? Give these liners a try.
Food Tongs: Non-slip Surface design offer you the best control on food.
Knife Set: Every kitchen needs a set of great kitchen knives.
Cheese Grater: This sturdy cheese grater has 4 slides to slice, grate or shred your food.
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Crockpot Cowboy Chicken Chili Mac
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1/3 cup of onion diced
- 1 15 oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced minced
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 12 oz package of elbow pasta cooked to al dente according to package.
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese plus extra for topping
- chives diced for topping
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Add chicken to your crockpot. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano black pepper and salt. Sprinkle seasoning over both sides of chicken.
- Next add in your red pepper, onion, beans, tomatoes, garlic, barbecue sauce, ketchup and chicken broth to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- Once cooking time is up, shred chicken with 2 forks. And mix in crockpot until well combined. Stir in cooked pasta.Stir in cheese. Turn the crockpot off. Cover until cheese is melted, about 5 mins.
- Serve topped with cheese and diced chives.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Debbie Morris says
I made the Cowboy Chicken Chili mac this weekend and it was a HUGE hit with my husband! It makes a large amount so it’s great for hungry families. The only thing I added was 1 tsp of dried cilantro. You can also freeze and pull out for a “ no cook” night. It wasn’t spicy but you could add other spices if your family likes hot food. I will be making this again. Thanks for the great recipies!
Corey says
Awesome Debbie! Happy to hear it was a hit! That added cilantro sounds yummy!
Natasha Rodrigue says
This recipe looks great for tonight but I don’t want to mess it up… How much broth do we need for this recipe please? Is it the same amount as for ketchup? (It’s on the same line in the ingredients not sure if it’s a typo)
Corey says
Natasha, I emailed you about this. Yes, it is 2 cups of broth.
Leslie Reinhart says
I have not made this recipe yet but it looks so good! I just have a question on what kind of BBQ sauce I should use? Is hickory a good choice or should I use something sweeter?
Erika D says
Thanks, looks amazing! Are we supposed to cut up the chicken first, or can I get away with putting it straight in the crock pot? I don’t see it mentioned in the recipe, only in photos.
Corey says
I did cut it up into large chunks before putting it in the slow cooker.