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a classic that works

Chili mac with ground beef

An everyday dish for 2, ready in 30 minutes, around $2.70 a serving. People actually plan it with Popotam.

30mintotal
≈ $2.70a serving
715kcalper serving
54gof protein
Freezes well
Chili mac with ground beef, a serving idea
AI-generated image · Serving idea

Step-by-step recipe

check things off as you go
  1. Boil the water

    Fill the saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add a pinch of salt.

  2. Cook the macaroni

    Add the 150 g of macaroni to the boiling water and cook for 8 to 10 min over medium heat. Drain in the colander.

  3. Chop the onion

    Peel the onion and cut it into small cubes on the cutting board.

    Tip · Chop the onion while keeping the root end on until the very end so you don't cry.
  4. Brown the beef

    In the nonstick skillet, heat a drizzle of oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and brown it for 5 min, stirring with the wooden spoon.

  5. Add the onion

    Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3 min, stirring, until translucent.

  6. Stir in the spices

    Sprinkle the cumin and paprika over the mixture in the skillet. Mix well and cook for 1 min to wake up the flavors.

  7. Add tomatoes and beans

    Add the 400 g of crushed tomatoes and the 200 g of drained kidney beans to the skillet. Simmer for 5 min over low heat, stirring.

    Tip · If the sauce is too thick, add 2 tbsp of hot water to loosen it.
  8. Toss with the pasta

    Add the drained macaroni to the skillet and mix well to coat the pasta in sauce. Heat for 2 min over low heat.

  9. Serve with the cheese

    Divide the chili mac between two shallow bowls. Sprinkle with the 50 g of shredded cheddar and serve right away.

And there you go, it's readyCheck off every step to celebrate.

The questions you're asking

short answers, numbers you can check

How many calories in a serving?

One serving has about 715 kcal. 44% comes from carbs, 30% from protein and 22% from fat.

79 gCarbs
54 gProtein
17 gFat
Per serving (the dish for 2, divided by 2)
Energy715 kcal
Protein54.1 g
Carbs79.1 g
of which sugars11.9 g
Fat17.2 g
of which saturated fat7.9 g
Fiber14.1 g
Salt1.4 g

Worked out ingredient by ingredient with the ANSES Ciqual 2025 table, never written by an AI. It's an estimate: veggie sizes and brands make the numbers vary.

How much does it cost?

About $2.70 a serving, adding up the average prices of the ingredients you need to buy.

≈ $5.40for 2 people
≈ $2.70a serving

Pantry salt, oil and spices aren't counted. Your store and your brands will move the total, but the ballpark is right.

How long does it keep?

2 days in the fridge, in a closed container, once cooled within two hours. And it freezes really well.

2 daysin the fridge
Very wellin the freezer, thaw it in the fridge the day before

Times Popotam uses for meal prep, based on ANSES guidance, rounded down. The details: how long cooked dishes keep.

and the rest of the week?

Popotam plans your whole week

Lunch and dinner, with dishes like this one, based on your tastes, your time and your budget. The grocery list is sorted by aisle. Free, no account.

Build my week

With the same ingredients

macaroni, 95% lean ground beef, canned kidney beans…