Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (2024)

By Lisa MarcAurele · · 10 Comments

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A spicy ground beef and pasta casserole that can be made with any pasta. But to cut carbs, this chili mac recipe used low carb macaroni.

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (1)
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I had a craving for pasta and I just happened to have a bag of low carb elbows in the pantry claiming to be low carb. Most of the carbs in this low carb pasta are indigestible so each serving is stated to have 4g of carbs.

I'm not sure how true it is so I don't eat low carb pasta very often. However, it is a nice thing to have in the house for those times when comfort food cravings kick in.

As most of you may know, I'm a big fan of casseroles and spicy food. So, I made a low carb macaroni chili mac recipe with ground beef andMexican spices.

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (2)

This dish reminds me of the hamburger helper meals I used to make in my college apartment. Of course, that was back in my high carb days when I ate a lot of unhealthy processed foods.

Both of my kids enjoyed the casserole and didn't even question if it was low carb. It tasted just like the regular thing to them.

I was happy to sneak in some extra fiber without them knowing it by using the low carb macaroni. I'm thinking I should make it more often since it's got to be better than the high glycemic pasta they usually eat.

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (3)

This chili mac recipe can be tweaked to your liking. I used a Mexican blend of finely shredded cheese which contained mild cheddar, Monterey jack, queso quesadilla and asadero cheese.

I also used spice packets from a chili kit so the amounts are estimates. I really liked this casserole and will make it again. However, I'll probably use shirataki ziti noodles which I know have negligible carbs.

If you aren't familiar with shirataki pasta, it's made from konjac which is primarily fiber.

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (4)

A lot of people don't like to use shiratake because it doesn't have the same texture as regular pasta. Instead, it's a bit rubbery and slimy. And, it doesn't smell very good right out of the package.

However, I'd urge you to give it a try. I find the smell and texture do improve when it's properly prepared. The best method is dry roasting the shiratake noodles dry before using.

But, if you have tried shiratake and just can't make it work for you, there are other options. There are a couple companies that offer better tasting low carb pasta like this one. However, they usually aren't gluten free.

Chili Mac Recipe with Low Carb Macaroni

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (5)

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Recipe

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (6)

Chili Mac with Low Carb Macaroni

4.84 from 6 votes

A spicy low carb ground beef and pasta casserole that's similar to hamburger helper. This recipe requires low carb macaroni to keep the carbs in check.

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:40 minutes mins

Total Time:50 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

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Servings: 9 people

Calories: 319

Ingredients

  • 2 cups low carb elbows cooked and drained, I prefer shiratake
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried onion flakes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried minced garlic
  • 4 teaspoons chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 2 cups shredded cheese a Mexican blend is perfect

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook ground beef with onion and garlic in large skillet over medium heat; pour off drippings. Add tomatoes, and the remaining seasoning; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Toss pasta with meat mixture. Spoon half of mixture into a 9×9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese; top with remaining meat mixture. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top. Cover with foil; bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven 25 minutes. Uncover and cook 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

Notes

*UPDATE: I no longer use or recommend Dreamfields pasta as it is NOT low carb or gluten free!

Nutritional data used Miracle Noodles shirataki pasta

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Calories: 319 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 850mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1500IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 360mg | Iron: 4.1mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 4g | % Carbs: 5.1% | % Protein: 34.5% | % Fat: 60.4% | SmartPoints: 10

Notes on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Copyright

© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Catherine

    I made this last night and was a little nervous about how my 9 year old twins would like it because I put all the red pepper in and used tomatoes with green chilies… My daughter snuck a taste before we prayed and said it was the best dinner she’d ever had!
    We all loved it. I made it with one large spaghetti squash. Thanks for another GREAT recipe! 🤗

    Reply

  2. James

    Do you think this would be fine with the spaghetti shiratake?

    Reply

    • Lisa

      I've made it with shiratake and it comes out pretty good if you like those low carb noodles. Some people just can't get past the texture of shiratake.

      Reply

  3. Emily Kemp

    Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (7)
    Love the sound of this!

    Reply

  4. Kary Hartmann

    how many servings does this make

    Reply

    • Lisa

      I get 9 large pieces.

      Reply

  5. Erika

    Is the ingredients list correct on the chili powder and salt? I did one TBS of chili powder and half what it says for salt and it’s very strong.

    Reply

    • Lisa

      It may have been 4 teaspoons. That does seem to be a bit much. As for the salt, 1/2 teaspoons should be plenty.

      Reply

  6. Ken

    How do you dry roast the the shirataki noodles ?

    Reply

    • Lisa

      The instructions for dry roasting are in this post.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Chili Mac Recipe - Low Carb Macaroni (2024)

FAQs

Which pasta has the lowest carbs? ›

  1. Shirataki noodles (konjac noodles) and tofu shirataki noodles. If you're counting carbs and craving pasta, these are your best bet. ...
  2. Zucchini noodles. Also known as zoodles, these are simply long strands that have been spiralized from whole squash. ...
  3. Hearts of palm noodles. ...
  4. Spaghetti squash noodles.
Oct 31, 2022

How do you thicken chili without carbs? ›

A low-carb thickener for chili could be xanthan gum or glucomannan powder. Both of these are low-carb, keto-friendly thickeners that can be used in small amounts to thicken chili without adding carbs.

How many carbs in a bowl of chili mac? ›

Nutrition
Total Fat 18g23%
Cholesterol 35mg12%
Sodium 780mg34%
Total Carbohydrate 48g17%
Dietary Fiber 3g11%
5 more rows

What noodles have no carbs? ›

Konjac noodles are mostly water. They are about 97% water and 3% glucomannan fiber. Glucomannan is a soluble fiber that absorbs water – hence how these noodles are made. The carbs from the glucomannan in the konjac root are not digestible which is why most shirataki noodles have zero net carbs.

What's a good low-carb substitute for pasta? ›

8 Low-Carb & Grain-Free Substitutes for Pasta
  • Zucchini. Zucchini is a popular noodle substitute because its texture makes it easy to spiral out into spaghetti-like shapes. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Spaghetti Squash. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Cabbage.

Which pasta is better for diabetics? ›

Whole wheat pasta is an excellent choice for diabetics as it contains whole grains. In addition to whole wheat pasta having a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta, whole wheat pasta also contains more fiber which can help to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Why does chili have so many carbs? ›

Even savory dishes like chili can contain sugar from ketchup and tomatoes, and tons of beans that are packed with carbohydrates. Even some spice mixes come with fillers that can increase the carb count of your meal.

Is chili keto friendly to eat for weight loss? ›

Is chili keto-friendly? Classic bean-based chili is not keto-friendly, as beans are high in carbohydrates. Luckily you can still make a keto-friendly chili without the beans. All of the traditional chili spices, such as chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika, are great flavor-boosters for keto foods.

How to use masa to thicken chili? ›

Just start with a tablespoon of the flour, cornmeal, masa harina, or cornstarch whisked with a little water, add to your chili and simmer 10 more minutes or so. If it isn't as thick as you'd like, repeat and simmer 10 more minutes.

How many carbs in a bowl of macaroni? ›

Macaroni, cooked, enriched, 1 cup elbow shaped
Protein (g)8.12
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)43.2
Energy (kcal)221.2
Sugars, total (g)0.78
Fiber, total dietary (g)2.52
34 more rows

How many carbs are in cooked macaroni? ›

Macaroni, Cooked, Fat Not Added In Cooking, Rigatoni (1 cup, cooked) contains 43g total carbs, 40.4g net carbs, 1.3g fat, 8.1g protein, and 220 calories.

How much is one serving of chili mac? ›

Portion Size: 1 cup (8 oz.)

What is a substitute for macaroni? ›

Shell pasta is a common alternative to macaroni when making macaroni and cheese. The shape of shell pasta is perfect for thicker sauces because it holds onto them well. Conchiglie pasta pairs well with chunky sauces as well, not just smooth sauces like cheese sauce.

How many carbs a day to lose weight? ›

As far as how many carbohydrates to eat, Pratt says 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates is safe for most people who are trying to lose weight. It may be better for some people to eat carbs consistently throughout the day. “You can also break it up evenly with 40 to 50 grams of carbs per meal,” she says.

How to remove carbs from pasta? ›

If you cook pasta and let it cool down, your body will digest it like fibre instead of carbohydrates. But according to various experts, cooking, cooling and then reheating the pasta had an even more dramatic effect.

What pasta is allowed on a keto diet? ›

You can still make your favorite dishes from chicken noodle ramen to creamy pesto pasta by using a great alternative — keto noodles. Keto, low-carb pasta can be made from a variety of vegetables including zucchini, spaghetti squash, and kelp. Or, look to alternatives like shirataki noodles and low-carb flours.

How to eat pasta on a low carb diet? ›

Even if you're watching carbs, pasta can be a healthy dish if you take certain steps
  1. Serving up pasta's health benefits.
  2. Measure portions. A serving of pasta is 2 ounces dry, or about 1 cup cooked. ...
  3. Don't overcook. ...
  4. Add veggies. ...
  5. Toss in some filling protein. ...
  6. Choose a low-sodium sauce.
Feb 5, 2024

Do egg noodles have less carbs than pasta? ›

Egg noodles' nutritional content is similar to that of regular pasta but slightly lower in calories, carbs, and protein ( 1 , 2 ). They're also often enriched, meaning that certain vitamins and minerals have been added, increasing their nutritional value.

What is the healthiest pasta? ›

The healthiest types of pasta include whole wheat pasta, as well as bean and vegetable based noodles.

References

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