Creamy Tuscan Chili Mac (Printable)

Hearty pasta with ground beef, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan in a creamy tomato sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or small pasta

→ Meats

02 - 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
06 - 4 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped

→ Dairy & Cream

07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry

09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
15 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, approximately 3 minutes.
03 - Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the ground beef or Italian sausage. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes.
06 - Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes.
07 - Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy and cheese is fully melted.
08 - Add the spinach and stir until completely wilted.
09 - Gently fold in the cooked pasta. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
10 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant-quality comfort food but comes together in 40 minutes flat.
  • The sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan give it a sophisticated Italian edge while keeping that warm, familiar chili mac feeling.
  • It's endlessly flexible: swap the meat, add vegetables, or adjust the cream to suit whoever's eating it.
02 -
  • Don't add the pasta too early or it'll absorb all the sauce and turn gluey, so cook it separately and fold it in at the very end.
  • The sun-dried tomatoes are not optional, they're what gives this dish its character and prevents it from tasting like every other creamy pasta.
03 -
  • Reserve about half a cup of pasta cooking water before draining, because if your final sauce seems too thick, a splash of that starchy water will loosen it without breaking the cream.
  • Make this ahead and reheat it gently in a low oven or on the stovetop with a splash of extra broth, because reheated cream sauces sometimes break if you rush the heat.
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