This recipe for Amish Chuckwagon Chili Casserole comes to us from the Amish community of Rexford, Montana. Or sometimes called West Kootenai.
This is a gorgeous Amish community that I am lucky enough to have been to once. It’s sort of in the middle of nowhere. Well, not sort of. It is in the middle of nowhere. Unless you live there, then it’s not nowhere.
Anyway, the cooking in that community mirrors much of the "old west." Many Amish that arrive in Rexford come from eastern communities and are very adventuresome and outdoorsy. Wild game like bear, moose, elk, and Buffalo are commonly cooked here. Plus, the mountain streams are full of fish, and those make their way to the dinner tables also.
But there is also an affinity with “cowboys." Amish teenage boys and young men will work on ranches as cattle-hands and some women work as cooks.
That is why recipes like “cowboy cookies “show up in Amish recipe collections here. And this “chuckwagon chili casserole.
❓ FAQ About Chuckwagon Chili Soup
The etymology of the word "chuck" is interesting. I mean, I use the term “chuck" to mean “throw," like chuck the garbage into the can. Or somebody can “upchuck:" food. But "chuck" also can be associated with food in a more appetizing way.
Think about “ground chuck “ which refers to a cheap cut of meat. That term is especially common in England, and it’s made it this way to the American West. And that is where the term “chuckwagon" originated. Often there would be cheap cuts of meat, stews, and beef that were served to the hungry cowboys from the wagon. Some people call it the chuckwagon
One TV Netwerk referred to the chuckwagon as "America’s original food truck “,
👨🍳 Preparing Chuckwagon Chili Casserole
You don’t have to have a wagon and thousands of acres of ranchland to enjoy this chili at home. Just a simple stock pot or large skillet, and you’re in business.
Like many Amish recipes, the instructions on this were a little skimpy. But you can mix and match to your taste. It is also a little skimpy on seasonings, but you can add to your taste. A little cayenne pepper or hot sauce? No problem.
As the name implies, this is not a classic chili, it's sort of a hybrid between a chili soup and casserole.
Use lean ground chuck or lean ground beef for the best results on this recipe.
Brown the meat and add white or green onions to it. Most Amish would use their own homegrown onions.
Kidney beans and chili powder give this casserole more of a chili feel! This is the part also where you can add other stuff, like corn, garlic, a teaspoon ground cumin, or cilantro. Keep it all in the same stove-top baking dish or skillet or stockpot and stir and keep over medium heat or medium low heat.
Eat this this chili-casserole with a side of tortilla chips is a great combo! Some sour cream on the side would also taste good. Sprinkle on some Monterey jack or cheddar cheese. This dish is packed with protein and calories, perhaps for the ranchhand it was meant to feed!
🍲 Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 can whole tomatoes, drained and mashed
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1 /3 cup macaroni
- 1 can kidney beans, undrained
📋 Instructions
- In a large skillet or stockpot, brown meat.
- Add onion and cook until soft.
- In a separate pot, simmer macaroni covered until tender, yet firm.
- Drain the macaroni and add to the beef mixture.
- Add rest of the ingredients and heat about 20 - 30 minutes over medium-low heat.
🥣 More Amish Chili Recipes
🖨️ Full Recipe
Amish Chuckwagon Chili Soup Casserole
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large skillet or stockpot, brown meat.
- Add onion and cook until soft.
- In a separate pot, simmer macaroni covered until tender, yet firm.
- Drain the macaroni and add to the meat.
- Add rest of the ingredients and heat about 20 - 30 minutes over medium-low heat.
John
Are the 1½ cups of Macaroni cooked or uncooked? What size can of whole tomatoes and kidney beans. The recipe looks great however the ingredients are vague.
Kevin Williams
The macaroni is cooked separately and then added to the meat mixture, and go for the 16 ounce can size of kidney beans. Hope that helps!
Kathy Smith California
I recently made the Amish Macaroni Salad to take to game night. It was well received. I was asked to share the recipe and was glad to do so. I’m a Miracle Whip person so found it great. I’ll make it again. But I may reduce the sugar by half. Loved it and most of the recipes you share.
Kevin Williams
Glad you like the mac salad, Kathy, I like the sweetness but it can definitely be cut down!