Does anyone know when and why macaroni came to be added to CHILI?!
Answers: according to the redneck hicks in Indiana and Kentucky, it came about during the depression. people added crackers, pasta, or potato's to the chili to make it feed more, and bring cost down. having lived in the south, Florida and Texas, it seems..gross to me.. but people out where i live now in Indiana say ..if it does not have noodles, they will not eat it. that is OK with me, i do not add noodles, and that means more for me!!!!
It's actually not very common to add macaroni to Chili. If my memory serves me correctly, it's a popular Cincinatti (with spaghetti) dish. You won't find pasta in your chili in the Southwest.
Here's a link that talks about the history of Cincinnati's Chili
I've never heard of people adding macaroni to chili.
I didn't know that it had been.
never heard of anyone adding macaroni to chili .. whoever thought of it probably needed to stretch the meal.
I've seen of chili being served over spaghetti, but I've never seen macaroni being added to the chili itself.
I side with Grumpy Girl macaroni and other pasta vegetables legumes must have been used to streach full bodied food durring hard times...Seems I remember turnips were considered really cheep food..
BUT remember "chili" is realy no more than ground (minced or shreeded meat,, beef,, lamb,, pork,, or chicken) in a thick stew.. I am sure That where chili peppers were not available black pepper or some other Hot spice was used.
I've never had chili that had macaroni. I've never even heard of that until I saw this question!