MRE stands for Meal, Ready to Eat and is used to provide nutrition to soldiers in combat. Chili mac is one of the entrees commonly found in MREs. Knowing the ingredients can help assess the nutritional value of this field ration meal.
Overview of MREs
Meals Ready to Eat were designed to provide soldiers with a portable, shelf-stable meal while out in the field. They contain about 1200 calories spread across an entree, side dishes, dessert, and accessories like powdered drinks, candy, and utensils.
Each MRE is packaged into a tough plastic bag that is designed to withstand being dropped, thrown, or sat on without the contents getting damaged. MREs do not require refrigeration and can be stored for years if kept dry. The entrees are shelf-stable foods processed so they can be safely stored and transported without refrigeration.
Over 20 different entrees are available in MREs, providing variety for soldiers in the field. Chili mac is a popular choice featuring pasta, ground beef, and a spicy tomato sauce.
Chili Mac MRE Ingredients
The chili mac entree contains the following main ingredients:
- Pasta – elbow macaroni noodles
- Ground beef – pre-cooked and dehydrated
- Tomato sauce – containing pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chili seasoning
- Vegetable oil
- Maltodextrin – a food additive used as a thickener
- Spices and seasonings – chili powder, garlic powder, salt
- Cheese powder – dehydrated cheddar cheese
In addition to these primary ingredients, the chili mac may contain small amounts of additional flavorings, preservatives, coloring, and anti-caking agents.
Pasta
The pasta in the chili mac MRE is most often elbow macaroni. Macaroni is frequently used in ready to eat meals because it holds up well to processing and has a neutral flavor that works with many sauces.
The dry macaroni noodles are pre-cooked during processing so that they can be quickly rehydrated during preparation.
Ground Beef
The ground beef provides protein and savory flavor to the chili mac. Beef is cooked, dehydrated, and finely texturized during production so it rehydrates into crumbles when prepared.
The beef content is approximately 30-40% of the entree by weight. It is seasoned and usually contains a small amount of added oil or fat to help with rehydration.
Tomato Sauce
The chili mac contains tomato sauce made from tomato paste and pureed tomatoes. The tomato sauce gives the entree its distinctive reddish-orange color.
Spices and chili seasoning are added to the tomato sauce to make it a zesty chili-style flavor. The spicing can vary between mild or hot depending on the specific recipe.
Cheese Powder
Dehydrated cheddar cheese powder is included in the chili mac recipe. The cheese powder provides a creamy, tangy flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
When rehydrated during preparation, the cheese powder blends into the sauce to give it a velvety macaroni and cheese-like texture.
Standard MRE Accessories
In addition to the chili mac entree, each MRE contains a variety of other components:
- Crackers or bread
- Spread of peanut butter, jelly, or cheese
- Fruit, pudding, or cookies
- Powdered beverage mix
- Spices, candy, gum
- Plastic utensils
- Flameless ration heater
- Napkin and moist towelette
These accessories provide supplemental calories, nutrients, variety, and convenience when eating the MRE in the field.
Nutritional Content
The chili mac MRE provides the following general nutritional content:
| Nutrient | Per Pouch |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~1300 kcal |
| Protein | ~50g |
| Carbohydrates | ~150g |
| Dietary Fiber | ~5g |
| Fat | ~50g |
The chili mac provides a substantial portion of a soldier’s daily calorie, protein, carbohydrate, and other nutrient needs. The carbohydrate-rich pasta and high fat content help provide sustainable energy.
Preparation Instructions
Chili mac can be prepared in just a few easy steps:
- Open the chili mac pouch and add water as directed on package.
- Massage or knead the pouch for 30-60 seconds to blend ingredients and evenly distribute water.
- Activate the flameless ration heater if desired, place pouch in heater, and allow to warm for 10-15 minutes.
- Open pouch, stir contents to break up any clumps.
- Enjoy chili mac straight out of the package or with included crackers, bread, or utensils.
The self-contained pouches and flameless heater allow the chili mac to be prepared conveniently in the field using only water.
Storage Information
Unopened chili mac MREs have a shelf life of around 5 years when stored properly. Each pouch is marked with a date that indicates when it should be inspected or discarded.
For best quality, MREs should be stored at temperatures below 80°F and moderate humidity levels. The pouches should be kept clean, dry, and away from rodents or insects.
After opening, the entrees should be eaten within a couple days for best flavor, although they are safe indefinitely due to the processing and packaging.
History of Chili Mac MREs
Spicy chili macaroni has been a popular field ration meal option since MREs were first introduced in 1983 to replace canned C-rations.
Over the years, the recipes and packaging have been updated to improve taste and meet changing nutritional guidelines. For example, in 2020, the chili mac began being produced without synthetic preservatives.
Despite these improvements, many soldiers still consider chili mac to be one of the more palatable choices in the MRE lineup.
Conclusion
Chili mac MREs contain a mix of precooked macaroni, texturized beef crumbles, tomato sauce, cheese powder, and seasonings to make a convenient field ration meal. The self-contained pouches allow soldiers to enjoy a warm, hearty meal without refrigeration or cooking equipment needed. While highly processed, chili mac provides essential calories and nutrients for sustaining soldiers in combat or field operations.