Over 250 five-star reviews can’t be wrong! This American Chop Suey recipe stands out as the BEST you’ll ever make. It’s a New England staple, ready in just 30 minutes, crafted from simple ingredients such as ground beef, elbow macaroni, wholesome vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce that’s bursting with flavor and a comforting sense of nostalgia.
Delving into American Chop Suey Food
Perhaps it’s a New England thing, but American Chop Suey Food is undeniably addictive. Maybe it’s the sheer comfort it offers, or the harmonious blend of flavors, but whatever it is, it’s a dish that’s easy to fall in love with.
That’s precisely why sharing this recipe is a must – in the hopes that you’ll appreciate it just as much!
In New England, we affectionately call it American Chop or simply Chop Suey. Depending on where you are from, you might know it as goulash or even macaroni hamburger and tomato.
Regardless of the name, the foundation of the recipe remains consistent, representing a classic dinner that many of us grew up enjoying.
The Endearing Appeal of American Chop Suey Food
The allure of American Chop Suey food is undeniable, especially when seeking comfort during colder days. It embodies coziness in a dish, and the best part? It’s incredibly easy to prepare!
This dish shares similarities with American goulash, yet a key distinction lies in the absence of paprika in Chop Suey, at least in this rendition.
Some might even liken it to Chili Mac, although this version isn’t designed to be spicy. However, a touch of sugar is an essential ingredient that shouldn’t be skipped.
In my opinion, the perfect American Chop Suey food boasts a tomato sauce with a hint of sweetness. The sauce should be just right – loose enough to coat every piece, yet thick enough to cling to the noodles.
Sugar enhances the natural sweetness of the tomatoes, creating a truly delectable sauce. It’s crucial to sauté the green pepper and onions before introducing any tomato-based ingredients to build a flavorful base!
This recipe yields a generous portion, making it ideal for families or meal prepping. It reheats beautifully in the microwave, maintaining its comforting qualities.
Preparing a batch on a Sunday afternoon, especially during fall and winter, becomes a delightful ritual, ensuring satisfying lunches throughout the week.
Core Components of American Chop Suey Food
Traditional American Chop Suey food is built upon these fundamental ingredients:
- Ground beef: The heart of the dish, providing richness and protein.
- Elbow macaroni: Classic pasta shape that perfectly captures the flavorful sauce.
- Green bell pepper: Adds a touch of sweetness and crispness.
- White onion: Forms the aromatic base of the sauce.
- Garlic: Enhances the savory depth.
- Tomato sauce: The primary flavor component, creating the signature tangy base.
- Tomato juice: Adds liquid and intensifies the tomato flavor.
- Diced tomatoes: Provides texture and fresh tomato notes.
- Tomato paste: Concentrates the tomato flavor and thickens the sauce.
- Dried oregano: Imparts a warm, herbaceous touch.
- Dried basil: Adds a sweet, aromatic layer.
- Salt: Balances and enhances all flavors.
- Pepper: Provides a subtle spicy kick.
Creative Twists on Old Fashioned Chop Suey Food
- Ground Turkey: For a lighter take on American Chop Suey food, ground turkey serves as an excellent substitute for ground beef, reducing fat content without compromising flavor.
- Cheese Infusion: If you prefer cheesy American Chop Suey food, simply stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. About 2 cups should be perfect for adding a creamy, melty dimension.
- Pepper Variations: While green bell peppers are traditional, feel free to experiment with red, orange, or yellow bell peppers for varying levels of sweetness and visual appeal. While green peppers offer a slightly bitter note that balances the sweetness of the tomato sauce, red and yellow peppers will enhance the dish’s sweetness.
- Mushroom Addition: Mushroom enthusiasts can easily incorporate them into American Chop Suey food. Add a small can or 1 cup of fresh chopped mushrooms and sauté them alongside the green peppers to ensure they become tender and flavorful. Consider using cremini or white button mushrooms for a classic flavor, or explore shiitake or oyster mushrooms for a more umami-rich dish.
Crafting Your Own American Chop Suey Food
One of the many reasons to love this recipe is its simplicity and speed! American Chop Suey food is ready in a flash, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
Step 1: Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions in a large pot of salted boiling water. You have two options here: cook the pasta, drain it, and set it aside, using the same pot for the sauce, or use a separate pot for the sauce while the pasta cooks. Using the same pot minimizes dishes, while using separate pots can save time.
Step 2: In your chosen pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions become translucent, approximately 4 minutes. Sautéing the onions until translucent is key to developing a sweet and mellow base for the sauce.
Step 3: Add minced garlic to the softened onions and cook for another minute, stirring frequently. Be careful not to burn the garlic; it should become fragrant but not brown.
Step 4: Introduce ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. For a leaner dish, you can brown the ground beef in a separate pan and drain off excess fat before adding it to the onions and garlic.
Step 5: Add diced green bell pepper to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Cooking the green pepper softens its texture and mellows its slightly bitter flavor, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the sauce.
Step 6: Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, tomato paste, sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, and Worcestershire sauce (if using). Stir well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until heated through and flavors have melded, about 10-15 minutes. Simmering allows the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to deepen.
Step 7: Stir in the cooked and drained elbow macaroni. Mix thoroughly to ensure the pasta is evenly coated in the flavorful tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Start with a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper, and adjust according to your preference.
Serve your homemade American Chop Suey food immediately for a comforting and satisfying meal. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, making it perfect for meal prepping.
## American Chop Suey Recipe
**Author:** [Rebecca Hubbell](https://www.sugarandsoul.co/about-me/)
**Course:** Dinner
**Cuisine:** American
**Prep Time:** 10 minutes
**Cook Time:** 20 minutes
**Total Time:** 30 minutes
**Servings:** 8 people
[Print Recipe](https://www.sugarandsoul.co/wprm_print/american-chop-suey-recipe)
[Pin Recipe](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarandsoul.co%2Famerican-chop-suey%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarandsoul.co%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F04%2FAmerican-Chop-Suey.jpg&description=American+Chop+Suey+is+a+delicious+and+easy+dinner+recipe+made+with+ground+beef%2C+tomato%2C+onion%2C+green+pepper%2C+macaroni%2C+and+spices.+Pure+comfort+food+made+on+the+stovetop+in+just+30+minutes+and+makes+a+great+weeknight+dinner%21&is_video=false)
[Rate Recipe](#commentform)
American Chop Suey is a delicious and easy dinner recipe made with ground beef, tomato, onion, green pepper, macaroni, and spices. Pure comfort food made on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner!
**Prevent your screen from going dark**
### Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large white onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 14 ounce [diced tomatoes](http://amzn.to/2ApC9js)
- 5.5 ounces [100% tomato juice](http://amzn.to/2CCFFvV)
- 15 ounces [tomato sauce](http://amzn.to/2DJGqjS)
- 6 ounces [tomato paste](http://amzn.to/2CRTHrn)
- 1 tablespoon [granulated sugar](https://shopstyle.it/l/b7x6l)
- 1 teaspoon [dried oregano](http://amzn.to/2xkb4A4)
- 1 teaspoon [dried basil](http://amzn.to/2CtGvru)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon [ground black pepper](http://amzn.to/2zyTzdg)
- 1 teaspoon [Worcestershire Sauce](http://amzn.to/2oxR1LI) optional
### Instructions
1. Fill a large pot with water, salt the water and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. *You can either finish cooking the pasta and leave it in a colander and use the same pot for the sauce or you can start making the rest of the recipe in a separate pot while the pasta is cooking.*
2. In a separate pot or the one from the pasta (see note above), add the butter and onion to the pot and saute, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the garlic to the onions and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
4. Add ground beef and cook until browned, you can cook this in a separate pan if you’d like less fat and add it to the onions after cooking.
5. Add green pepper and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the diced tomatoes, sauce, juice, paste, sugar, spices, and Worcestershire Sauce. Cook until evenly heated.
7. Stir in the cooked pasta and stir to coat and add salt and pepper to taste.
### Video
### Notes
- Serve immediately or package up and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- I would not recommend freezing this dish. Once thawed and reheated, the pasta will be mushy.
- **Recipe Variations:**
- **Ground Turkey:** If you’re looking to lighten things up? You can try swapping ground beef for ground turkey.
- **Cheese:** If you’re used to cheese in your chop suey, you can simply stir in some mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, about 2 cups or so should do just fine.
- **Peppers:** Green bell peppers are a staple in this classic recipe, therefore I wouldn’t remove them completely, but feel free to try out red, orange, or yellow instead.
- **Mushrooms:** So you’re a mushroom lover, are ya? Well, you can easily add them in. You can use either a small can or 1 cup of fresh chopped mushrooms, just add and saute them with the green peppers because you’ll want them to be nice and soft.
### Nutrition
Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1393mg | Potassium: 855mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 845IU | Vitamin C: 29.8mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3.9mg
#### Did You Make This Recipe?
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[Rate this Recipe](#commentform) [Pin Recipe](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarandsoul.co%2Famerican-chop-suey%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarandsoul.co%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F04%2FAmerican-Chop-Suey.jpg&description=American+Chop+Suey+is+a+delicious+and+easy+dinner+recipe+made+with+ground+beef%2C+tomato%2C+onion%2C+green+pepper%2C+macaroni%2C+and+spices.+Pure+comfort+food+made+on+the+stovetop+in+just+30+minutes+and+makes+a+great+weeknight+dinner%21&is_video=false) [Share Recipe](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugarandsoul.co%2Famerican-chop-suey%2F)Ways to Serve American Chop Suey Food
American Chop Suey food is a complete meal in itself, standing strong without any side dishes. However, for a truly comforting experience, consider pairing it with homemade yeast rolls and a generous pat of butter. The soft, slightly sweet rolls are perfect for soaking up the delicious tomato sauce. Alternatively, a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette can add a refreshing contrast to the richness of the chop suey.
Storage Guidelines for American Chop Suey Food
For any leftover American Chop Suey food, simply transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This makes it an excellent option for meal prepping lunches or enjoying leftovers throughout the week.
Freezing American Chop Suey Food: Best Practices
While freezing American Chop Suey food isn’t generally recommended due to potential changes in pasta texture, it is possible with a few adjustments. Freezing can sometimes make cooked pasta mushy upon thawing and reheating.
If you must freeze it, the key is to slightly undercook the elbow macaroni. This helps the pasta retain some firmness and structure during the freezing and reheating process. Prepare the rest of the recipe as instructed, allow it to cool completely, then package it in an airtight, freezer-safe container. For optimal quality, consume frozen chop suey within 3 months. When reheating from frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or gently reheat it directly from frozen in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of water or tomato juice if needed to maintain moisture.
Explore More Delicious Pasta Recipes:
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