Description
American Chop Suey is a hearty, comforting one-pot meal combining ground beef, Italian seasonings, and elbow macaroni simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. This classic American dish is easy to prepare and perfect for a family dinner, delivering a satisfying blend of savory beef, vegetables, and cheesy goodness if desired.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef, 85% lean
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
Vegetables
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced green pepper
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Sauces
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth, or beef broth
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Brown the beef: Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease.
- Add seasonings and tomato paste: Stir in Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and tomato paste until well combined with the beef.
- Sauté vegetables: Add diced onion, green pepper, and celery; cook for 4 minutes until softened. Then add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add tomato sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Add remaining liquids: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, and chicken broth.
- Add pasta and bring to boil: Add uncooked elbow macaroni and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer covered: Cover the pot and cook for 4 minutes. Then uncover and gently scrape the bottom of the pot with a silicone spatula to loosen any settled ingredients.
- Continue cooking partially covered: Cover partially and continue boiling gently for 4 more minutes. Again, scrape the bottom to prevent sticking.
- Finish cooking: Heat for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until macaroni is cooked through. Taste a noodle to confirm doneness. Turn off the heat; the pasta will absorb remaining liquid.
- Add cheese if desired: Gradually sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese into the pot and stir until melted and combined. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of flour into the ground beef and cook for 1 minute after browning.
- Stir in a dab of softened cream cheese at the end for added creaminess.
- Add a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Mixing ground beef with Italian sausage deepens the flavor.
- Feel free to include frozen vegetables like carrots, peas, corn, or jalapeno peppers for extra nutrition and flavor.
- This recipe is featured in The Cozy Cookbook on page 163.
- For Crock Pot method, brown beef then cook all ingredients except macaroni and cheese on low for 4-5 hours. Add pasta and cheese last, cooking 30-45 minutes carefully to avoid overcooking pasta.
- For Instant Pot method, brown beef on sauté, add ingredients, pressure cook for 5 minutes, then stir in cheese off heat.
