Description
American Chop Suey is a hearty, comforting dish featuring ground beef, vegetables, tomato sauce, and elbow macaroni all cooked together in one pot. This classic American casserole blends savory flavors with tender pasta, making it perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef, 85% lean
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced green pepper
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Prepare Ground Beef: In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Add Seasonings and Tomato Paste: Stir in Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and tomato paste to the cooked beef and mix well.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced onion, green pepper, and celery to the pot and cook for 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Add Tomato Ingredients: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir until combined, then add Worcestershire sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Stir well.
- Add Macaroni: Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni, mix to combine, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cook Covered: Cover the pot and cook for 4 minutes. Uncover and gently scrape the bottom of the pot with a silicone spatula to lift any settled bits.
- Continue Cooking: Partially cover and cook for another 4 minutes. Scrape the bottom again with a silicone spatula.
- Finish Cooking: Heat for 3 more minutes or until the macaroni is tender. Taste a noodle to ensure it is done, then turn off heat. The pasta will absorb remaining liquid as it sits.
- Add Cheese (Optional): Gradually sprinkle in shredded cheddar cheese while stirring until melted and combined. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, stir 1 tablespoon of flour into the ground beef during cooking and cook for 1 minute before adding other ingredients.
- Adding a dab of softened cream cheese at the end will add creaminess to the sauce.
- Add a dash of hot sauce if you like a spicy kick.
- Mixing ground beef with Italian sausage enhances the flavor depth.
- Incorporate frozen vegetables like carrots, peas, corn, or jalapenos for added nutrition and taste.
- When using cheese, avoid pre-shredded varieties containing cellulose to ensure smooth melting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
