American Chop Suey

5 from 2 votes

You only need a single pot and 10 minutes of prep for my grandmother's easy American chop suey recipe!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword American Chop Suey, american chop suey recipe, Chop Suey, easy american chop suey recipe, goulash

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings people

Calories 292kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed (about 2 teaspoons)
2 cups beef broth
1 cup water
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
6 ounces tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon brown sugar (or increase to 2 teaspoons for a slightly sweeter taste)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Optional toppings: grated cheese; chopped fresh parsley; crushed red pepper flakes

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Drain off the excess fat.
Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet, as well as about ¾ teaspoon of salt and a dash of pepper.
Stir to combine; bring to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 12-15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickens.
Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with cheese and parsley, if desired.

Swap out the ground beef and use ground turkey, ground pork, ground sausage, or ground chicken instead.

In a pinch, vegetable broth or chicken broth will be a fine substitute for the beef broth.

For a dish that tastes like chili mac, substitute 2 teaspoons of chili powder for the Italian seasoning.

Make it spicy by adding a dash of cayenne or finishing the dish with crushed red pepper flakes.

Add a dash of paprika to the sauce, or season with fresh herbs such as parsley, rosemary, thyme, or basil.

For added texture, sprinkle cheese and a few buttered breadcrumbs over the top and then place the pot under the broiler. This will give it a crunchy, cheesy topping similar to baked mac and cheese.