Indulge in the heartwarming comfort of American Chop Suey, a beloved classic that promises to bring smiles to your dinner table tonight. Often recognized as American Goulash, this fuss-free recipe features tender elbow macaroni swimming in a rich, savory meat sauce, expertly seasoned with fresh onions and bell peppers. Whether you prefer it baked to bubbly perfection in the oven or simmered gently on the stovetop, this incredibly easy weeknight meal is a perfect addition to any family’s culinary rotation, offering both satisfying flavor and convenient preparation.

American Chop Suey: The Ultimate Comfort Food for Busy Weeknights

Are you constantly searching for a dinner recipe that’s both quick to prepare and requires only a handful of readily available ingredients? Look no further! This American Chop Suey recipe is a true family favorite, crafted from common pantry staples, making it an ideal choice for those hectic evenings. It’s a dish that not only satisfies hunger but also wraps you in a warm embrace of nostalgic flavors. Serve this hearty meal alongside a crisp fresh green salad and some fluffy dinner rolls for a complete and utterly delicious spread.

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Unraveling the Mystery: What’s in a Name?

The name “American Chop Suey” often sparks curiosity, given its association with a Chinese-style dish. Traditional chop suey is typically characterized by stir-fried meat and vegetables like bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and onions, usually served over rice or noodles. American Chop Suey, on the other hand, is a distinctly different creation, deeply rooted in American culinary traditions. It features ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich, seasoned tomato sauce. The only real commonality between the two dishes is their somewhat “thrown-together” nature, hinting at a flexibility in ingredients that likely contributed to their names. Our version is a true American classic, celebrated for its simplicity and comforting appeal.

Regional Delights: Other Names for This Classic Comfort Food

This humble yet incredibly satisfying dish goes by many names across the United States, reflecting its widespread popularity and various regional adaptations. In New England, it’s most commonly known as American Chop Suey. Venture into the Midwest, and you’ll likely hear it called American Goulash or even Johnny Marzetti. The latter name has an interesting origin story, tracing back to a restaurant called Marzetti’s in Columbus, Ohio. Back in the early 20th century, Teresa Marzetti, the restaurant’s owner, created a baked casserole featuring ground beef, tomato sauce, noodles, and cheese, naming it after her brother-in-law, Johnny. Regardless of what you call it, the essence of this dish – a hearty blend of pasta, meat, and a flavorful tomato base – remains universally appealing.

Why You’ll Love This American Chop Suey Recipe

Beyond its delicious taste, American Chop Suey offers several compelling reasons to make it a regular on your dinner menu:

Budget-Friendly: Made with inexpensive ingredients you likely already have on hand, it’s perfect for feeding a family without breaking the bank.
Simple Ingredients: No exotic or hard-to-find items here. Just straightforward, wholesome components that come together beautifully.
One-Pot Potential: While our recipe offers an oven-baked option, it can easily be adapted for a one-pot stovetop method, minimizing cleanup.
Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike adore the familiar flavors and satisfying texture of this pasta and meat dish.
Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe to suit dietary preferences or incorporate seasonal vegetables.
Great for Meal Prep: It reheats wonderfully, making it an excellent option for leftovers or make-ahead meals.

Essential Ingredients for Your Classic American Chop Suey

Creating this classic casserole is surprisingly simple, relying on a list of everyday ingredients that combine to form a truly comforting meal. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a few tips for selection:

Elbow Macaroni: 8 ounces, cooked al dente. The small, curved shape of elbow macaroni is traditional and excellent for holding onto the sauce. Ensure it’s cooked firm to the bite, as it will continue to cook slightly when combined with the hot sauce.
Ground Beef: 1 pound. Opt for a lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10) to minimize excess grease. High-quality beef will give your sauce a rich, deep flavor.
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper. These basic seasonings enhance all the other flavors. Adjust to your taste, always starting with less and adding more if needed.
Yellow Onion: 1 medium, chopped. Yellow onions caramelize beautifully and provide a foundational sweetness and aroma to the sauce.
Green Bell Pepper: 1 medium, chopped. Green bell peppers add a fresh, slightly bitter counterpoint to the richness of the meat and tomato sauce. Ensure it’s cored and seeded.
Garlic Cloves: 1-2, chopped (or more, to taste). Fresh garlic is key for an aromatic and flavorful sauce. Minced garlic will distribute its flavor more evenly.
Spaghetti Sauce: 1 (32-ounce) jar. A good quality store-bought spaghetti sauce forms the base of your rich tomato sauce. Choose your favorite brand or flavor profile (e.g., marinara, traditional, or even a mushroom-flavored one).
Chopped Tomatoes: 1 (14-ounce) can. Diced tomatoes add texture and a burst of fresh tomato flavor, enhancing the overall depth of the sauce.
Tomato Paste: 2 tablespoons. This concentrated paste adds an intense umami depth and thickens the sauce, making it cling beautifully to the macaroni.
Worcestershire Sauce: 2 teaspoons. A secret ingredient for many savory dishes, Worcestershire sauce adds a complex, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor that perfectly complements the beef and tomato.
Italian Seasoning: 1 ½ teaspoons. A blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, Italian seasoning brings classic Mediterranean flavors to the dish.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: 1/2 cup. Freshly grated Parmesan offers a salty, nutty, and savory finish, melting into the sauce for extra creaminess and flavor.

Cooked macaroni with tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, onion, green pepper and Italian seasoning.

Protein Alternatives: Can I Make This Pasta Dish with Ground Turkey?

Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly versatile and accommodates various dietary preferences. You can easily substitute ground turkey or ground pork for the ground beef. Ground turkey will result in a lighter dish, while ground pork will offer a slightly different but equally delicious richness. If you’re looking for a meatless option, simply omit the ground meat altogether and perhaps increase the amount of vegetables or add a can of drained and rinsed lentils for extra heartiness. This flexibility ensures everyone can enjoy a version of this classic comfort food.

Elevate Your Dish: Other Recipe Variations to Try

One of the joys of American Chop Suey is its adaptability. Feel free to get creative and customize it to your liking. Here are some fantastic additions and modifications to consider:

Mushrooms: Enhance the umami flavor by adding either a small can of drained mushrooms or 1 cup of fresh chopped mushrooms. Sauté them along with the green peppers and onions until they are tender and slightly browned.
Additional Herbs: For an extra layer of aromatic flavor, stir in more dried or fresh herbs. Oregano and basil are particularly complementary to the tomato sauce and beef. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives before serving also adds a lovely fresh note.
Mozzarella Cheese: If you love a cheesy pull, stir in shredded mozzarella cheese along with the Parmesan, or layer it on top of the casserole during the last 15 minutes of baking until it’s melted and bubbly. This creates a delightful gooey texture.
Fresh Spinach: Boost the nutritional value and add a touch of green by stirring in a few handfuls of fresh spinach as you sauté the peppers. The spinach will wilt down quickly into the sauce.
Soy Sauce: For a subtle savory depth and a hint of tang, a teaspoon or two of soy sauce can be added to the meat sauce. It complements the Worcestershire sauce beautifully and enhances the overall richness.
Other Vegetables: Don’t limit yourself to just onions and green peppers! Diced carrots, celery, or even corn kernels can be sautéed with the other vegetables for added texture, sweetness, and nutrients.
Spicy Kick: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when sautéing the vegetables or a dash of hot sauce to the finished dish.
Different Pasta Shapes: While elbow macaroni is traditional, other small pasta shapes like ditalini, small shells, or rotini can also work well.

Step-by-Step: How to Make American Chop Suey

This incredibly satisfying dish comes together in approximately an hour, with just a few straightforward steps. Follow these instructions for a perfect American Chop Suey every time:

Prepare for Baking (Oven Method): If you plan to bake your American Chop Suey, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
Cook the Macaroni: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions until it is al dente – meaning firm to the bite, with a slight chewiness. Drain the cooked macaroni thoroughly and set it aside while you prepare the sauce.
Brown the Ground Beef: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon or fork, until it is thoroughly browned and no pink remains. Once cooked, carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet. Remove the browned beef from the skillet and set it aside.
Sauté the Aromatics: In the same skillet (add a touch of olive oil if needed), reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté these vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and fragrant, typically 5-7 minutes. You want the onions to be translucent and the peppers slightly softened.
Combine and Simmer the Sauce: Return the browned ground beef to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Stir well to combine. Pour in the spaghetti sauce, canned chopped tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until everything is well incorporated. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Finish the Sauce: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. This adds a lovely creaminess and extra depth of flavor.
Assemble and Bake (Oven Method): Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the meat sauce in the skillet. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure all the pasta is coated with the rich sauce. Pour the entire contents of the skillet into your prepared 8×8-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and heated through.

Helpful Tips for American Chop Suey Success

Here are a few extra pointers to help you achieve the best possible American Chop Suey:

Sauce-to-Pasta Ratio: If you, like me, prefer your pasta generously coated in sauce, consider either slightly reducing the amount of cooked pasta (e.g., using 7 ounces instead of 8) or covering the baking dish with foil for the first 15-20 minutes of baking. This helps retain moisture and prevents the sauce from reducing too much.
Stovetop vs. Oven: While baking offers a lovely golden-brown top, I personally find that this dish has a more robust flavor, especially from the green pepper, when made entirely on the stovetop. It’s also a quicker method, perfect for truly busy weeknights.
- Stovetop Method: To make it entirely on the stovetop and skip the oven, follow all the sauce preparation steps. After stirring the Parmesan cheese into the meat sauce, add the cooked noodles to the skillet. Stir to coat thoroughly. Cover the skillet and cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even heating. This method keeps the flavors vibrant and the cooking time short.
Seasoning to Taste: Always taste your sauce before combining it with the pasta and adjust salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning as needed. Remember that Parmesan cheese adds a salty element, so factor that in.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Al dente pasta is crucial. It will absorb some of the sauce and continue to soften slightly during the final cooking stage (either in the oven or on the stovetop). Overcooked pasta will become mushy.

Storing and Reheating Leftover American Goulash

One of the best things about American Chop Suey is how well it keeps and reheats, making it perfect for meal prepping or enjoying throughout the week. To store leftovers, transfer the cooled dish into an airtight container. It will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

When reheating, you can either microwave individual portions until hot or gently warm larger quantities in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up. Avoid overheating, which can make the pasta mushy.

Make-Ahead Tips for American Chop Suey

This recipe is an excellent candidate for making ahead, especially if you anticipate a busy week. You can prepare the entire dish up to the point of baking. Once the macaroni is combined with the meat sauce and transferred to the baking dish, cover it tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to serve, simply bake it at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45-60 minutes, or until it’s thoroughly heated through and bubbly. If baking from cold, you might need to add an extra 15-20 minutes to the cooking time.

While the cooked meat sauce freezes beautifully on its own, I generally do not recommend freezing the entire assembled dish with the pasta. Once thawed, pasta tends to absorb too much moisture, becoming mushy and losing its appealing texture, which can make the dish less appetizing. However, if you want to prepare ahead for longer storage, you can make the meat sauce separately and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw the sauce, cook fresh elbow macaroni, and then combine and proceed with either the stovetop or oven baking instructions.

Explore More: Great Ways to Use Ground Beef

Ground beef is a culinary MVP, celebrated for its versatility and ability to make any meal more satisfying and hearty. If you love the robust flavors of American Chop Suey, you’ll be thrilled to discover other delicious ways to incorporate ground beef into your cooking. Here are some of my all-time favorite ground beef recipes, perfect for family dinners and gatherings:

My Mother’s Classic Lasagna Recipe: A timeless favorite, this Lasagna Recipe is packed with rich meat sauce, creamy cheese, and tender pasta. It’s incredibly hearty and full of flavor, often requested again and again by my family. It’s also an excellent casserole to prepare for new parents or for freezing and enjoying later.
Comforting Stuffed Green Peppers: These Stuffed Green Peppers are a complete meal in themselves. Featuring a savory meat and rice filling, a luscious sauce ladled over, and melty cheese on top, they truly hit the spot for a satisfying and flavorful dinner.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie: A beloved British classic, this simple Shepherd’s Pie (or Cottage Pie, when made with beef) combines seasoned ground beef, a medley of vegetables, and rich gravy, all crowned with a fluffy layer of creamy mashed potatoes. It’s the ultimate comfort food for a chilly evening.
Quick & Convenient Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes: Perfect for those super busy weeknights, these Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes deliver a delicious and easy sandwich filling. Don’t forget to add a slice of cheese on top for that extra touch of deliciousness!
Fun & Flavorful Taco Pockets: Combine the ease of premade crescent rolls with a homemade, savory ground beef filling to create these delightful Taco Pockets. They make an ideal appetizer for Game Day, a fantastic addition to a potluck spread, or a simple meal when you’re feeding a large crowd.
Surprise-Inside Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs: Elevate your meatball game with these incredibly tasty Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs. Made with Parmesan and Romano cheeses, fresh herbs, and spices, each meatball hides a cube of melted mozzarella, offering a delightful cheesy surprise with every bite.

Which delicious ground beef dinner will you be whipping up tonight?

American Chop Suey

Course:
Dinners

Cuisine:
American

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
45 minutes

The whole family will enjoy eating American Chop Suey recipe for dinner tonight. Also known as American Goulash, elbow macaroni is cooked in a savory meat sauce seasoned with fresh onions and peppers for this easy weeknight meal! Baked in the oven or cooked stovetop, this is a great recipe to add to your meal rotation!

4 servings

Ingredients

8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni (al dente)
1 pound ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground recommended)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced (or more, to taste)
1 (32-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes (undrained)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Prepare an 8×8-inch baking dish by spraying it lightly with cooking spray.
Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any fat and set beef aside.
In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion, green pepper, and minced garlic over medium heat until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Return the browned beef to the skillet. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Mix well and simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing flavors to combine.
Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted.
Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the meat sauce in the skillet and stir to coat all the pasta.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
(See “Helpful Tips for American Chop Suey Success” above if you prefer a stovetop method or less cooking time.)

Notes

If you like your pasta with a lot of sauce, consider slightly reducing the cooked pasta amount or covering the baking dish with foil for part of the cooking time to retain moisture.
For a stovetop version (my preference for more robust flavor), after combining noodles with the meat sauce, cover the skillet and cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. No oven needed!

Nutrition

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This post was originally published January 2, 2012. It has been thoroughly updated in format and with new pictures on March 27, 2023, to provide the most comprehensive and engaging content for our readers.