Description
American Chop Suey is a hearty, comforting one-pot pasta dish featuring tender elbow macaroni, seasoned ground beef, and a thick tomato-based sauce with chunks of green bell pepper. It’s perfect for chilly evenings, potlucks, or when you just need a soul-warming family meal. I love making it with 80/20 ground beef, green bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and a touch of tomato paste for depth. This simple recipe is sometimes called “goulash” or “elbow pasta casserole” and can be adapted with stabilized versions for meal prepping. I’ve tested both slow-simmer and quick prep versions, and they work beautifully. Among other pasta comfort dishes, American Chop Suey stands out for its rich flavor, crowd-pleasing nature, and nostalgic simplicity. It deserves a spot in every home cook’s recipe collection.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
8 ounces elbow macaroni
Salt to taste
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned.
3. Stir in the chopped onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent.
4. Add the tomato paste and let it toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring to coat the beef.
5. Pour in the diced tomatoes and water, stirring to combine.
6. Stir in the green bell pepper, oregano, black pepper, crushed red pepper (if using), and sugar.
7. Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, cook the elbow macaroni in a separate pot according to package directions until al dente.
9. Drain the macaroni and gently stir it into the beef and tomato mixture.
10. Let the dish rest off the heat for 5-10 minutes to thicken and allow flavors to meld.
11. Serve warm, optionally with rolls or salad on the side.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and onion for the richest flavor—avoid substituting dried versions unless necessary.
Don’t overcook the macaroni; it should be just al dente before stirring into the sauce.
Letting the dish rest before serving enhances the flavor and texture beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-pot/Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: American chop suey, goulash, pasta dinner, one-pot meal