American Chop Suey

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!

I know that sometimes it’s hard to find a quick and easy dinner recipe that doesn’t take a lot of fussy ingredients. This American Chop Suey recipe fits the family-friendly bill and is made with things you probably already have in your pantry! Serve it with a fresh green salad and some dinner rolls for a complete, hearty meal!

Why is it called American Chop Suey?

You may or may not know that chop suey is a Chinese-style dish made of stewed meat and fried with bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, onion, or other vegetables. American Chop Suey, on the other hand, is made with ground beef, macaroni noodles, and a seasoned tomato sauce. The only thing they really have in common is that they are both somewhat haphazardly thrown-together meat dishes.

What are some different names for this classic comfort food?

American Chop Suey is the New England name for this meal. It is also called American Goulash or Johnny Marzetti, especially in the Midwest. This name comes from a restaurant called Marzetti’s in Ohio, which first offered a similar baked casserole made of ground beef, tomato sauce, noodles, and cheese that the owner named after her brother-in-law Johnny.

What ingredients do I need to make this recipe for American Chop Suey?

Here are the simple ingredients to make this classic casserole:

• 8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni – cooked to al dente
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• garlic cloves, chopped (I used 1, but feel free to use more)
• 1 32-ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
• 1 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Can I make this pasta dish with ground turkey?

Yes, you can easily substitute ground turkey or ground pork for the ground beef in this recipe. Or make it meatless by omitting the ground meat altogether!

Other recipe variations

Consider adding the following items to your chop suey:

• Mushrooms- You can use either a small can or 1 cup of fresh chopped mushrooms. Add and sauté them with the green peppers so they are nice and soft.
• Dried or fresh herbs (Additional oregano, or basil would go well in this dish.)
• Mozzarella cheese- stir this in with the Parmesan cheese or top the pasta with cheese and let it melt for the last 15 minutes or so.
• Spinach- stir fresh spinach as you sauté the peppers so it cooks down.
• Soy sauce- this adds just a little tang and saltiness to the sauce.

How to make American Chopped Suey

This easy dish comes together in just about an hour and a few simple steps!

Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8 X 8-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.

Boil: Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package directions for al dente pasta. Drain the water and set aside until you are ready to assemble the casserole.

Brown: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or fork as it cooks. Drain the fat from the beef, if needed. Remove it from the skillet, and set it aside.

Sauté: In the same skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onion, green pepper, and garlic in a little olive oil until tender. Then return the beef to the skillet, combine well. Pour in the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Mix thoroughly, and and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Assemble and Bake: Add cooked noodles to the meat sauce and stir to coat. Pour the entire contents into the prepared baking dish and bake uncovered for 30 minutes. 
See below for making this dish without having to turn the oven on.

Recipe Notes

• I like my pasta with a lot of sauce. If you feel the same, I suggest either covering it with foil as it cooks and/or using a bit less of the 8 ounces of cooked pasta.
• I much prefer this dish made and served from the skillet. The flavors, especially that of the green pepper, are more robust when made on top of the stove. It’s also a faster meal when made that way, so it’s great for a busy weeknight or when you have no idea what to make for dinner.
  • If you want to make it without baking in the oven, place the noodles in the sauce after everything else has been added. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

How to store leftover Goulash

Leftovers are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 4 days!

Can I make American Chop Suey ahead of time?

Yes, this recipe is a great make-ahead recipe! Follow the recipe as directed until you are ready to bake it. At that point, cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When you are ready to finish the recipe, go ahead and bake it at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until heated throughout.

I would not recommend freezing this dish. Once thawed, pasta becomes mushy and unappetizing. You could make the meat sauce and freeze it separately, then thaw it to use in the recipe at a later time.

More great ways to use ground beef

Ground beef is such a versatile ingredient and helps make any recipe more satisfying. Here are some of my favorite ground beef recipes:

• Topping the list is my mother’s Lasagna Recipe. So hearty and full of flavor, this dish is one my family requests again and again. It’s also a great casserole to take to new moms and freezes well.
• With the meat inside, the sauce ladled over, and the melty cheese to top it all off, these Stuffed Green Peppers really do hit the spot.
• This easy Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie recipe is made of ground beef, veggies, and corn in a delicious gravy, and is topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
• These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Remember to add the cheese on top!
• Combine premade crescent rolls and a filling made from scratch to get deliciously savory Taco Pockets! They make the perfect appetizer for Game Day, a potluck, or when you’re feeding a large crowd!
• Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are made with Parmesan and Romano cheeses, fresh herbs, and spices, and are filled with a cube of mozzarella cheese to give your family or guests a tasty surprise as they cut into it!

Which beef dinner will you make tonight?