Description
American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food featuring ground beef, vegetables, and elbow macaroni simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This hearty one-pot meal is perfect for family dinners and can be customized with cheese or additional veggies for extra flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef, 85% lean
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
Vegetables
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced green pepper
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Sauces
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes, undrained
- 16 oz. tomato sauce
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth, or beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Brown the 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 from the pot.
- Add Seasonings and Tomato Paste: Stir in Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and tomato paste. Mix well to combine.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add diced onion, green pepper, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 4 minutes until vegetables soften. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Add Tomato Sauce and Broth: Pour in tomato sauce and stir until blended. Add Worcestershire sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Incorporate Macaroni: Add uncooked elbow macaroni to the pot. Stir to distribute evenly. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Simmer with Covering: Cover the pot and cook for 4 minutes. Remove the cover and gently scrape along the bottom of the pot with a silicone spatula to prevent sticking.
- Continue Boiling: Partially cover the pot and simmer gently for another 4 minutes. Scrape the bottom again with the spatula.
- Finish Cooking the Pasta: Cook uncovered for 3 more minutes or until the macaroni is tender yet firm (al dente). Taste a noodle to check doneness. Turn off the heat, allowing the pasta to absorb any remaining liquid.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If desired, gradually sprinkle in shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and combined. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of flour into the ground beef after browning and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Stir in a dab of softened cream cheese at the end for added creaminess.
- Add a dash of hot sauce if you prefer a spicy kick.
- Combine ground beef with Italian sausage for deeper flavor.
- Feel free to incorporate frozen vegetables like carrots, peas, corn, or jalapenos for extra texture.
- For Crock Pot: Use half the broth initially, brown beef separately, and cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-5 hours before adding macaroni and cheese for the last 30-45 minutes.
- For Instant Pot: Use half the broth initially, sauté beef and vegetables on sauté mode, then pressure cook with macaroni for 5 minutes, add remaining broth and cheese at the end.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
