This American Chop Suey with ground beef recipe is an easy one pot meal loaded with green pepper and tender pasta noodles all simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It's a classic dish made with simple ingredients in just minutes of prep.
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Looking for an easy dinner recipe? Why not give this American Chop Suey with ground beef a try! It's a great recipe you can get on the dinner table in about 30 minutes (or less). Serve it with a side salad and some dinner rolls for a classic comfort food meal the whole family will love.
Now, you may be wondering why the heck this recipe is called American Chop Suey! Because this isn't a dish you'll find at a Chinese food restaurant and you won't need soy sauce or chopsticks to eat it. The only reasonable thing I found on the internet was that it used to be served with rice, not noodles. Go figure!
But just to add more confusion, this dish is also called American goulash, beefaroni, or chili mac.
Whatever you choose to call it, I'm sure it will become one of those pasta dishes you want to make over and over again. There's nothing like having a family recipe like this one that you can make reliably time after time.
My Homemade Beefaroni is another ground beef pasta dish you'll love!
Ingredients
This is an overview. Please see the recipe card for exact amounts and complete instructions.
Olive oil or non stick cooking spray - butter or another oil like canola or vegetable works too.
Ground beef - ground turkey, ground chicken, Italian sausage or a mixture of these can work.
Onion and garlic- I prefer yellow onions, but any will do.
Green bell pepper - red pepper, or another color will also work.
Beef broth - I usually test recipes with Campbell's, but this time I used a carton of low sodium. Chicken broth is a good sub.
Tomato sauce - I used Hunts. Using seasoned tomato sauce or tomato paste is a great tip to increase the flavor. Go for the Italian flavor of basil, garlic, and oregano. Other varieties can work too depending on personal preference.
Diced tomatoes- from the can. Petite or regular works. When I want a Tex Mex twist, I use Rotel (tomatoes and green chile).
Tomato paste - I think ketchup could work if you need a substitute.
Balsamic vinegar - this adds a touch of sweetness that plays really well with tomato flavor. Worcestershire sauce is a good sub.
Dried herbs - we're using dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Italian seasoning can be subbed for oregano and basil.
Short cut pasta like medium shells, farfalle (bow ties) or macaroni noodles.
Salt and black pepper - to taste
How to make American Chop Suey
1) Heat a deep, large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a little olive oil (cooking spray can also be used). Once hot, add the ground beef, the chopped onions, chopped green bell pepper, and minced garlic cloves to the pan. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are softened.
2) Add beef broth, water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained) tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to the meat mixture. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3) Add dry pasta (I used medium shells, but elbow macaroni is traditional). Stir into the sauce. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and cover the pan and simmer until pasta is tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
4) Top with any desired toppings like shredded parmesan cheese, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese, and chopped fresh herbs.
Tips
You can make this as a casserole instead of a one pan dish. Prepare the recipe as written and pour into a greased casserole dish and top with some cheese and bake at 400 degrees F until cheese is melted and bubbly.
You can also cook pasta separately in a large pot of salted water, then add it to the sauce. Just be sure to cook the pasta al dente. Let the pasta simmer in the sauce for a few minutes before serving.
How to store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Freeze in freezer safe containers for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat in the microwave on reduced powder for best results.
More ground beef recipes
- Ground Beef and Biscuits John Wayne Casserole
- Texas Roadhouse Copycat Chili
- One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
- Ground Beef Ramen
If you make this American Chop Suey with Ground Beef recipe, I'd love to know how it turned out. Please let me know in the comments below.
📖 Recipe
American Chop Suey with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon olive oil or non stick cooking spray
- 1 lb ground beef ground turkey, ground chicken, Italian sauasge
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 2 teaspoon garlic chopped
- 1 green bell pepper red bell pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1.5 cups water
- 15 oz tomato sauce canned
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes canned and undrained
- 3 oz tomato paste about 3 tablespoons or half the can
- 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar good quality
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 cups medium pasta shells any short cut pasta
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Any additional toppings like parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese and fresh herbs. Optional
Instructions
- Heat a deep, large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a little olive oil (cooking spray can also be used). Once hot, add the ground beef, the chopped onions, chopped green bell pepper, and minced garlic cloves to the pan. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are softened.
- Add beef broth, water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained) tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to the meat mixture. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add dry pasta (I used medium shells, but elbow macaroni is traditional). Stir into the sauce. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and cover the pan and simmer until pasta is tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Top with any desired toppings like shredded parmesan cheese, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese, and chopped fresh herbs.
Notes
- Nutritional info doesn't include additional toppings.
- You can make this as a casserole instead of a one pan dish: Prepare the recipe as written and pour into a greased casserole dish and top with some cheese and bake at 400 degrees F until cheese is melted and bubbly,
- You can also cook pasta separately in a large pot of salted water, then add it to the sauce. Just be sure to cook the pasta al dente.
Nikole Berg
Mom approved!