American Chop Suey (American Goulash)

Why You’ll Love This

Customizable:  This recipe for American chop suey is wide open to your own interpretation. You can make it as written or feel free to use another type of ground meat, other vegetables you have in the crisper drawer coming to the end of their prime, or even different seasonings for the sauce. Fresh basil and parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese would be great in here.
Easy to make: If you’re looking for an easy recipe, this one is very simple to follow. You just need to cook and drain pasta in one pot and cook the sauce ingredients in another, and then combine both.
Delicious and filling: This is a robust and hearty dish. Thanks to the combination of beef and vegetables, along with the delicious and tangy sauce, this is likely to win a place in your heart.

American Chop Suey Recipe Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Macaroni noodles: Feel free to experiment with other pasta shapes if you like, or even try some Chinese egg noodles in their place.
Ground beef: Adds a bold meaty flavor. You can use any type of ground meat or even use leftover cooked meat, added in at the end.
Tomatoes: A trifecta of fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste infuses this American chop suey with plenty of wonderful flavor. Sub regular tomatoes for the fire-roasted ones if you prefer.
Vegetables: Onion and bell pepper work well in American chop suey, although you can use other vegetables in their place if you like.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds a splash of vibrant flavor. This ingredient is made from fermented anchovies, vinegar, sugar, and seasonings, and it really brings out the depth of flavor in the meat.
White sugar: Optional. If you want to sweeten it up a bit, white sugar works. But different brands of tomatoes offer different sweetness levels so taste the chop suey before adding any.

How to Make American Chop Suey

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Cook the elbow macaroni:  Cook the macaroni following the directions on the packaging, then drain and set to one side.
Fry the onion: Melt the butter and olive oil together and fry the onions for a few minutes over a medium high heat, then add the garlic and fry some more, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Add the ground beef and bell pepper: Add the ground beef and cook it through, then add the green pepper and sauté briefly over a medium heat.
Add the rest of the ingredients: Add the diced tomatoes along with the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and (if needed) the sugar.
Combine the macaroni with the rest: Stir the drained elbow macaroni into the tomato sauce mixture and cook for several minutes.
The finishing touches: Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, you can substitute your favorite type of gluten-free pasta.
More veggies: Feel free to throw in any vegetables you want. Baby sweetcorn, mushrooms, zucchini, and eggplant would all work.
Spice it up: You can also tweak the seasonings, adding garlic powder or chili powder, for example. Hungarian goulash has paprika, so you could even try that.
Tweak the consistency: If the American chop suey seems too dry, add some beef broth or tomato juice from the canned tomatoes.
Different ground meat: Ground chicken or ground turkey are options to swap out for the ground beef.
Add cheese: Use your favorite cheese or a cheese blend to your American chop suey recipe. Parmesan cheese, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella cheese are options to consider.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: These crab cakes make a tasty appetizer, or perhaps you prefer peach bourbon wings.
Side dishes: American chop suey is a meal in one, as it has meat, noodles and vegetables, but if you wanted to offer something on the side, these garlic parmesan cheese roasted carrots are good, or perhaps you prefer garlic bread.
Dessert: If you still have room for dessert, any one of these easy dessert recipes will be perfect!

How to Store American Chop Suey

Store:  Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 days.
Freeze:  Another option is to freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Thaw:  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat:  Warm it back up in the microwave or in a pan on the stove, stirring often.

Top Tips

Drain the grease: If there is a lot of grease in the pan after browning the meat, drain it off.
Get creative: Any kind of ground meat works, as well as any vegetables and pasta type, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
Spice things up: Some home cooks like to add hot sauce to their American chop suey. If you aren’t sure everyone will like this kick of spice, it might be best to offer hot sauce at the table so people can decide if they add some.