Description
American Chop Suey is a classic comfort food combining tender ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and macaroni in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce seasoned with Italian herbs and a hint of sweetness. Perfect for a hearty family meal, this stovetop dish is easy to prepare and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup green pepper, diced
- 1 can (28 ounce) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (284 ml) condensed tomato soup
- 1 can (680 ml) tomato sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ Tablespoon seasoning salt
- 1–2 Tablespoons white sugar
- 2 ½ cups dry macaroni
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: Fry the ground beef in a large stock pot over medium heat until fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon. Once browned, drain off any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the minced garlic and diced green pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes until the vegetables soften and the garlic becomes fragrant, building a flavorful base.
- Add Tomato Ingredients and Seasonings: Stir in the diced tomatoes, condensed tomato soup, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, seasoning salt, and white sugar. Mix thoroughly and bring the mixture to a low simmer to meld all the flavors.
- Incorporate Macaroni: Add the dry macaroni noodles directly into the pot and stir well, ensuring the noodles are evenly coated and distributed throughout the sauce.
- Simmer Until Tender: Cover the pot and let everything simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the macaroni from sticking to the bottom. The noodles will absorb the sauce and become tender.
- Serve: Once the macaroni is soft and the sauce is thickened, remove the pot from heat. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired for a pop of color and freshness.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of white sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes to your taste.
- Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent noodles from sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and keep the dish lighter.
- Fresh parsley garnish adds a fresh flavor and nice presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
