American Chop Suey
A comforting and hearty one-pot meal featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich tomato sauce.
Equipment
- Large pot For cooking the dish.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground beef, 85% lean
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced green pepper
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 2.5 cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and tomato paste until well combined.
- Add the diced onion, green pepper, and celery to the pot. Cook for 4 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and stir until everything is well mixed.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Add the uncooked elbow macaroni and mix well. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cover the pot and let it simmer for 4 minutes. After that, uncover and use a silicone spatula to gently lift anything that has settled on the bottom.
- Partially cover the pot and let it boil gently for another 4 minutes. Again, run the spatula along the bottom to prevent sticking.
- Heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the macaroni is cooked through. Taste-test a noodle to ensure it’s done. Turn off the heat; the pasta will continue to absorb the remaining liquid.
- If desired, gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and combined. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
For the best melting cheese, shred it from a block rather than using pre-packaged shredded cheese. Feel free to add your favorite vegetables or spices to customize this dish to your taste! No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.