Name: Retro Recipe for American Chop Suey
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces elbow macaroni (dry); 1 teaspoon salt; 2 pounds ground beef (90 percent lean); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup onion (chopped fine); 1 cup green bell pepper (stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine); 1/2 cup celery ribs (sliced fine); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 4 cloves garlic (minced ( about a tablespoon)); ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy); 29 ounces tomato sauce (canned); 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (canned); 1 cup water; 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, plus extra for serving); salt and pepper to taste

American Chop Suey: My Mom’s Retro One-Pot Supper

When I was little, I always asked for chop suey for dinner. It was just one of those meals my mom made that felt comforting and familiar. It was really just a few simple ingredients: ground beef, macaroni, and tomato sauce with seasoning. It’s an easy 30-minute dinner that will get you in and out of the kitchen quickly.

A large green pot filled with macaroni pasta and meat sauce sits on a wooden trivet. Two white bowls of the pasta, topped with grated cheese, are on the table next to a small bowl of cheese and a green checkered cloth. — Ya’ll will want to make this recipe for American chop suey, because it’s a one-pan dinner that the whole family will enjoy. (Yes, even picky eaters)

I didn’t realize until I was grown and ordered it in a restaurant that other people meant something completely different, being Chinese chop suey. What I grew up with was the American version, what a lot of folks call goulash. I went home the next week and made real American chop suey the way I knew it. My kids grew up eating it the same way, and now the grandkids do too. It’s a part of our family menu traditions.

Key Ingredients You Will Need

Top-down view of ingredients on a white surface, including ground beef, elbow macaroni, celery stalks, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, green bell pepper, grated cheese, chopped onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and red pepper flakes.

Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Elbow Macaroni: The classic choice here. Parboiling it first keeps it from turning soft and mushy later.
Ground Beef: Lean works best. It has a good flavor without leaving too much grease behind.
Onion: Chopped fine so it withers into the sauce instead of standing out.
Green Bell Pepper: Green peppers are a traditional ingredient in New England and Midwest versions of the US.
Celery: Chop it fine. This was a sneaky veggie my mom put in there to make it healthier.
Tomato Paste: Cooked down until dark. This is where the sauce gets its depth.
Canned Tomato Sauce and Diced Tomatoes: Together, they

Smart Substitutions

Ground turkey or chicken works for a lighter meat choice. I also like to add yellow, orange, and red bell peppers for a pop of color. If you have someone who doesn’t like celery, you can leave it out.

My Favorite Style Pan for Chop Suey

Dutch Oven 7.5 Quart

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How To Make American Chop Suey

This comes together in stages, but none of them are fussy. Once everything is in the pot, you will have dinner in no time.

1

A colander with cooked elbow macaroni sits above a green pot filled with browned ground beef, both placed on a light-colored countertop with a wooden cutting board underneath the pot. — Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni just until it starts to soften; drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside. Brown the ground beef over medium heat until no pink remains, transferring it to a bowl.

2

A green Dutch oven filled with sautéed chopped vegetables sits on a white surface beside two open cans of tomatoes—one with diced tomatoes and the other with tomato puree. A wooden spoon rests nearby. — Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery, and cook, covered, until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it turns a deep rust color, then add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook briefly until fragrant.

3

A green pot of tomato-based meat sauce with peppers sits beside a colander of cooked macaroni pasta on a white surface. — Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, and cooked ground beef. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook covered over low heat until the vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat, stir in the partially cooked pasta, cover, and let it sit until the pasta finishes cooking.

4

A pot of elbow macaroni with meat sauce sits on a green cloth, with a wooden spoon inside. Two bowls of the pasta are nearby, each topped with grated cheese, and a small bowl of shredded cheese is on the side. — Finsh by stiring in the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

Variations and Recipe Tips

Baked casserole style: Transfer everything to a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake until bubbly for a scoopable casserole version that works great for potlucks.
Veggie boost: Add diced bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms while browning the beef to stretch the meal and add extra texture.
Spicier kick: A pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce adds warmth without overpowering the classic flavor.
It tastes even better the next day: This is one of those recipes that gets even better overnight. Reheat gently with a splash of water or broth for leftovers.

A wooden spoon holds a serving of macaroni pasta with tomato sauce, ground meat, and shredded cheese above a pot filled with the same pasta dish.

Host an Old-Fashioned Family Supper

This American Chop Suey dinner is all about easy hospitality and familiar comfort. Think of it as a back-pocket supper, the kind of meal you can serve on the spur of the moment, knowing it will feed people well and make them feel at home. Set it out family style, keep the table simple, and let the conversation do the work. If you’re feeding a big group of people, add in this Salad Bar Salad For Entertaining. It’s an easy, make-ahead, low-stress way to add a touch of freshness to your dinner.

This is the kind of dinner where seconds are expected, fun stories are shared naturally, and no one worries about being impressed.

This American chop suey recipe is easy to share, whether you’re feeding family or taking a pan to a church potluck. If you have any questions about making this recipe, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help! You can also snap a photo and tag @intentionalhospitality on Instagram.💛 I love seeing your creations!

Follow along with Intentional Hospitality on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more yummy recipes that help you bring people together around your table.

A large pot of macaroni with ground meat sauce sits on a light surface, with a wooden spoon inside. Nearby are two bowls of the pasta topped with grated cheese, a bowl of grated cheese, and some spoons on a green plaid cloth.

Retro Recipe for American Chop Suey