American Chop Suey (Mom’s Goulash)
A classic American Chop Suey, also called American goulash, made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and a savory tomato sauce. It’s hearty, inexpensive, comforting, and tastes just like the kind of homemade dinner Mom used to make.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 6–8
🛒 Ingredients
Serves 6–8
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½ cups beef broth or water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar, optional
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the beef
Heat a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
2. Add the vegetables
Add the diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.
3. Build the sauce
Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, and optional sugar.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
4. Add the macaroni
Stir the uncooked elbow macaroni directly into the beef and tomato mixture.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick. Cook until the macaroni is tender.
Tip: If the mixture gets too thick before the pasta is completely cooked, add ¼–½ cup more beef broth or water.
5. Finish the goulash
Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. If you like cheesy goulash, sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the top, cover, and let it sit for 2–3 minutes until melted.
6. Serve
Spoon into bowls and serve hot. A little fresh parsley or grated Parmesan on top is delicious, but completely optional.
❤️ Mom-Style Tips
- Don’t overcook the macaroni—it should be tender but still have a little bite.
- For extra tomato flavor, use fire-roasted diced tomatoes.
- Add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- For an old-fashioned version, skip the cheese and let the beef, tomatoes, and macaroni shine.
- Leftovers are even better the next day. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating because the pasta absorbs the sauce.
🥘 Easy Serving Ideas
Serve this comforting goulash with buttered dinner rolls, garlic bread, cornbread, or a simple green salad.