This Classic American Chop Suey (American Goulash) is easy to make.
The flavours blend together perfectly for comfort food that you and your family will love.
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*Post updated November 2022
Me, I'd never heard of such a thing! But it's actually pasta with deliciously seasoned meat and tomato sauce and is really easy to make.
So, it wasn't until I saw the lovely Marie from The English Kitchen blog made it recently, that I just had to make it the very next day.
Personally, I would just call this pasta bake, but hey ho! Whatever you call it, it's proper comfort food, simple to make and totally delicious.
Of course, there's nothing at all wrong with Marie's recipe; but you know what I'm like, I have to do my own thing!
I used a jar of tomato and smoky bacon sauce. It's really important to use a good quality pasta sauce.
I like Marie, prefer Loyd Grossman sauces. Okay, they are a little more expensive, but are so worth paying a bit extra.
What is American Chop Suey?
It's an American pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni and a seasoned tomato sauce, found in the cuisine of New England and other regions of the United States.
Apparently, outside of New England, it is sometimes called American goulash or Johnny Marzetti, among other names; all very confusing if you ask me!
Ingredients
- 150g pasta - I used spirali pasta, but you can use elbow
- a splash of vegetable oil
- 250g lean minced beef (5% fat)
- 1 medium onion - peeled and diced
- ½ red bell pepper - diced
- ½ yellow (or green) bell pepper - diced
- 1 clove garlic - very finely chopped
- 1 350g jar pasta sauce (I used tomato and smoked bacon)
- a good pinch of red pepper flakes
- a pinch of black pepper
- 3 spring onions (green onions or scallions) - thinly sliced
- a few jalapeños from a jar
- a handful of grated Cheddar
- plus a handful of grated mozzarella
- pinch of paprika
Once the pasta and meat sauce were cooked, I topped the lot with a few jalapeños and spring onions (green onions or scallions).
Then added a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of paprika.
Cover with foil and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.
Then uncover and return to the oven until the cheese has melted and has started to brown.
Can I freeze this?
Yes you can! Either store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days (leftovers taste even better the next day)!
Or, you can also freeze for up to 3 months. It freezes really well.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below!
American Chop Suey Recipe
Ingredients
- 150g pasta - I used spirali, but you can use elbow pasta
- a splash of vegetable oil
- 250g lean minced beef (5% fat)
- 1 medium onion - peeled and diced
- ½ red bell pepper - diced
- ½ yellow (or green) bell pepper - diced
- 1 clove garlic - very finely chopped
- 1 350g jar pasta sauce (I used tomato and smoked bacon)
- a good pinch of red pepper flakes
- a pinch of black pepper
- 3 spring onions (green onions or scallions) - thinly sliced
- a few jalapeños from a jar
- a handful of grated Cheddar
- plus a handful of grated mozzarella
- pinch of paprika
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water (as packet instructions) but don't overcook; you want it to be al dente. Drain and add a tiny amount of olive oil to stop it sticking.
- Butter a 8x8 inch (20cmx20cm) baking dish.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the onions, garlic and peppers. Cook over a low heat whilst stirring for about 5 -10 minutes until the onions are soft but not coloured.
- Turn the heat up and add the beef. Sauté until the beef has browned and is cooked.
- Add the jar of sauce along with the pepper flakes and black pepper and add the pasta to the pan and mix together.
- Heat it up and have a taste and check the seasoning - you shouldn't need to add salt.
- Pour the whole mixture into your baking dish and top with the spring onions and jalapeños.
- Top with the two cheeses and sprinkle over a little paprika.
- Wrap tightly with kitchen foil and cook on the middle shelf for about 25 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for a further 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and starting to brown.
I have eaten so many noodles but after preparing your American chop suey recipe, I am impressed. The taste is so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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