Skip to main content

One-Pot American Chop Suey

Whether you call it American Chop Suey or Goulash, this dish is sure to please both the kids and adults at your dinner table. You'll be happy because this is truly a one-pot recipe that is ready to serve in about 40 minutes. How great is that?

You'll also love that this recipe makes enough to feed at least eight people.  That makes it perfect for a family dinner or to eat now and freeze for later.

American Chop Suey: Weeknight Dinner

  When you shop using the affiliate links we receive compensation.
Whether you call it American Chop Suey or Goulash, this dish is sure to please both the kids and adults at your dinner table.


American Chop Suey

This dish combines tender pasta with savory ground beef and a rich tomato sauce for a comforting dinner that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Let's dive into why you'll love this recipe.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's a Family-Friendly Delight: American Chop Suey is a beloved American comfort food classic, cherished by both kids and adults. With its hearty flavors and familiar ingredients, it's a crowd-pleaser that's sure to satisfy the whole family.

Quick and Effortless: With a cooking time of just 30 minutes, this recipe is a weeknight savior. You can have a wholesome, homemade dinner on the table in less time than it takes to order takeout.

One-Pot Wonder: The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Everything cooks in a single pot, including the pasta, so you won't have a mountain of dishes to tackle after enjoying your meal.

Customizable: While this recipe calls for ground beef, you can easily swap it out for ground turkey or even meat alternatives for a lighter option. You can also add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor.  I'll often add some chunks of zucchini or fresh green beans.

Now, let's ensure your American Chop Suey turns out perfectly with some handy tips.

Tips for American Chop Suey Success

1. Choose the Right Pot: When making this dish in a pot on your stovetop, choose a heavy pot, like a Dutch oven. That will allow you to brown your ground beef and will give you plenty of room for all the pasta. 

2. Choose the Right Pasta: Opt for a sturdy pasta shape like elbow macaroni or rotini. These hold up well in the one-pot cooking process. I like to use a large elbow macaroni in this recipe.  Barilla makes a large elbow macaroni with ridges that I love.  Prince also makes a large elbow macaroni without the ridges.  If you can't find a large elbow macaroni you can use penne or ziti. 

3. Brown the Beef Well: When browning the ground beef, make sure to break it into small crumbles and cook it until it's nicely browned. This adds depth of flavor to your dish. Remember brown beef is yummy beef.

4. Flavor Boost: Don't forget to season generously with salt and pepper. I also add garlic, Italian seasoning, and Better Than Bouillon for extra flavor.

5. Let It Rest: After cooking, allow your American Chop Suey to rest for a few minutes. Sprinkle on some extra parmesan cheese and let it melt into the dish. This helps the flavors meld together, making it even more delicious.

See How EASILY You Can Make American Chop Suey


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ground chicken instead of beef?
Absolutely! Ground chicken, turkey, or even a meat substitute like crumbled tofu can be used as a tasty alternative.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?
While American Chop Suey is best enjoyed fresh, you can certainly store it in the refrigerator for a day or two. Add a little water before reheating.

What side dishes go well with American Chop Suey?
A simple side salad, garlic bread, or steamed vegetables make excellent companions to this dish. They add freshness and balance to the meal.

The American Chop Suey Recipe

American Chop Suey
one pot dinner, pasta dinner, quick dinner, stovetop dinner
dinner
American
Yield: 8 servings
Author: Donna Urso
American Chop Suey

American Chop Suey

A quick, easy, one-pot, family-friendly pasta and ground beef recipe that will feed a crowd.
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat a Dutch oven or similar pot on your stovetop over medium-high heat, with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil.
  2. Add the onion and ground beef, cooking until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add garlic, stir and cook one minute.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the Parmesan cheese).
  5. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.
  6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Serve. Top with extra Parmesan cheese to serve.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

290.37

Fat (grams)

13.67 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

5.03 g

Carbs (grams)

19.17 g

Fiber (grams)

2.71 g

Net carbs

16.47 g

Sugar (grams)

5.63 g

Protein (grams)

21.56 g

Sodium (milligrams)

1414.02 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

57.82 mg

Comments

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bread fo

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

How to Doctor Up Store-Bought Potato Salad

Here's a potato salad time-saver for you just in time for summer cookouts. You'll love how you can transform grocery store potato salad so easily no matter whether you are hosting a BBQ or bringing a side dish for a summer barbecue. There's no judgment here. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of store-made potato salad. It's good. It's predictable.  It will do.  All it needs is a little doctoring. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better When you need a quick potato salad, and have no time to make one from scratch, that ordinary store-bought potato salad you have in your refrigerator can go from blah to amazing in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Yes, you can improve store-bought potato salad. How to Doctor Up Potato Salad to have a little more flavor? You're going to a potluck picnic or you are having

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

Crunchy, spicy, and yummy are all words used to describe a good gingersnap cookie.   While my hands-down, favorite cookie is a gooey chocolate chip cookie I occasionally crave a spicy ginger snaps cookie or  this molasses cookie .  This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies In the U.S., gingersnaps are usually drop cookies with lots of cracks on the surface.  That's exactly how I like them.  Those found in other countries may be thinner and sliced.  The Lebkuchen, a traditional German cookie, and the pepparkakor, from Sweden, are often cut into festive shapes.  My gingersnaps are round. Reasons You'll Love These Gingersnap Cookies These gingersnaps are tasty cookies at any time of the year.   Their spiciness is perfect as a holid

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family?  If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time.  You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig.   I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long.   How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while. 

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you looking for the best whoopie pie recipe?  Whoopie pies are a quintessential New England dessert and a memorable treat from my childhood.   My mom would make them for us every once in a while.  Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies!  Yum! Today I'm sharing my recipe for the best-ever whoopie pies. The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff Whoopie Pies Whoopie pies are soft round cookie-like cakes with a smooth cream filling sandwiched in the center. Debate rages about the whoopie pie's origin.  Some say these goodies originated in New England, others say they originated with the Amish.   There is also debate about what ingredients should be in the filling.  Many recipes include fillings made with Marshmallow Fluff or buttercream but neither is  traditional, in my opinion.  The whoopie pie of my childhood is a traditional Maine whoopie pie recipe, made with a cooked flour and milk mixture added to suga

Easy Chicken Parmesan-A Make Ahead Freezer Dinner

Chicken Parmesan is a favorite dinner in the Just One Donna house because it is a delicious dish that can satisfy your cravings for Italian food. It's also easy to make at home with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry.  But what if you don't have time to cook on a busy weeknight? Don't worry, you can make Chicken Parmesan ahead of time and freeze it for later. I like to prepare Chicken Parmesan to have on hand in my freezer for those busy weeknights when we might be tempted to head to a restaurant instead of eating at home.  How to Make Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Busy Nights This post contains affiliate links.  I receive a small compensation when you shop using these links Easy Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Dinner Chicken Parmesan, also known as Chicken Pa

Can You Make Better Bacon in Water?

What is the best way to cook crisp, tender bacon? Today, let's investigate a new method for cooking bacon on the stove that I'm seeing suggested as a technique that will change your life.  It's frying your bacon in a pan with a small amount of water.  Is cooking bacon with a bit of water in the pan a better way to make bacon? How to Cook Bacon in Water This is a simple, relatively fast way to make perfectly cooked bacon every time. Whether you are looking to impress your guests with a decadent breakfast or just want to enjoy a delicious bacon treat, this technique is the perfect solution.

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies.  Fruit flies in the kitchen.  Fruit flies in the bathroom.  Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home.   It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another.  If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance.  This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time.