American Chop Suey
When I was a child, American Chop Suey was my very favorite food, and even now this is often my first choice when I’m looking for a tasty, quick, and easy dinner. I once read somewhere that American chop suey is popular throughout this country, but that it is made differently in different regions. My mother used to make it with elbow macaroni, onions, hamburg, and either home-canned tomatoes or tomato soup… that was the standard recipe. When I make this dish for my family, I use ground turkey because we do not eat beef, and I often use gemelli pasta or other pasta shapes instead of elbows. I also use concentrated crushed tomatoes instead of tomato soup, so I add an equal amount of the pasta water (the starch in the pasta water thickens the sauce). Sometimes I use fresh tomatoes and add green peppers or mushrooms, garlic and basil or oregano. Eight ounces of grated cheddar cheese mixed in, or parmesan cheese over the top, is delicious too!
Here is the original American chop suey recipe:
Ingredients
2 pounds elbow macaroni
1 pound lean ground beef
2 onions, chopped
2 cans tomato soup (plus water) or 1 quart canned tomatoes
salt and black pepper to taste
Cook macaroni. Drain and set aside. Saute ground meat and chopped onion. Season with salt and black pepper. When meat and onions are cooked, drain off any grease. Simmer tomatoes, meat, and onions for about fifteen minutes. Mix in macaroni and serve.
Filed Under Cooking & Baking from Scratch, Family Favorite Recipes, Frugality
Comments
Comment by Rhonda in OK:
My Dh and I both grew up eating this and I have been cooking it all through my marriage. We call it Goulash.
My recipe is just about like yours except we use tomato sauce instead of tomato soup. Your crushed tomatoes idea sounds good too.
Comment by Shirley:
Actually, I should have said that we call it goulash too. Isn’t it funny how neither name really fits the dish?
Comment by Toni:
I had never heard of this but I’m going to try it tonight. Thanks for all the great recipes. I have tried several recipes on your site and haven’t hit a bad one yet. :-) Thanks.
Comment by Rita J.:
My kids love this, so did my husband and me. This will certainly be come a favorite quick meal for us. Did you think this would be good with ground pork?
Comment by Betty:
This sure brings back the memories. I can remember eating this when I was a kid and visited my gram in Vermont. She was a good cook and I loved her chopsuey. My mom on the other hand made it a couple of times and it wasn’t too great. Sadly she wasn’t a very good cook. :( I’m going to make some chopsuey of my own this weekend and use turkey like you do. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Phillip:
My mother used to make this for me when I was a little boy. We called it goulash too. I think it was about my favorite meal when I was growing up, but you know, I haven’t had it once since I was about 18. I don’t think my wife knows how to make it but she has copied the recipe and has promised that she’ll give it a go. Thanks for the memory!
Comment by Shirley:
Wow! What nice comments. Betty, you’re right… not all chop sueys are created equal! But when it’s made well, it is good. I have to admit that it still is one of my favorites. And yes, Rita, I don’t see why you couldn’t make it with ground pork or any ground meat. The flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious I bet. Thanks everyone!
Comment by Kathryn:
Good stuff - we also call it goulash, but we add Niblets corn to it too, adds a bit of sweetness. :)
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