


How do you make American Chop Suey?Īmerican Chop Suey is really simple to prepare and comes together in just one pot (hooray for fewer dishes!). This dish has tons of concentrated tomato flavor, lots of classic Italian herbs like basil and oregano, and plenty of mozzarella. There’s also a Goulash dish that’s similar (here’s my version of American Goulash ), but the truth is if you compare the two – American chop suey vs goulash, you’ll find the latter lacks the strong Italian-American influence you see in most American Chop Suey recipes. It’s a popular dish there that’s served at home, in restaurants, and even in school cafeterias, and it’s the one part of the country that consistently uses that name.ĭepending on where you are and regional seasoning variations, it may be called Chili Mac, Beefaroni, or Johnny Marzetti Casserole (after an Ohio-based restaurant). When people think of American chop suey New England comes to mind (there’s an American chop suey Wahlburgers version from the famous Boston-based hamburger chain). It’s definitely a family-specific kind of recipe, too, with subtle (or not-so-subtle) changes depending on who’s making the dish.Įach family is also pretty adamant that theirs is the best. It’s popular throughout the country especially in the Midwest, the South, and New England.Īmerican Chop Suey is one of many family recipes that have been handed down to me over the years, and this particular one is a favorite on my husband’s side. What is American Chop Suey?Īmerican Chop Suey is a classic American one pot dish consisting of beef, pasta, and a thick tomato sauce. The Mandarin word for these “odds and ends” is tsa sui, and shap sui is Cantonese for “mixed bits,” so it’s easy to see how the pronunciation evolved to the name we use now. These resourceful chefs had to make the most of what they had, which undoubtedly resulted in some unusual stir-frys. The good news is the recipes for American Chop Suey are definitely not an afterthought they’re a wonderful, deliberate combination of tasty ingredients you can serve for dinner without having to trick your children.Īs the name suggests, chop suey has some Chinese origin, though it’s possibly the brainchild of Chinese-American immigrants working on the railroads during the 1840s’ Gold Rush. Rumor has it “chop suey” is a provocative name some parents use to lure children to the dinner table on just such an occasion! It can apparently be an effective tool for eliminating the groans and grumbles that often accompany these “creative” meals. Unfortunately, some days we’re stuck making do with what we have, combining whatever’s looming in the fridge or pantry to cook a “unique” (i.e., unpopular) dish. We’ve all been there – exhausted after a long day and surrounded by a chorus of, “What’s for dinner?” Pin it to your DINNER BOARD to save for later! Be Sure To Follow Gonna Want Seconds on Pinterest for more great recipes! Goulash variation: Change this dish into a traditional goulash by adding diced celery and green bell peppers and 1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika to the slow cooker.Winner, winner, it’s American Chop Suey for dinner! This Americanized classic is a favorite coast-to-coast, with savory bits of ground beef in a hearty tomato sauce, mingling with tender macaroni and melty mozzarella.Add macaroni, stir to combine, and serve. Let it cook, and then quick-release the pressure.

#AMERICAN CHOP SUEY INSTANT POT MANUAL#
Cover with the lid, and set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 4 minutes. Cook until browned, and then add the remaining ingredients, except the macaroni. Add the oil and then the beef and onions. Instant Pot variation: Set the Instant Pot to sauté.Cover the dish with foil and cook for 25 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients to the casserole dish, including the cooked macaroni, and use a spatula to even it out. Sauté the ground beef and onion as directed and pour it into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Oven-baked casserole variation: Preheat the oven to 350 F.Add 1 cup of Cheddar cheese at the end of the cooking process, letting it cook for about 10 more minutes until the cheese is melted.Use whatever shaped pasta you have on hand and mix in vegetable, if desired. American chop suey is a highly adaptable recipe.Add it to the slow cooker, along with the tomatoes. Replace the garlic powder with two cloves of finely minced garlic.
