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American Chop Suey

American Chop Suey is a comfort food made with ground beef, onions, peppers, macaroni, and a slow-simmered tomato sauce. It's also known as American Goulash, Chili Mac, or Hamburger Mac.
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Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1 green pepper seeded + finely chopped
  • 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
  • 3 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes this adds a tiny bit of heat – omit if you want a spicy-free dish
  • 1 28- ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 15- ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 lb large elbow macaroni – i used creamette large elbow macaroni
  • salt + pepper to taste
  • optional: grated parmesan cheese + freshly-chopped parsley to garnish

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion + green pepper, + cook until softened, about 8 minutes.
  2. Add ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, + red pepper flakes. cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
  3. Add in whole tomatoes (and juice), crushing the tomatoes with your hands as you add them. (wear an apron!) Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, + cinnamon, + salt/pepper to taste – stir well.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, + simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about an hour.
  5. When the sauce is in its final minutes of simmering, cook pasta according to package directions, reducing the cooking time by two minutes (until just barely short of al dente). Drain pasta well + transfer to pot of sauce, stirring to combine well.
  6. Add more salt + pepper to taste (if needed), + cook until flavors combine, about 10 more minutes.
  7. Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese + garnish of parsley, + hot, buttered bread.