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Classic American Chop Suey Bake Recipe

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4.2 from 3 reviews

American Chop Suey is a comforting, classic American pasta casserole that combines tender elbow macaroni with a savory ground beef and tomato sauce, enhanced with aromatic vegetables and Italian seasoning. This hearty dish is baked to perfection with a cheesy finish, making it an ideal family meal that's both flavorful and satisfying.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni (al dente)

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced

Seasonings and Sauces

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 32 ounces spaghetti sauce
  • 14 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Cheese

  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and prepare an 8 x 8-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef thoroughly, breaking it up as it cooks. Once browned, drain off the excess fat and set the beef aside to keep warm.
  3. Sauté Vegetables: Using the same skillet, sauté the chopped onion, green pepper, and minced garlic over medium-high heat until they become tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet and combine well, cooking until heated through.
  4. Add Sauce and Seasonings: Pour in the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese to meld the flavors.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the sauce mixture and stir well to coat all the noodles evenly with the meat sauce.
  6. Bake: Transfer the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until bubbly and heated through, allowing the flavors to meld and the top to set slightly.

Notes

  • For a quicker version, you can skip baking and cook everything on the stovetop until heated through, which reduces total cooking time.
  • Make sure to cook the macaroni al dente as it will continue to cook slightly during baking.
  • You can add shredded mozzarella cheese on top before baking for a cheesy crust.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, depending on the saltiness of your spaghetti sauce.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated well.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/classic-american-chop-suey-bake-recipe/