Description
American Chop Suey is a comforting and hearty pasta dish featuring tender elbow macaroni, smoky turkey bacon, and a rich tomato sauce enhanced with vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Topped with melted plant-based cheese, this easy-to-make recipe is perfect for quick weeknight dinners and can be customized with your favorite vegetables or protein alternatives.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup plant-based cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water for later.
- Sauté the Veggies and Turkey Bacon: Heat olive oil (natural) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant. Add chopped smoked turkey bacon and cook until slightly crispy.
- Make the Tomato Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), dried oregano, and dried basil. Let the sauce simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add Cheese and Serve: Sprinkle the shredded plant-based cheese over the top. Cover the skillet for a few minutes until the cheese melts thoroughly. Serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh herbs.
Notes
- Do not overcook pasta; slightly firm pasta holds up better when mixed with sauce.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley at the end to brighten flavors.
- Save pasta water to loosen the sauce without making it watery.
- Adjust seasonings gradually and taste as you cook to balance flavors.
- Cover the pot briefly after adding cheese to achieve perfect melting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: American Chop Suey, pasta recipe, plant-based cheese, turkey bacon, comfort food, quick dinner, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
