Despite its name, american chop suey has no connection to asian cuisine. Instead, it's a tomato-based pasta dish that's popular in new england and similar to goulash, a midwest and southern staple. While chinese chop suey consists of meat and vegetables stir-fried in a thick sauce and served over rice or chow mein, american chop suey is made of elbow macaroni, ground beef, onions, and tomato sauce. The dish was once served over rice, rather than pasta, which is partly where its name stemmed from. Some folks might add green bell peppers or cheese to their american chop suey, but neither are traditionally used in the recipe. This particular variation is made in the slow cooker, making it even easier for a weeknight family dinner.