topic Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name? in Recipes

Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Honeybit — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:30:42 GMT

"Once Upon a Time" there was a dish with elbow macaroni, ground beef, and tomatoes which was a staple of school cafeteria lunches and mom-and-pop restaurants. At my recent high-school reunion, none of us could remember what name it went by in the South. Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives featured it as "American Chop Suey" and other places call it Chili-Mac. Are there any fond memories on this forum who have a name for it and a recipe to share? [I'm brand new to this Recipe Swap and am having a wonderful time reading all the friendly posts. Thanks to all who share here.] -- HoneyBit

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

pawdog — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:25:00 GMT

They called it Johnny Marzetti where I come from.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Foggy morning — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:38:21 GMT

I made this last night. Ground beef, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, can of diced tomatoes, small can of tomato sauce, wostershire sauce and elbow pasta. I remember when I was a kid my aunt made something similar. I asked her what it was and she said goulash. I think she just used that name for throwing a bunch of things together. I love the combo of hamburger, bell pepper, tomato and pasta.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

chickenbutt — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:43:26 GMT

I think we knew it as 'goulash' also. The stuff called Beef-a-Roni came in a can or a box, IIRC (aka - barf-a-roni. ha!).

You really don't need a recipe. Just make it. Put in there the flavor profiles that you like. I haven't made this in decades, but I recall never actually having a recipe for it.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

akaburtonfan — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:45:32 GMT

At my house it had the original name of Meat, Macaroni and Tomatoes!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

luvdoodles — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:55:18 GMT

My mother used to make this often, she called it American Chop Suey. It was an easy meal for her to make after she got home from work for the family. It was one of my fathers favorite dinners. As a kid I didn't care for the onions, so I just picked around them. And there was always a fresh loaf of Italian bread. Totally forgot about this dish, I just may have to make it.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

sunshine45 — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:01:23 GMT

we call it goulash or beefy mac.

no recipe.......just brown the meat and onion, cook the pasta (it doesnt have to be elbow macaroni), add juicy tomatoes, some tomato paste, turmeric, salt, pepper, garlic powder or garlic, sometimes some italian seasoning, and sometimes even some tiny cubed fried potato. it all gets thrown in together and "steamed" on low heat.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Tigriss — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:55:57 GMT

I'm from the deep south of Georgia. I've never had this in my family, but will try it with my niece and nephew. Simple and easy ought to be good enough. You can do it on the stovetop or oven or toaster oven. Thanks for the idea ladies!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

sunshine45 — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:59:38 GMT

On 10/19/2014 tigriss said:
I'm from the deep south of Georgia. I've never had this in my family, but will try it with my niece and nephew. Simple and easy ought to be good enough. You can do it on the stovetop or oven or toaster oven. Thanks for the idea ladies!

if you brown the meat first you can also do it in a rice cooker or a slow cooker/crockpot.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

rudy — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:08:04 GMT

Not sure, but it should be called Bemato!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Vamp — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:15:54 GMT

We called it goulash, but I've also heard it called beef-a-roni. It is different from Chili Mac (our Chili Mac has beans, chili powder, and cheese) and Hungarian Goulash (stew seasoned with paprika, no noodles). Three different dishes altogether.

I love hearing all the regional names for basically the same dish!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

debic — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:30:31 GMT

We call it goulash also. Of course for me there's no such thing as a good recipe. LOL

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

cookie5 — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 13:44:51 GMT

We call it goulash also. We always added a package of frozen corn (could use canned), sliced olives, cheese and whatever else. It then qualified as garbage goulash!!! YUM.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

BOYINTX — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 13:46:48 GMT

GOULASH -It is a tasty meal .

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Sooner — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 13:58:22 GMT

On 7/18/2011 bazb said:
On 7/18/2011 Maltese Babies said:
Here in the South we call it Goulash too. We'd have it with fried potatoes just like with brown beans.

It was a tradition...my grandmother made it, my dad made it and I made it for my family. My boys loved it and there was never any left overs. However, it is better the second day "by golly" (My granddad was pure Swedish).

Jodi

DITTO HERE, but don't forget the cornbread!

Goulash for us too! Ours was pretty basic: ground beef, onion, and some paprika, canned tomatoes and/or tomato sauce, garlic salt and pepper and macaroni. Ours didn't have a lot of macaroni though. We were big on the beef! Served with crusty french bread and garlic butter on it. And green beans or salad on the side.

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

fancy pantsy — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 21:05:48 GMT

in my house, mom called it goulash. now that you mention it, i have not made this since my children were little! time to put it in my rotation!!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Lacey1 — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 21:22:41 GMT

We sang this song on the school bus:

We're having Beef-a-roni

It smells like old bologny

Beef-a-roni's really neat

It smell like someone's stinky feet

Hooray! For Beef-a-roni!

Sorry, we had a long ride to school!

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

Sooner — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 02:36:52 GMT

On 10/20/2014 lacey1 said:
We sang this song on the school bus:

We're having Beef-a-roni

It smells like old bologny

Beef-a-roni's really neat

It smell like someone's stinky feet

Hooray! For Beef-a-roni!

Sorry, we had a long ride to school!

99 bottles of beer on the wall;

99 bottles of beer.

Take one down, pass it around;

98 bottles of beer on the wall.

98 bottles of beer on the wall

98 bottles of beer..

Take one down, pass it around;

97 bottles of beer on the wall;

97 bottles of beer on the wall.

97 bottles of beer.

Take one down, pass it around;

96 bottles of beer on the wall.

Carry on. . .

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

chloe66 — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 03:09:00 GMT

Goulash

Re: Beef-Mac-Tomato -- What Name?

denisemb — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 04:59:30 GMT

My mother called it "guck" (rhymes with book). I remember my SIL saying my brother requested something for dinner called "goop" or "glop", took me a few minutes to make the connection.

Mom also did something similar with rice that she called Spanish Rice.