yes, we've had this conversation before. My mom called it Johnny Mazzetti and she used spices and also added veggies sometimes, like green peppers. I think maybe sliced green olives also and topped it with shredded cheddar. I still liked it.

American Chop Suey here, and delicious. I should make that sometime soon.

I dunno, with Cubans, the ground beef was used for picadillo--brown the ground beef, add the sofrito made with green peppers, onion, garlic, and Spanish olive oil, tomato sauce, tomato paste, some water or wine or whatever you have on hand, add raisins and olives (I don't do the olives) and some chopped pimientos, serve over hot, white rice.

No macaroni in evidence.

Johnny Mazzetti is what I've seen cafeterias call it. I don't think my mom ever made it, but if she did, it was probably Italian goulash or some such name.

I think my school called it hamburger helper.... that's what I think of it as.

Goulash here. My family adds cheese.

It's weird that we called it goulash, since my mom was raised in Delaware, not the Midwest.

I've seen a Stouffer's version, simply called "macaroni and beef."

God, I'm hungry now.

Haven't we had the "What did you call macaroni, ground beef, and tomatoes?" conversation?

Of course! It's a little circular, but I figure the conversation itself counts as comfort food. It's filling, not terribly adventurous, and reminds you of growing up.

How is that different from Chili Mac?

I think we called that goulash in my house, but the school cafeteria called it Beefaroni.

Beans and chili powder.