Mom’s American Dish, Greek Style, as seen on Symon's Dinners Cooking Out, Season 4
Recipe courtesy of Michael Symon

"Greek Style" American Dish

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 20 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
This pasta casserole is one of those classic American dishes with all kinds of names: American Dish, American Goulash, American Chop Suey or just Burger & Noodles. When you grow up with a Greek/Italian/American mother, this dish takes on some of the flavors she always cooked with. A couple things for sure, this is a dish you can make fast that’s inexpensive, feeds a crowd and is always loved! Just make sure you do the little things like brown that meat very well and don’t overcook your pasta!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
  2. Place a large high-sided pot over the direct heat side of the grill and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Let the meat brown on one side, 4 to 5 minutes. Break up the meat, flip and brown the other side, another 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add in the onions and season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic, then the oregano. Continue to cook until the vegetables soften, 4 to 6 minutes.
  4. Add the cinnamon and mix to combine. Stir in the tomato paste, then stir in the crushed tomatoes. Season with some more salt and pepper, add 1 cup of water and bring to a simmer. Move the pot the indirect heat side of the grill and let the flavors develop by simmering and reducing for 20 to 30 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, on the direct heat side of the grill, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than package directions, drain and reserve along with 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  6. When the sauce is ready, stir in pasta and reserved pasta water. Simmer for 5 minutes, until thickened slightly and pasta takes on all the sauce flavors. Remove from the heat and serve!