Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style
This is a Filipino dish that combines the goodness of Italian cuisine with their own unique flavor twist. Our unique flavors are often sweet and savory, which is what you get when you try this Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style recipe.
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I love Filipino Cheesy Baked Macaroni. It is like Mac and Cheese, but with lots of meat sauce. This dish is rich, creamy, savory, somewhat sweet, and simply delicious. Make this over the weekend for the family to enjoy.
How to Cook Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style
- Cooking the Macaroni Perfectly – Start by boiling your elbow macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside—this step ensures your pasta isn’t watery when mixed with the sauces.
- Browning and Simmering the Meat Sauce – In a wok, brown the ground beef until it develops a good color. Toss in chopped onions and garlic; cook until the onions soften. Next, add diced bell peppers and sauté for about a minute. Pour in the Filipino Style spaghetti sauce along with water, stirring constantly. Let the mixture simmer for 12 to 15 minutes so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens slightly. Once done, set the meat sauce aside.
- Whipping Up the Creamy White Sauce – Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in all-purpose flour and cook for a minute to form a roux, which helps thicken the sauce. Gradually add milk while stirring to keep the mixture smooth. Mix in half of the shredded cheese and cook until the sauce thickens—this gives you a rich, creamy base.
- Mixing Everything Together – In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni with the meat sauce, then gently fold in the white sauce. This blending step ensures each piece of pasta is coated with both the savory and creamy layers.
- Baking and Finishing Touches – Transfer the mixture into a baking pan and spread the remaining cheese evenly on top. Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake for about 15 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden. Serve hot and enjoy this Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style!
Tips and Tricks
- Avoid soggy pasta by cooking the macaroni al dente. It will still be absorbing the the sauce while baking which will soften it.
- Ground pork or chicken can be used as substitutes for ground beef.
- While hotdogs are optional, you can also use alternatives such as beef franks or diced luncheon meat.
- Filipino Style Spahetti Sauce is a commercial product that can be sourced from Asian and Filipino stores. You can use regular tomato sauce as an alternative, just as add a fair amount of sugar depending on your preference.
Why Do We Need to Bake it?
We bake the macaroni to get the casserole effect of the dish. With baking, the flavors blend, the sauce thickens, and the cheese melts into a delicious topping. You’ll get warm, cozy macaroni that you can slice and serve. If you don’t like the baked version, try the No Oven-Baked Macaroni Filipino Style.
Origin of Cheesy Baked Macaroni
Baked mac is the perfect quick meal, and can be seen at restaurants and homes all over the world. But where did it come from? It has a cool backstory. In the U.S., macaroni and cheese became a comfort food staple during hard times, like the Great Depression, because it was cheap, filling, and really tasty. Over time, people began baking the dish, in order to get that crispy, golden top while maintaining the rich, velvety inside. Today, baked mac is a favorite at family gatherings and celebrations. It’s an example of how a simple comfort food can become something uniquely delicious.
What Goes with it
Baked mac is creamy and cheesy, so it pairs really well with something fresh to balance out the richness.
- Garlic bread is a favorite for adding a bit of crunch in almost all pasta, including our Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style.
- A crisp green salad with a tangy dressing is a great option. You might want to try Salted Eggs and Tomato Salad, Caesar Salad, or even a coleslaw to complement your Cheesy Baked Macaroni.
- Fried chicken—imagine those juicy leg quarters—goes great with baked mac because it brings that protein punch that really pairs with any pasta. You can even mix garlic bread with the fried chicken, a combo you’ll often see at fast-food spots like Greenwich.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we can see your creations!
Cheesy Baked Macaroni Pinoy Style
Ingredients
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheese shredded
Meat Sauce Ingredients
White Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain the liquid and set the macaroni aside (see notes).
- Make the meat sauce by browning the beef in a wok. Add onion and garlic. Once the onion softens, add the bell peppers. Sauté. for 1 minute.
- Pour the Filipino Style Spaghetti Sauce and water. Continue cooking while stirring for 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
- Make the white sauce by melting butter in a saucepan. Add all-purpose flour. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Gradually pour milk while stirring. Add half of the cheese. Stir and continue cooking until the sauce thickens.
- Combine the macaroni and meat sauce and then pour the white sauce on top. Fold until all the ingredients are well blended.
- Arrange the mixture in a baking pan. Spread the remaining cheese on top.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Serve. Share and enjoy!
Notes
- There’s no need to add oil while boiling macaroni. Instead, use plenty of water and stir frequently.
- Fast melting cheese is best like Velveeta is best for this recipe.
- Hotdogs are optional, but very nice to have.
Nutrition Information
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