Pinoy Style Baked Macaroni is one of the famous dishes in the Philippines during potluck and holidays. It is creamy, cheesy, delicious and an ultimate comfort food.
Prep Time10minutes
Cook Time1hour
Total Time1hour10minutes
Servings4
AuthorJhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Ingredients
200gelbow macaronicooked according to package instructions
FOR THE SPAGHETTI SAUCE MIXTURE:
1tbspoil
2tbspbutter
4clovesgarlicchopped
1onionchopped
200gground beef
4hotdogssliced
250gspaghetti sauce
¼cup(60 ml) banana ketchup
¼cup(60 ml) water
Grated cheddar cheese
FOR THE CREAMY TOPPING:
1tbspbutter
2clovesgarlicchopped
½cup(125 ml) Nestle all-purpose creamyou can use heavy cream
¼cup(60 ml) evaporated milk
¼cupspreadable cream cheese
Grated cheddar cheese
Ground black pepperand you may need salt as well
Instructions
FOR THE SPAGHETTI SAUCE MIXTURE:
In a large pot over medium heat, add cooking oil and butter; let the butter melt.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Next, add onion and cook until translucent.
When the garlic & onions are cooked, add ground beef. Break the ground beef into small pieces; cook until no longer pink.
Add sliced hotdogs; cook for 2 minutes.
Pour your favorite spaghetti sauce, banana ketchup and water into the pot. Mix, cover the pot and let this simmer for 15 minutes over low heat. Add grated cheese.
Do a taste test and adjust accordingly.
Turn off the heat and set aside until ready to serve.
FOR THE CREAMY TOPPING:
In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter; let it melt.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Pour the cream, evaporated milk and cream cheese into your saucepan. Add ground black pepper (and maybe you need salt as well), and then mix. Set the heat to the lowest and let the sauce thicken for a bit.
Add more grated cheddar cheese.
Do a taste test and adjust accordingly.
BAKING:
Preheat your oven to 375 F.
In a bowl, add cooked elbow macaroni and spaghetti (red) sauce; mix well. You may add more banana ketchup and cheese at this point; mix again. Transfer into your baking dish and pour the creamy sauce on top. Smooth with a spoon. Add more grated cheese on top.
Bake at 375 F preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and the top looks pretty.
SEE NOTES BELOW FOR UNBAKED PINOY STYLE MACARONI
Recipe Notes
DID I SAY YOU CAN LEAVE THIS UNBAKED?
Okay, so here’s the thing – this is like “Pinoy Style Baked Macaroni – 3 ways”.
First: if you want to bake this after the creamy topping and cheese, then you go ahead with the instructions below.
Second: If you don’t have an oven, you can simply pour the sauce on top, add grated cheese and you can enjoy right away.
Third: Do you have a microwave oven? So, after the creamy topping and cheese, you can pop the baking dish in the microwave (of course, you have to make sure you are using a microwave safe dish), and let the cheese melt for 5 minutes. Just between you and me, this is what I frequently do. 😉
You can skip the spreadable cream cheese if you cannot find it or you don’t feel like using it.
If you make this recipe, please send me a photo on my Instagram account (@thenotsocreativecook).