“Try this Baked Macaroni Filipino style recipe! It’s rich and flavorful, with a sweet, meaty sauce and cheesy topping, it’s the ultimate pasta meal for a large crowd.”

Baked macaroni is a dish that you can serve during the holiday season. It’s delicious, tasty and will surely love by the crowd. You can also bring this for your potlucks during party celebrations and will certainly not disappoint you.

Once a week I try to cook pasta for the family meal. I usually make the tuna pesto pasta which is super easy to make. If I have time, I’ll try to take our pasta meal to another level. Just like this baked macaroni.

What is baked macaroni

This baked macaroni is a Filipino-style macaroni that uses elbow macaroni, coated in a sweet, meaty tomato sauce and topped with cheesy mornay sauce.

Baked macaroni requires a little effort to make. You have to do three things: cook the pasta, sauce and the cheese toppings. That sounded like a lot of work and it is, but it’s definitely worth it. You, your family and friends will surely love it.

What’s the ingredients for baked macaroni

Elbow macaroni is the primary ingredient in this baked macaroni. You just need to cook the macaroni less than 2 minutes of the recommended time in the package instructions. This is to make sure that the texture will remains firm.

One of the most significant components of this dish is the meat. Although most people use ground beef, others choose ground pork or ground chicken.

Baked macaroni is a tomato-based pasta that includes chopped tomatoes (or tomato sauce) and tomato paste. Carrot can be used to give more nutrition & texture to the dish. To provide more flavor and scent, capsicum (or bell pepper) is optionally used.

The mornay sauce that serves as the topping is made in the same manner as a classic béchamel sauce with lots of cheese added to it. Classic cheeses that are being used are gruyère cheese, Emmental, and white cheddar cheese— any melting cheese works.

I used the same béchamel recipe I did in my lasagna recipe and added more cheese to this recipe. The cheeses I used are Edam cheese and cheddar cheese. But you can also use mozzarella, parmesan, and other cheese you desired.

Tips in making baked macaroni

• Undercook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package recommendations for better texture, since they will continue to cook when baked with the sauce.

• Cook the mornay sauce until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Dip the spoon into the béchamel and then trace a finger through the coated spoon to see if it’s done. The sauce is ready if it wipes clean and leaves an open space. Tip: Cook until it is spreadable enough as toppings.

• Let the baked macaroni cool for about 15-20 minutes before cutting to a nice squares.

How to make baked macaroni without using oven

You can prepare this baked macaroni using an improvised oven.

First, you have to prepare the macaroni casserole and place it in a heat-resistant dish with mornay sauce on top.

On the stovetop, heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet for 8 to 10 minutes.

Next is to place a wire rack in the middle of the skillet. Then put the casserole dish on the rack.

Cover the pan tightly with a cover making sure that heat will not escape. “Bake” until it is heated through and the cheese has melted. Which may take about 20-25 minutes.

How to serve

This macaroni can be served on its own. It can also be a perfect partner for bread such as warm pandesal, garlic bread, or banana bread. You can also add on your favorite green salad or roasted vegetables to make a filling meal.

How to store

Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge. It can last for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

To reheat, cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F/ 180 °C for 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively, cook in the microwave in 1 to 2-minute intervals until thoroughly heated.

Cook this baked macaroni at your next family gathering and it will be a sure hit! Happy tummy!

Baked Macaroni Filipino Style Recipe

Julie

Try this Baked Macaroni Filipino style recipe! It's rich and flavorful, with a sweet, meaty sauce and cheesy topping, it’s the ultimate pasta meal for a large crowd.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine Filipino

Servings 16 servings

Equipment

• Cooking pan
• colander or strainer
• sauce pan or deep pan and wooden spoon
• Whisk
• 10" x 6.5" baking dish (2 nos.)
• Oven

Ingredients

  

• 400 grams elbow macaroni, uncooked
• water
• salt
• oil, optional

Meat Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 400 grams ground beef
• 1 and ½ cup tomato sauce
• ½ cup (135g) tomato paste
• ½ cup banana ketchup
• 1 cup beef broth or 1 piece beef cubes dissolved in 1 cup water
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• ½ cup green bell pepper
• ½ cup red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• salt & pepper to taste
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated

Mornay Sauce:

• 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 and ½ cups milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup Edam cheese, parmesan cheese or any other quick melting cheese, grated
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions

 

• In a large pot over medium heat, bring about 2 liters of water to a boil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes shorter than the package recommended so that the macaroni is not totally cooked (the macaroni will be fully cooked after baking). Drain well after rinsing under cold running water.

Meat Sauce:

• In a pan over medium heat, heat oil.
• Sauté garlic and onion and cook until translucent.
• Add ground beef and cook until the ground beef is lightly browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Stir occasionally and break apart with the back of a spoon to cook evenly.
• Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup and beef broth. Mix well until combine. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Add carrots, bell peppers, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well to fully incorporate.
• Cover and simmer for another 3 minutes or until vegetables becomes tender-crisp.
• Remove from heat and set aside.

Mornay Sauce:

• Melt butter in a medium pan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and add the flour and whisk for about 30 seconds or until combined.
• Slowly and carefully whisk in milk until well blended.
• Season with salt and pepper.

  Note: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk until it comes to a creamy consistency.
• Increase heat to medium and continue cooking the sauce until it thickens and coats the back of your spoon.
• Add the Edam cheese and cheddar cheese and mix until both cheese are melted. Set aside.

Assemble:

• Preheat oven to 350°F / 180 °C.
• Combine the cooked macaroni and meat sauce.
• Transfer the macaroni mixture into a baking dish.
• Pour mornay sauce on top, spreading across to completely cover the pasta.
• Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool down for at least 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into serving portions.
• Share and enjoy!

Video

Notes

 

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Please treat this as nutritional guide.”

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