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Serving Delicious Asian Recipes One Pot at a Time

Baked Macaroni

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One of the fanfare here at Kawaling Pinoy I truly enjoy are the monthly giveaways. Although I don’t reply to the comment entries, I do read and relish each and every one of them. Last month’s giveaway was all about Noche Buena and I appreciate how you guys jumped right in to share your holiday meals and traditions.  One dish I noticed that came up more than others was baked macaroni. Guys, I cannot agree more. Baked macaroni is really the perfect party food as not only is it everyone’s favorite, one pan can also easily feed an army of guests.

Baked Macaroni

Baked macaroni is something I make once or twice a week in my house. I just toss pasta and meat sauce together, top the mixture with grated cheese, throw it all in the oven for a few minutes and call it a day. But for a pasta dish that’s holiday-worthy, a simple mornay sauce sure does make a whole lot of difference. Amazing, really, how a ten-minute cheese sauce easily turns the baked macaroni I make regularly from blah to ahhh. Make this the center of your festivities, folks, and brace yourself for the avalanche of applause that’s sure to come. Enjoy!

Baked Macaroni

4.24 from 17 votes
Baked Macaroni
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Baked Macaroni with Cheese Topping
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 20 mins
 
Servings: 8 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 16 ounces package small elbow macaroni
For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 to 3 Filipino-style hotdogs sliced diagonally
  • 1 small onion peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/2 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1 cup banana ketchup preferably sweet and spicy
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
For the Cheese Topping
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 16 ounces Velveeta cheese (or any quickmelt), cubed
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium heat, bring about 4 quarts salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook 1 to 2 minutes less than package's directions. Rinse under cold running water and drain well.

  2. In a large bowl, combine macaroni and meat sauce. Gently toss together until well-combined.

  3. Grease bottom and sides of a large baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer pasta-meat mixture into prepared dish. Spoon cheese sauce on top, spreading across to completely cover pasta.

  4. Bake in a 375 oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 7 to 10 minutes before cutting into serving portions.

For the Meat Sauce
  1. In a pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add sliced hotdogs and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan and set aside.

  2. Add onions and garlic and cook until limp. Add bell peppers and cook for about 2 to 3 minute or until softened. Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking into small pieces, for about 7 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Drain any excess fat.

  3. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup and beef broth. Stir in sugar and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and continue to cook for about one hour or until meat is fully cooked and sauce is thickened. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add browned hotdogs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For the Cheese Sauce
  1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir well into a smooth paste. Cook, stirring regularly, for about 5 to 7 minutes or until golden (but NOT browned) and starts to bubble a bit.
  2. In pot over medium heat, heat milk until just about to boil. Slowly add the heated milk in 1 cup increments to the roux (flour-butter mixture), whisking vigorously until very smooth. Cook, whisking regularly, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened but still pourable. Add quick-melt and cheddar cheese and cook, whisking regularly, until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.

Baked Macaroni

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Hi Boog,

      I’ve never tried reconstituted milk but I think it would work. Maybe make it a little more powder milk to water than you normally would to make it creamier and more flavorful.

      Reply

  5. I tried cooking this for my boss family and they loved it. So whenever they like to eat it, they will just tell me to cook pasta and open you recipe again hehe.

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply

    • Hello Cara

      I don’t usually like to use Mozzarella for cheese sauces as it gets a bit stringy and might not be as smooth and velvety as the quick melt.

      Reply

  14. Hi, this recipe looks yummy and I’m planning to make it for new year’s eve. I’d like to clarify the amount of ground beef…is it 1.5 pounds Thanks in advanced and for sharing your recipe =)

    Reply

  17. I tried to do this morning and it is perfect! My mate said I should make that recipe thia coming Christmas!

    Reply

  21. Yey! I was forever trying to find out how to make that cheese sauce, thanks Ms. Lallaine, now i can make my kids happy with this recipe. More power:)

    Reply

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