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 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 with Cheese Topping
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounces package small elbow macaroni
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 to 3 Filipino-style hotdogs, sliced diagonally
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 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
- 16 ounces Eden Cheese (or any quickmelt), cubed
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 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.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni and meat sauce. Gently toss together until well-combined.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 apart with the back of a spoon, for about 7 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Drain any excess fat.
- 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
- 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.
- Gradually add milk to the roux, whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Cook, whisking regularly, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth and thickened but still pourable.
- Gradually add quick-melt and cheddar cheese and cook, whisking regularly until melted. Stir in nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
Can I bake it using a microwave po? How mang minutes and what temp if ever po? Thanks!
I’ve never tried baking this in a microwave but you can do it 1 or 2 minutes at a time. The only thing is, I don’t think the cheese sauce will brown like it would in the oven.
Hi Lalaine! Can I cook the meat sauce and pasta.first, then refrigerate it for 2 days before baking?
Yes, you can make this ahead. I won’t store it past 3 days, though, for food safety 🙂
i tried this recipe and sold it in our canteen and it was a sold out. The taste is so good. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Thank you, Ram! I am glad everyone liked it 🙂
hi mam pwede bang hindi ko na lagyan ng nutmed?
Yes, pwedeng omit ang nutmeg 🙂
Amazing
,,Can I use powdered milk like bearbrand and nido with water?
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.
Can I use powdered milk like bearbrand and nido?
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!
Thanks, Krizhyy, for the feedback. I am glad everyone likes the recipe. 🙂
Hello! Does it need to be cooked in the oven once I put the cheese on top? Thanks!
HI, Bey!
Yes, it needs to go to.the oven to brown the cheese sauce a little and to heat up the pasta.
Can you replace mozarella instead of quick melt?
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.
Can i ask how much would it cost in the entire recipe? Thank you.
Hi Jennilyn! I’m not sure where you’re located. I’m based in Texas so the cost might be different.
Er my whole family is Buddhist we can’t eat beef what can I substitute it with
Just skip the beef?
Try eggplant and mushroom buttons instead of beef. 😉
What a delicious idea, definitely a great way to turn this into a vegetarian treat 🙂
Hello po, may I ask, can I substitute pepper to the italian mix? Or what other alternatives can I use that can be easily found. Thankzzz.
Hello Justin,
You can just omit it if you can’t find it. 🙂
Hi Lalaine,
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
The fam and friends loved it.
/Kathy
You’re welcome. 🙂
Have no idea which is filo hotdog. Can I substitute with bacon instead?
They’re Filipino-style hotdogs https://www.google.com/search?q=filipino+hot+dogs&biw=1920&bih=901&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi10f2QvsnPAhVIWSYKHW3NBaMQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1. Yes, you can substitute ham 🙂
can i use corned beef instead of ground beef?
I’ve never tried corned beef with baked macaroni but I have with spaghetti. It might work 🙂
My preggo self made this. Cravings fulfilled! Thank you so much!
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 =)
can I use fresh milk for the cheese topping?
hello! is it okay if I don’t have tomato paste? I dont have an available tomato paste right now 🙁
Yes, it’s ok to omit the tomato paste. Tomato sauce by itself will be fine, I just like to add tomato sauce to kind of thicken the sauce.
I tried to do this morning and it is perfect! My mate said I should make that recipe thia coming Christmas!
Hello Rex
I am serving this for Christmas, too! It’s delicious and easy to make for a big crowd 🙂
Hi.. May I ask. Was it 6oz of any quick melt cheese (1pack)?
Hi Angela
It’s 16 ounces 🙂
NAG PAPA ORDER PO BA KAU NITONG BAKED MACARONI?
Recipe lang po hindi nagbebenta 🙂
wow, yummy, can i ask what kind of milk did you use on that baked mac & cheez?
Hello Rodessa
I used homogenized milk. 🙂
What brand do you use (homogenized milk)? Thank you. 🙂
I don’t really have a specific brand, it’s any gallon of fresh milk I find in the refrigerated dairy aisle 🙂
Thank you so much mam.
🙂
Thank you! 🙂
wow, it looks so delicious. I hope i could make this one during the holidays.
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:)
You need to try this, Teepee! Sooo good! Your kids (and adults in the house) will love it. 🙂