Filipino-style Chicken Baked Macaroni

slice of chicken baked macaroni on a serving plate

4 from 5 votes

Filipino-style Chicken Baked Macaroni

Baked Macaroni with Chicken is a Filipino-style pasta dish perfect for family dinners or special occasions. Hearty, cheesy, and delicious, it's sure to wow the crowd.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Course: Main Entree

Cuisine: Filipino

Servings: Servings

Calories: 485kcal

Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

1 pound small elbow macaroni
3 pounds chicken breast or thigh meat
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon peppercorns
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
8 ounces fresh button mushrooms, sliced thinly
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
1 package (34 ounces) sweet-style spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
12 ounces quick melt cheese, shredded

US Customary - Metric

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. Set aside.
In a small, heavy-bottomed pot, arrange chicken breasts in a single layer. Add enough water to cover, salt and peppercorns.
Bring to a boil, skimming scum that floats on top. Lower heat, cover, and cook in a barely a simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes or until thermometer inserted in the thickest part of chicken reads 165 F.
With a slotted spoon, remove chicken from heat and allow to cool to touch. Coarsely shred chicken and keep warm.
In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and garlic, and cook until softened.
Add mushrooms and bell peppers and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until softened.
Add spaghetti sauce and water. Bring to a boil.
Add chicken bouillon, Italian seasonings, and salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat, cover, and simmer until slightly thickened.
Add chicken and continue to cook for about 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through.
In a large bowl, combine macaroni and sauce. Gently toss together until well-combined.
Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a large baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer pasta-meat mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on top.
Bake in a 375 oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 7 to 10 minutes before cutting into serving portions.

Video

Notes

Use a baking dish with about an inch or so of headspace, so the foil doesn’t touch the surface of the pasta. If you don’t have one that’s deep enough, loosely tent the pan to keep the foil from sticking to the melted cheese.
For neater squares, allow the baked macaroni to stand for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition