Baked macaroni with cheese is made with macaroni noodles and topped with a variety of cheeses. It is a classic comfort food which has become popular all over the world. The difference between the Filipino version and the more authentic recipes is the use of spaghetti sauce and white sauce. In light of this, it can be compared to lasagna and spaghetti. The outcome is a rich, full-bodied cheesy topping with a flavorful noodle base. In this recipe, we used three cheeses: mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. You can, however, use any cheese you have available, but the use of mozzarella is critical if you want the gooey, stringy topping texture. The dish sounds difficult to make, but it’s actually quite simple. If you want to get away from traditional spaghetti and try something new, try baked macaroni. It’s great for the entire family, and the kids will love it.
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[btn color=”orange” target=””]Ingredients:[/btn]
- 300 g elbow macaroni noodles
- 24 oz spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 kilo ground beef
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese (optional)
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- salt and pepper
- cooking oil
For white sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup fresh milk
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
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- Servings: 4
- Time: 45 minutes
- Level: Moderate
- Cuisine: Filipino, Italian
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Recipe Rating:
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[btn color=”orange” target=””]Cooking Video:[/btn]
[btn color=”orange” target=””]Directions:[/btn]
- Cook macaroni noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- To make spaghetti sauce: Place ground beef in a preheated pan and fry until light brown. Add the garlic and onions. Saute together for a few minutes until fragrant. Pour in spaghetti sauce and little bit of water. Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. Stir until combined. Cover and simmer over low heat for at least 15 -20 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool down for a few minutes.
- Save 1/4 cup of sauce and spread evenly into the bottom of baking dish.
- To make white sauce: Add butter in a saucepan. While melting, add in flour and continuously stirring over low heat until flour is fully dissolved. Pour in fresh milk little by little; continue to whisk until smooth, lumps free and well combined. Turn off heat. Sprinkle in grated cheddar cheese and stir well until sauce is creamy and cheeses melted. Allow to cool down for a few minutes.
- Mix and toss cooked macaroni with cooked spaghetti sauce. Set aside into the baking dish. Pour white sauce over the top of macaroni noodles and spread evenly. Sprinkle on top with generous amount of mozzarella, cheddar or Parmesan cheese. (The type of cheese is optional, you can use the cheese of your choice).
- Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees F and bake for at least 30 minutes or until top is slightly brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool down.
- Serve and enjoy!
