Indulge in the Delights of Janis’s Home-Baked Pinoy Mac & Cheese and experience the comforting taste of a classic dish with a Filipino twist: Janis’s Home-Baked Pinoy Mac & Cheese. This delectable cheesy macaroni pasta features slightly crispy edges, a rich and flavorful meat sauce, and is topped with the delightfully cheesy Eden cheese—a popular Philippine brand. As you indulge in this mouthwatering creation, you’ll delight in the luscious melted cheese that elevates each bite to heavenly heights.
Though the preparation requires some time and effort, the end result is well worth the investment. Janis’s homemade Filipino Baked Macaroni & Cheese showcases the perfect balance between juicy sweetness and savory flavors, providing a satisfying and heartwarming meal that your taste buds will adore.
Follow along as we explore how Janis crafted her irresistible Home-Baked Pinoy Mac & Cheese, combining the familiar comforts of macaroni and cheese with the unique flavors of Filipino cuisine. With a blend of dedication and culinary prowess, Janis has created a dish that will leave a lasting impression on all who have the pleasure of tasting it. Don’t miss the opportunity to try this delightful fusion of culinary cultures, and treat yourself to a plate of Janis’s scrumptious Home-Baked Pinoy Mac & Cheese.
Ingredients: 4-6 servings
1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta
1/8 cup shredded cheese(Eden brand)
water
Meat Sauce:
1 lb. ground beef(thawed)
6 pieces Filipino hotdogs, sliced in diagonal, small pieces
1 bottle (24 oz.) Prego brand meat sauce
1 can (6 0z) tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced(optional, diced carrots)
2-3 tbsp. cooking oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp crushed black peppers
4 tbsp. white sugar
Toppings:
1 tbsp. of butter
1/4 cup of evaporated milk
1/2 cup of heavy or table cream
1/4 cup of cream cheese
3 cloves, chopped garlic
2 sets of 1/8 cup of shredded cheese
Meat Sauce Preparation:
- Boil 1 lb.(2 cups) of elbow macaroni according to its package instructions (apply salt and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil on boiling water to avoid pasta from sticking). Set aside when done.
- On a cooking oil heated, deep pan, sauté onions and garlic until slightly browned, add sliced hotdogs, stir ingredients for a few times, then apply diced red bell or carrots and stir to combine. Sautee ingredients for 1-2 minutes, or until bell peppers or carrots are half-cooked.
- Add ground beef to the mix, stir occasionally for 3-5 minutes until beef is golden brown. Apply the tomato paste and stir to combine, use the emptied can of tomato paste to gather water.
- Pour water into the simmering meat sauce, season with garlic powder, crushed black peppers and sugar, then stir to thoroughly combine ingredients. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 3-5 minutes, then pour to add a bottle of Prego brand, spaghetti meat sauce.
- Let it continue to simmer for another 3-5 minutes until all is cooked and meat sauce is slightly thicker. Add more garlic salt and crushed black peppers, if desired. Set it aside when done.
- Toppings Preparation:
- Melt butter on a heated pan, sauté garlic and add to mix ingredients including 1/8 cup of shredded cheese. Let it boil over low heat, stir constantly until sauce thickens.
- Baking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375F. On a large baking pan, spread the boiled elbow macaroni, apply the meat sauce and shredded cheese. Use a large spoon or spatula to mix ingredients thoroughly.
- Apply the toppings and placed baking pan on the middle rack. Closed and set baking time to 20 minutes. At the last 2 minutes of the baking, spread the remaining 1/8 cup of cheese on top of this yummy Pinoy Mac & Cheese.
- Adjust oven set-up to a broil. Using your oven mitt, carefully place baking pan on the top rack to broil the cheesy toppings for up to 3 minutes, until mac & cheese corners are slightly dark brown.
- Turn off oven. Remove from heat, cool it off for a little bit, slice a portion of the dish, then serve this cheesy-sweet, Pinoy style home-baked Mac & Cheese with a smile and say, cheese!
Tip: For homemade, authentic juicy sweet, Filipino Macaroni & Cheese, use a Filipino brand spaghetti sauce for the meat sauce if available and Eden cheese. Suggested Filipino sausage brands: Swift, Magnolia, or Marten. They are available at any Asian market.
