Filipino Spaghetti Baked Ziti

Filipino Spaghetti Baked Ziti Recipe

Filipino spaghetti baked ziti turns the sweet-style party pasta into a bubbling casserole with hot dogs, meat sauce, cheddar, and mozzarella.

Yield: 8 servings Serving size: 1 1/2 cups baked pasta

Yield note: Makes one 9-by-13-inch casserole, enough for 8 generous pasta portions.

Shopping List

Meat

• Ground beef
• Hot dogs

Pasta and Dairy

• Ziti or penne
• Cheddar
• Mozzarella

Produce and Pantry

• Onion
• Garlic
• Tomato sauce
• Banana ketchup
• Tomato paste
• Brown sugar

Ingredients

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon neutral oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 6 hot dogs, sliced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup banana ketchup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Pasta Bake

• 1 pound ziti, rigatoni, or penne
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup pasta water, as needed

Serve

• Garlic bread
• Extra grated cheese
• Hot sauce, optional

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook pasta in salted water 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
3. Heat oil in a wide pot. Saute onion 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
4. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
5. Add sliced hot dogs and cook 2 minutes so the edges brown lightly.
6. Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, banana ketchup, brown sugar if needed, salt, and pepper.
7. Simmer 20 to 25 minutes until thick and glossy. Taste for sweetness and salt.
8. Toss pasta with sauce, cheddar, and enough pasta water to keep it loose.
9. Transfer to the baking dish, top with mozzarella, and bake 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling.
10. Rest 10 minutes before serving so the casserole sets.