The Best Filipino Spaghetti Recipe (Sweet, Meaty & Cheesy!)

Master the ultimate sweet and savory Filipino spaghetti recipe! This easy, step-by-step guide helps you create the beloved, cheesy, and meaty pasta dish, complete with its signature banana ketchup sauce, perfect for any family gathering.

Have you ever been to a Filipino party and wondered about the secret behind that uniquely delicious, bright red spaghetti? It’s the one dish that kids and adults make a beeline for, a sweet, savory, and cheesy masterpiece that’s pure comfort in a bowl. For years, I’ve been perfecting my own family’s version, and today, I’m sharing that treasured Filipino spaghetti recipe with you. This isn’t your average Italian bolognese; it’s a flavor-packed celebration that’s surprisingly easy to make. Get ready to create a meal that will fill your home with amazing aromas and happy faces.

Quick Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

FeatureWhy It’s a Winner
Authentic FlavorWe use banana ketchup to get that signature sweet and tangy taste that makes this dish a true Filipino classic.
Crowd-PleasingThis recipe is a guaranteed hit for potlucks, birthday parties, or a simple weeknight family dinner.
Simple StepsI’ve broken down the process into easy-to-follow steps, making it perfect for cooks of all levels.
Perfectly BalancedLearn my secret to balancing the sweet, savory, and cheesy elements for the most delicious sauce ever.

What Makes Filipino Spaghetti So Unique?

If you’ve never had it, you might be raising an eyebrow at the idea of a sweet pasta sauce. But trust me, it works! Unlike its Italian cousin, which focuses on herbs and acidic tomatoes, the Filipino spaghetti recipe leans into a delightful sweetness. This comes from a very special ingredient: banana ketchup.

This bright red condiment, a staple in the Philippines, is made from bananas, sugar, and vinegar. It gives the sauce its signature sweet tang and vibrant color. We balance that sweetness with savory ground meat, salty hotdogs, and a rich tomato base. Topped with a generous amount of cheese, it creates a symphony of flavors that is incredibly addictive. This is the ultimate sweet style spaghetti, a true comfort food icon

Let’s Gather Your Ingredients

The best part about this recipe is that it uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. No need for a special trip to a fancy grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need to create this masterpiece.

Ingredients for Filipino Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients for Filipino Spaghetti Recipe

For the Meaty, Sweet Sauce:

For the Pasta and Topping:

Essential Kitchen Tools

You don’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe. Just a few kitchen basics will do the trick!

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Filipino Spaghetti

Ready to create some magic? We’ll build the sauce layer by layer to ensure every bite is packed with flavor. Follow these simple steps for a flawless Filipino spaghetti sauce.

Step 1: Brown the Meats

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

Add the chopped onion to the pot with the cooked pork. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent. Now, add the minced garlic and cook for just one more minute until you can smell its wonderful aroma. This process of cooking the onions and garlic builds the foundational savory layer of our sauce.

Step 3: Build That Amazing Sauce

It’s time for the fun part! Pour the tomato sauce, banana ketchup, and beef broth into the pot. Add the brown sugar and the sweet pickle relish (if you’re using it). Give everything a really good stir until it’s all combined into a beautiful, vibrant red sauce.

Step 4: Simmer and Meld the Flavors

Step 5: Cook the Pasta

About 15 minutes before your sauce is done simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your spaghetti noodles and cook according to the package directions until al dente (that means tender, but still with a slight bite). Drain the pasta well, but don’t rinse it! The starch on the noodles helps the sauce cling better.

Add spaghetti noodles in salt water
Add spaghetti noodles in salt water

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

Ladle a generous amount of the hot, meaty spaghetti with hotdogs sauce over a bed of cooked noodles. The final, non-negotiable step? Pile on the shredded cheddar cheese! The warmth of the sauce will melt it slightly, creating a creamy, cheesy, and utterly irresistible meal.

A Taste of Home and Happiness

This Filipino spaghetti recipe is so much more than just a meal. It’s the taste of birthday parties, family reunions, and happy memories. It’s a dish that brings smiles to faces and warmth to hearts. I am so excited for you to bring this little piece of my family’s tradition into your own kitchen. I know it will become a favorite you’ll be proud to share. Happy cooking!

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