Jollibee Style Spaghetti (Pinoy Sweet Spaghetti)
Jollibee Style Spaghetti is a distinctly Filipino adaptation of Italian spaghetti, characterized by its sweet-style tomato meat sauce made with ground pork, minced ham, and sliced hotdogs, then topped with melted processed cheese. This beloved comfort food diverges from traditional Italian spaghetti by embracing Filipino flavor preferences through its signature sweetness and the addition of sliced hotdogs, making it a cherished staple at birthday parties and family gatherings across the Philippines. The dish exemplifies the Filipino talent for adapting foreign cuisines to local tastes, transforming a classic Italian pasta into a uniquely Pinoy fast-food icon that has delighted generations since Jollibee introduced it in the late 1970s.
Equipment
- Large Stockpot (Malaking Kaldero) for cooking pasta
- Deep Cooking Pot (Malalim na Kawali) for sauce preparation
- Colander (salaan) for draining pasta
- Sharp knife [Matalas na kutsilyo] for chopping ingredients
- Cutting board (Sangkalan) for prep work
- Wooden spoon (sandok na kahoy) for stirring sauce
- Measuring cups and spoons (Panukat) for precise measurements
- Grater (kudkuran) for cheese
- Large Serving Bowl (Malaking Mangkok) for serving
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 2 lbs 1 kg spaghetti noodles
- 2 tablespoons salt for pasta water
- Water for boiling
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1½ lbs 680g ground pork (giniling na baboy)
- 1 lb 450g ham, finely minced (hiwa-hiwalay na hamon)
- 6-8 red hotdogs sliced diagonally (diagonal na hiwa ng hotdog)
- 3 cans 15 oz each tomato sauce (sarsa ng kamatis)
- ½ cup tomato paste pinate na kamatis
- 2 cups beef broth sabaw ng baka
- ½ cup white sugar asukal
- 1 large yellow onion minced (sibuyas)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic bawang
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil mantika
- Salt and pepper to taste asin at paminta
For Topping:
- 1 cup Velveeta cheese grated (kinudkod na keso)
- Optional: Extra cheese for serving
Instructions
- First, bring a large pot of water to a full boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water and drop in 2 pounds of spaghetti noodles. Cook the noodles until tender but still firm when bitten, about 8-10 minutes. While the pasta cooks, start making your sauce.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a deep pot over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until you can smell the garlic. Add the minced yellow onion and cook until the onion becomes clear, about 3-4 minutes.
- Put the minced ham in the pot and cook for 3 minutes, stirring a few times. Add the ground pork and break it into small pieces with your spoon. Cook until the meat turns brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and beef broth. Let it come to a boil, then lower the heat. Cover the pot and let it cook very gently for 60 minutes, stirring every now and then so the sauce doesn't stick to the bottom.
- After an hour, add the sliced hotdogs and tomato paste. Cook for 10 more minutes until the sauce gets thicker. Add the sugar, salt, and pepper, tasting as you go until it's just right. Stir everything well and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Drain your cooked spaghetti using a strainer. Save a cup of the pasta water in case you need to thin out the sauce later. Put the drained pasta in a large serving bowl.
- Pour the hot meat sauce over the pasta and mix it well. Top with plenty of grated cheese while everything is still hot so it melts nicely.
- Serve right away while hot. Put extra grated cheese on the table so everyone can add more if they like.
- Remember: The sauce should be simmered for a full hour - this is the secret to getting all the flavors to come together just right. Don't rush this step!
Tips from Lola's Kitchen
- Para mas masarap (For better taste):
- Brown the meat well for deeper flavor
- Don't skip the simmering time - it develops the flavors
- Add cheese while sauce is hot so it melts perfectly
- Use Filipino-style hotdogs for authentic taste
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency if needed
Nutrition
Calories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 28gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 890mgPotassium: 357mgFiber: 4gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 546IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!