Pasta
Jollibee Inspired Sweet-Style Spaghetti
Filipino-style spaghetti with a glossy sweet-savory tomato sauce, ground beef, sliced hot dogs, and a generous blanket of finely shredded cheese.
Inspired by Jollibee
Prep
20 min
Cook
35 min
Serves
6 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 14 ingredients
- • 12 ounces spaghetti
- • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- • 4 garlic cloves, minced
- • 1 pound ground beef, 85/15
- • 5 all-beef hot dogs, sliced into 1/4-inch coins
- • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- • 1 cup banana ketchup
- • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- • 1/2 cup water
- • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- • 1 1/2 cups finely shredded mild cheddar cheese
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 12 ounces spaghettiMissing
- 1 tablespoon neutral oilMissing
- 1 small yellow onion, finely dicedMissing
- 4 garlic cloves, mincedMissing
- 1 pound ground beef, 85/15Missing
- 5 all-beef hot dogs, sliced into 1/4-inch coinsMissing
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauceMissing
- 1 cup banana ketchupMissing
- 2 tablespoons tomato pasteMissing
- 1/2 cup waterMissing
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugarMissing
- 1 tablespoon soy sauceMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepperMissing
- 1 1/2 cups finely shredded mild cheddar cheeseMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
This unofficial recreation follows the Filipino sweet-style profile with banana ketchup, savory ground beef, hot dog slices, and mild cheese. The sugar is measured to complement—not erase—the tomato and garlic flavors.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate sauce and pasta separately within 2 hours for up to 4 days. Reheat sauce to 165°F and loosen with water before tossing with warm pasta.
Make-ahead tips
Prepare the sauce up to 3 days ahead; its flavor improves overnight. Cook fresh spaghetti and shred the cheese shortly before serving.
What to serve with it
- - Crisp fried chicken
- - Garlic bread
- - Cucumber salad
Equipment needed
- - Large pasta pot
- - Wide saucepan
- - Box grater
Difficulty explained
The sauce uses familiar stovetop techniques and comes together while the pasta cooks.
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Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
Granulated sugar plus molasses
For each cup, mix 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon molasses.
Tamari
Use tamari in the same amount for a similar savory profile.
Monterey Jack
Use the same amount of freshly shredded Monterey Jack.
Type the ingredient you're missing — we'll find what you can use instead.
Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Large beef chunks and thick hot dog slices make the sauce difficult to distribute through the noodles.
- Boiling the sauce hard can scorch the banana ketchup and sugar; keep it at a gentle simmer.
- Adding all the sauce before plating hides the recognizable layered presentation.
Nutrition Context
- Beef and cheese provide protein, while pasta and the sweetened tomato sauce contribute most of the carbohydrates.
- Hot dogs, soy sauce, and cheese make the dish sodium-rich; fresh cucumber is a useful crisp accompaniment.
FAQ
Why is this spaghetti sweet?
Filipino sweet-style spaghetti balances tomato with banana ketchup and sugar, then contrasts it with savory beef and hot dogs.
What does banana ketchup taste like?
It is fruity, tangy, sweet, and mildly spiced, with a familiar ketchup-like texture.
Can I leave out the hot dogs?
Yes, though sliced hot dogs are one of the dish's most recognizable sweet-savory elements.
Can I freeze the sauce?
Yes. Freeze the cooled sauce without pasta or cheese for up to 2 months.
Which cheese works best?
A mild, finely shredded cheddar or quick-melting cheese gives the soft creamy topping associated with this style.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Crisp fried chicken; Garlic bread; Cucumber salad. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.