8 Filipino Pasta Dishes You Need to Try at Least Once

Filipino cuisine isn’t just about rice and adobo. Pasta has found a special place on the Filipino table too—and it’s not just spaghetti with red sauce. Over the years, local cooks have turned classic pasta into dishes with a distinct Pinoy twist: sometimes creamy, sometimes sweet, always comforting.

Here are 8 Filipino pasta dishes that are easy to find online and definitely worth a try.

1. Filipino-Style Spaghetti

No Filipino party is complete without it. Pinoy-style spaghetti is known for its sweet, meaty sauce made with banana ketchup, ground pork or beef, and sliced hotdogs. It’s topped off with lots of grated cheese for that classic merienda or birthday taste.

What you need: Spaghetti noodles, banana ketchup, hotdogs, ground meat, tomato sauce, sugar, cheese.

2. Pinoy Carbonara

Unlike the Italian version, Filipino carbonara skips the raw egg and uses canned cream or evaporated milk for a rich, creamy sauce. It’s usually mixed with mushrooms, shredded chicken or bacon, and of course—grated cheese.

What you need: Pasta (usually fettuccine), all-purpose cream or evap, butter, garlic, mushrooms, bacon or chicken, cheese.

3. Pancit Bihon

Not exactly pasta, but this thin rice noodle dish is a merienda and handaan staple. Stir-fried with soy sauce, vegetables, and a protein of choice (chicken, pork, or shrimp), pancit bihon is always a reliable crowd-pleaser.

What you need: Bihon noodles, soy sauce, garlic, cabbage, carrots, chicken or pork.

4. Pancit Canton

A comfort food favorite—especially during rainy days or family gatherings. Pancit canton is stir-fried egg noodles loaded with vegetables, meat, shrimp, and a savory soy-based sauce. Instant versions are also a hit for quick meals.

What you need: Canton noodles, garlic, onion, soy sauce, oyster sauce, vegetables, meat or shrimp.

5. Palabok

Palabok is a noodle dish with rich orange shrimp sauce, topped with hard-boiled eggs, chicharon bits, tinapa flakes, and green onions. It’s savory, smoky, and packed with umami. Great for special occasions or a satisfying merienda.

What you need: Rice noodles, palabok mix or shrimp broth, cornstarch, garlic, tinapa flakes, hard-boiled eggs, chicharon.

6. Filipino-Style Baked Macaroni

Baked mac gets the Pinoy twist with a sweet-style red meat sauce (like our spaghetti), layered with creamy white sauce and loads of cheese. It’s the perfect party tray dish—comforting, cheesy, and always in demand.

What you need: Elbow macaroni, ground meat, banana ketchup, tomato sauce, cream or béchamel, cheese.

7. Sopas (Creamy Macaroni Soup)

This milky chicken macaroni soup is a rainy day classic. Filled with elbow macaroni, shredded chicken, veggies, and hotdogs, it’s comforting and budget-friendly—a common baon or afternoon snack.

What you need: Elbow macaroni, evaporated milk, shredded chicken, hotdogs, carrots, cabbage.

8. Pancit Malabon

Think of it as palabok’s thicker cousin. Pancit Malabon uses thick rice noodles and is drenched in a shrimp-flavored sauce, topped with seafood like squid, shrimp, boiled eggs, and crushed chicharon.

What you need: Thick rice noodles, shrimp broth or sauce mix, squid, shrimp, eggs, chicharon, annatto oil.

These Filipino pasta dishes go beyond your usual carbonara or pesto—they’re loaded with flavor, shaped by our culture, and always made with love. The best part? Most ingredients are easy to find online or in your local grocery store.

So whether you’re craving something creamy, sweet, or savory, there’s always a Filipino pasta dish ready to hit the spot.

This article was previously published on UAE Moments. To see the original article, click here