• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
In Search Of Yummy-ness
  • Recipes
  • Guides
  • Gardening
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Guides
  • Gardening
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Guides
    • Gardening
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Γ—

    Home > Recipes > Caribbean Recipes

    Trinidad Macaroni Pie Recipe

    Published: Mar 31, 2017 Β· Modified: Oct 24, 2022 by Shareba Β· This post contains affiliate links.

    8.7K shares
    Jump to Recipe ↓ Support My Work πŸ’Ÿ
    1 hour
    A graphic of a slice of pie on a turquoise plate with the title "Trinidadian Macaroni Pie."

    Trinidad macaroni pie is a Caribbean comfort food classic.

    The dish is similar to a baked macaroni and cheese casserole, but the cheese isn't melted down into a sauce before baking.

    A slice of cheesy macaroni pie sitting on a blue plate next to a purple napkin.

    Macaroni pie is a staple dish in Caribbean cuisine, and one that I grew up eating a lot in my Trinidadian household.

    My mom has always made a sweet (kid-friendly) macaroni pie for me and my brother, which is essentially a basic macaroni pie recipe with the addition of 2 tablespoons of brown sugar (or condensed milk).

    I love how the sweet pie pairs with stewed chicken, and no matter how many other versions I try, I will always prefer my mom's pie over everyone else's.

    I shared that recipe on my blog about six years ago, and it's one of my most popular recipes today. However, I recently realized that no one else I know makes their macaroni pie sweet...

    Jump to:
    • πŸ₯£ What Goes In Trinidadian Macaroni Pie?
    • πŸ“– Recipe Variations
    • 🍽 My Best Macaroni Pie Recipe
    • πŸ™‹πŸ½ Frequently Asked Questions
    • πŸ–¨ Printable Recipe

    🥣 What Goes In Trinidadian Macaroni Pie?

    "Traditional" Trinidad macaroni pie is a baked dish made with macaroni, eggs, grated cheese, evaporated milk, salt and white pepper.

    Optional add-ins include grated onion or carrot, chopped herbs and tomato.

    At least, those are the ingredients that are listed in the 2002 edition of the Naparima Girls's High School Cookbook (officially titled The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago & the Caribbean).

    This is the quintessential book on Trinidadian cuisine, and every Trinidadian family seems to have a copy of the book in their home.

    The first edition, published in 1988, lists only macaroni, eggs, cheese and carnation milk as the ingredients for the recipe. Salt, black pepper and grated onion are optional.

    Personally, I can see why they altered the recipe in the second edition of the book... I can't imagine that the original recipe would be very tasty!

    📖 Recipe Variations

    An overhead photo of a slice of Trinidadian macaroni pie on a blue plate.

    I asked my friends and family to share what they put in their macaroni pies, since every family has their own twist on this classic recipe.

    Everyone said their pies are savoury, and everyone said they use milk and eggs. Some people use a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese, while others prefer just aged cheddar cheese.

    Some people add herbs, others add ketchup and mustard, and I have one aunt who makes a really tasty version with powdered ginger.

    My friend Heather from Heather's Eats shared a Bajan (meaning from Barbados) macaroni cheese pie recipe with me too. That one was heavy on the mustard, using both hot English mustard and regular yellow mustard. It also included ketchup, onion and red pepper sauce, with optional sweet bell peppers, butter and breadcrumbs.

    The recipe really varies from family to family, which makes me wonder who gets to decide which version of Trinidad macaroni pie is authentic?

    I'm Trinidadian-born, my parents are also Trinidadian, as are my grandparents on both sides. My mom has always made our macaroni pie sweet, and no one else seems to. I often worry that the versions of Trinidadian recipes that I grew up with aren't "authentic" enough to publish on my blog.

    But lately, I've been wondering who gets to decide which recipes are the gold standard and which are not?

    There are so many variations in recipes, from country to country, village to village, even person to person, that it's a bit ridiculous to think that certain recipes should be made one way and one way alone in order to be "authentic".

    🍽 My Best Macaroni Pie Recipe

    A slice of macaroni pie sitting on a blue plate.

    After a lot of trial and error, I've come up with a savoury Trinidad macaroni pie recipe that my friends and family seem to enjoy.

    My mac pie combines the sweetness of cooked onions with white pepper, garlic, mustard, thyme and cayenne.

    I tried making one with raw grated onion added in, just a quarter cup of it, and I really disliked it. So I've opted to cook my onions down so they become a bit sweeter before adding them to the pie.

    If you want the onion flavour without the work, you could substitute a teaspoon of onion powder instead.

    I went with white pepper just because I didn't want to see any black flecks in my pie. If you don't have white pepper (or don't like it), you can use black pepper instead.

    I've also used dry mustard powder instead of prepared mustard, but you can use whatever you have on hand. I've made this with yellow mustard, dried mustard, Dijon mustard, and all of those taste great in this recipe.

    For the cheese, you can use any cheddar that you like. I used a blend of white and orange aged cheddar cheese, but I've also used marble cheese in the past and it works out great (although the flavour is milder).

    My mom told me that when we lived in Trinidad, she would make her macaroni pie with New Zealand cheddar cheese, so if you can find that it might be a good option.

    If you try making this recipe, I'd love for you to leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed it. Or, if you usually make macaroni pie at home, let me know what you like to add to yours!

    🙋🏽 Frequently Asked Questions

    What side dish goes well with mac and cheese?

    Macaroni pie pairs well with anything stewed or grilled, so long as it has sauce. The pie itself isn't creamy like mac and cheese, so it's best to pair it with something saucy. The strong flavours of stewed chicken or saucy barbecue chicken pairs very well with the subtle sweetness of the pie.

    Do you put eggs in macaroni pie?

    Trinidadian macaroni pie always has an egg or two in it, which binds the filling together. If you prefer a lighter/less eggy flavour, just use one. You can also try omitting it all together, but I haven't tested that myself.

    Can I make this recipe with regular cow's milk instead of evaporated milk?

    I do not recommend using cow's milk in this recipe. Cow's milk can easily curdle when cooked at high temperatures, whereas evaporated milk remains stable even when cooked at high temperatures.

    What size of baking dish should I make this in?

    I used a 9" x 11" enamelled cast iron baking dish to test this recipe. If you don't have that size, a 10" x 10" baking dish will also work. You can use a standard 9" x 13" baking dish, but your pie may turn out a little bit thinner than mine.

    πŸ–¨ Printable Recipe

    A slice of orange macaroni pie on a turquoise plate.

    Trinidad Macaroni Pie

    A classic Trinidadian baked pasta dish with cheese. 
    4.09 from 136 votes
    Created By: Shareba
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    PRINT RECIPE SAVE RECIPESaved!
    PREPARATION TIME 20 mins
    COOK TIME 40 mins
    TOTAL TIME 1 hr
    COURSE Main Course
    CUISINE Caribbean
    SERVINGS 8
    CALORIES 484

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 β…” cups evaporated milk, (measure from 2 cans of Carnation milk)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 Β½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
    • Β½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • a pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
    • 3½ cups grated aged cheddar cheese, reserve ½ cup for topping

    Instructions 

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Grease a medium baking dish*, and set aside.
    • Boil macaroni in salted water according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the macaroni and place back into the pot, leaving it off the heat to cool down. 
    • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cook until softened and slightly caramelized. Scrape the onions and melted butter into the pot with the macaroni. Stir to combine. 
    • In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy. Add milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, dry mustard, dried thyme and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
    • Pour the egg mixture over the macaroni and stir until well coated.
    • Stir in 3 cups of the shredded cheese.
    • Pour into the greased baking dish and top with reserved ½ cup of shredded cheese.
    • Bake until the pie is firm, and the top is golden brown. About 35-40 minutes.
    • Allow pie to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    I used a 9" x 11" enamelled cast iron baking dish to test this recipe. If you don't have that size, a 10" x 10" baking dish will also work. You can use a standard 9" x 13" baking dish, but your pie may turn out a little bit thinner than mine.
    Tips
    • Cold cheese is easier to shred than warm cheese
    • This dish is traditionally made with Trinidad-style cheese (New Zealand cheddar) but you can use any cheddar you like, or use a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella. 
    • Aged cheddar will taste more "cheesy" than a mild cheddar
    • If the cheese on top begins to brown too quickly, cover it with tin foil for the remaining baking time.

    Please read the blog post for detailed tips and explanations.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 508mg | Potassium: 419mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 835IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 598mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    Nutrition Disclaimer: please note that the nutritional information for this recipe is only an estimate, and has been calculated using a plugin.

    Have you made this recipe?Please leave a review in the comments below!

    This post was originally published on March 31, 2017. Since then, it has been updated.

    More Caribbean Recipes

    • Trinidad Sweet Bread
    • Tuna Carpaccio with Lime
    • Trinidad Pelau with Chicken
    • Caribbean Sorrel Drink

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leon De Gannes

      February 02, 2020 at 1:36 pm

      5 stars
      Great Recipe

      Reply
      • Shareba

        February 07, 2020 at 12:26 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Usaama

      June 05, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      Hi there! Hope all is well. I am trying this today all the way in London. I added 1 egg instead of 2 ( due to previous attempt and it came out very eggy). I added 1 tsp of mayonnaise as substitute. I have now put it in the oven and will let you know how it comes out!! So far so good!

      Reply
      • Shareba

        June 06, 2020 at 11:55 am

        Hi Usaama, I hope you enjoyed it! It should work just fine with 1 egg. I know not everyone enjoys the eggy-ness of 2 eggs.

        Reply
    3. Tanya S

      July 15, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      This was absolutely delicious! Made it today for the family and they loved it too.

      Nice easy recipe for a beginner like me haha

      I used mild cheddar so added a little more salt than the recipe called for and it was fine, also left it in to bake for an extra 5 mins.

      I was worried because when I took it out the oven and let it stand for 15 mins it was still really soft in the centre, so let it stand a little longer and it was perfect.

      Thank you for this recipe Shareba! I’m part Trinidadian and am trying to learn some recipes, so glad I found your site πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Shareba

        July 16, 2020 at 12:31 pm

        Hey Tanya, thanks so much for your comment! I'm glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe, and you found it easy to follow. Sometimes the pie can take a bit longer to cool because of the pan, so that was good thinking on your part.
        I've got a few Trini recipes on here, and am hoping to add more in future. It's nice to know that other people are enjoying them πŸ™‚ Happy Cooking!

        Reply
    4. Sally

      December 24, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      I am from Trinidad living in Canada now but have never made Macaroni pie. Saw your recipe and made it twice. Really good and not dry. So will always use your recipe. I used the long macaroni from Trinidad.

      Reply
      • Shareba

        December 24, 2020 at 5:30 pm

        I'm glad that you enjoyed my recipe, Sally! Happy Holidays!

        Reply
    5. Reena

      January 06, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      If I'm using long normal macaroni would it be 8oz for this recipe?

      Reply
    6. Beth

      February 21, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      I live in Charleston SC and macaroni pie is an old classic. Many people make mac and cheese but macaroni pie is where its at! My husband's grandmother made it weekly and we all loved it. The Caribbean islands had great influence on our local cuisine so I feel sure that's where it originated. The eggs are what make it so good and different from mac and cheese. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Shareba

        February 22, 2021 at 11:26 am

        Thanks for sharing that! It has been so interesting to find out that Macaroni Pie is popular in places outside of the Caribbean. I hope you enjoy my recipe πŸ™‚

        Reply
    7. Richard

      April 16, 2021 at 9:25 am

      I'm determined to try this but, living in the UK it's not a common dish. What would you typically eat with it, just as a guide. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Shareba

        April 16, 2021 at 12:51 pm

        Hi Richard, macaroni pie pairs well with anything stewed or grilled, so long as it has sauce. So we often eat ours with stewed chicken or saucy BBQ chicken. The pie isn't creamy like mac and cheese, so you that's why we pair it with something saucy. Also, the pie has a subtle sweetness that pairs well with the bold flavours of BBQ sauce, or stew gravy that has a bit of heat. I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Richard

          April 23, 2021 at 4:27 pm

          Thanks for your reply, Shareba. You're a star. I'll give that a go this weekend.

          Reply
          • Shareba

            April 23, 2021 at 4:54 pm

            I try! Good luck!!

            Reply
    8. Kamine

      May 07, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Thank you, I have tied making it for years and never got it right until today, though I do admit to adding parsley and sesame seeds (toasted)
      Thank you again .

      Reply
      • Shareba

        May 07, 2021 at 11:42 am

        I'm so glad the recipe worked for you Kamine! And hey, nothing wrong with adding your own twists to the dish! Those sound yummy πŸ™‚

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Shareba Abdul, founder of In Search Of Yummy-ness.

    Hi, I'm Shareba!

    I share tasty seasonal recipes and gardening tips for beginners here on In Search Of Yummy-ness.

    Why don't you grab a cup of tea and stay a while? I appreciate you being here!

    Learn More About Me β†’

    Support My Work πŸ’Ÿ β†’

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Greek Yogurt Bowl with Winter Citrus
    • Pan-Fried Dumplings (Potstickers)

    Trending Recipes

    • Spiced Hot Cocoa
    • The Ultimate Guide to Roasting Chestnuts
    • Trinidad Pelau with Chicken
    • Trinidad Macaroni Pie Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Newsletter

    Click here to subscribe!

    Important Links

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosures and Copyright
    • Contact Me

    Resource Links

    • Resources for Bloggers
    • Shop my Amazon storefront (affiliate)
    • Shop West Coast Seeds online (affiliate)

    This website generates income via ads, affiliate links and sponsored posts.
    Please read our privacy policy and disclosures for more information.

    Copyright Β© 2023 Β· In Search Of Yummy-ness Β· All Rights Reserved