Trinidad Macaroni Pie

A recipe for Trinidad Macaroni Pie! Macaroni noodles are tossed in a spiced evaporated milk and cheese mixture, then baked until set.

I first came across the inspiration for this Trinidad Macaroni Pie (Trini Macaroni Pie) over on Immaculate Bites and it has since become such a favorite.

This delicious version of macaroni and cheese pairs the noodles with evaporated milk, spices, and plenty of shredded cheese. After bringing together all the ingredients and transferring to a dish, the mixture is topped with even more cheese and baked until set and golden.

There are many variations from the use of eggs to the types and amount of spices. Some melt the cheese into a sauce, while others simply toss everything together before baking. I also saw a few recipes with diced carrot.

Serve warm from the oven, at room temperature, or cold. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Looking for a vegan version? Check out That Girl Cooks Healthy’s Vegan and Gluten Free Trinidad Macaroni Pie.

A Few Macaroni Pie Tips

Adjust the salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.

I made the macaroni pie with elbow pasta. You can also swap for longer macaroni noodles.

Boil the pasta until barely tender. They will soften a little further as they soak up the evaporated milk in the oven.

I followed Cooking with Ria’s advice to use Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar. If available, try to find Trinidad Cheese/New Zealand Cheddar Cheese.

Shred the cheese at home and avoid pre-shredded if possible. Pre-shredded often contains anti-caking agents to keep the cheese from clumping and this may mess with the texture.

Allow the Trinidad Macaroni Pie to cool for at least 15 minutes in the pan before slicing.

Looking for more Macaroni and Cheese recipes?

Try my:

• Makaronilaatikko (Finnish Macaroni Casserole)
• Grilled Mac and Cheese Sandwich
• Macaroni and Cheese Soufflé

This recipe was originally posted in December 2015 and updated in August 2023.

Trinidad Macaroni Pie Recipe

Adapted from Immaculate Bites

Print Pin

Trinidad Macaroni Pie

A recipe for Trinidad Macaroni Pie! Macaroni noodles are tossed in a spiced evaporated milk and cheese mixture, then baked until set.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Trinidadian

Keyword Caribbean, cheese, evaporated milk, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, noodle, pasta, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidadian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6 -8 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 grams) dried macaroni
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 onion peeled and finely chopped
• 1-2 pimento peppers finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced
• 24 ounces (710 milliliters, about 2 1/2 cups) evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 pound (450 grams) sharp cheddar cheese shredded, divided
• 2 large eggs beaten

Instructions

• Grease a 9 x13 inch (23 x 33 centimeter) baking dish with butter. Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until almost tender. Drain and set aside.
• While the noodles are cooking, melt butter in a pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion and pimento peppers and cook until softened.
• Stir in the garlic and cook until just fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add the evaporated milk and season with the thyme, salt, paprika, mustard, and white pepper.
• Stir in the cooked macaroni, followed by 3/4 of the shredded cheese and the beaten eggs.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining 1/4 cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until heated through and the cheese on top is bubbly, 35-45 minutes.
• Allow to set at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.