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Slice of macaroni pie on a plate with a fork resting on the side.
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4.63 from 8 votes

Macaroni Pie From Barbados

This Macaroni Pie from Barbados is the ultimate comfort food. Barbados has made macaroni and cheese their own by adding evaporated milk, ketchup, and mustard to the dish. This baked casserole is creamy, savory, and slightly sweet, with a perfectly cheesy center.
Course casserole, dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Barbados
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 435kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ lb dry Elbow or Tubed Macaroni
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion grated
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 12 oz evaporated milk
  • 5 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese Anchor brand is a popular choice in Barbados
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper (Use code FF20 for 20% off)
  • ¼ tsp ground thyme
  • 1 tsp complete seasoning with garlic, onion powder etc. Try to find a version without salt or adjust salt to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Boil and salt water, and cook ½ pound noodles according to the instructions package until they are al dente. Drain the noodles.
  • In the pot, add 2 tbsp butter and allow it to melt. Then add the small grated onion. Saute for about 5 minutes until softened.
  • Once the onion is softened, add 1 tbsp flour and mix until a paste forms.
  • Add 12 oz evaporated milk over medium-high heat and whisk until it comes to a boil and begins to thicken up. Your milk is ready when it can thickly coat the back of a wooden spoon.
  • Turn off the heat, then add 4 cups of the cheddar cheese and whisk until the cheese fully melts into the milk.
  • Then add the rest of the ingredients into the cheese mixture (¼ cup ketchup, 1 tbsp mustard, and seasonings). Mix to combine again.
  • Finally add the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and mix so that the noodles are fully coated.
  • Grease a 9x9 pan and put the macaroni and cheese into the dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
  • Bake the macaroni pie for about 35-40 minutes until heated all the way through and the cheese is melted on top. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only.
  • Elbow Macaroni: Long, tubed macaroni noodles are a traditional option. These noodles are the most hearty and can withstand being baked.
  • Yellow Onion: Grated so that it will flavor the Macaroni Pie Recipe without the texture being detected.
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded. Anchor brand is a popular choice in Barbados. It’s a very sharp cheddar cheese that melts beautifully. Choose any aged cheddar you like. I grate mine on the large setting on the cheese grater.
  • Mustard: It is also popular to use ground mustard, but in this recipe I am using prepared mustard. If using ground mustard, reduce the quantity.
  • Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, ground thyme and complete seasoning with garlic powder and onion powder. You could also add some marjoram and oregano if you like!
  • My recipe does not call for marjoram or oregano because I chose to keep it simple, but some families do add these seasonings! If you choose to add them, I would add about a teaspoon of each.
  • Bajan Seasoning is another popular spice to add when this is being made in Barbados. You can order it online or make your own. It adds a bit of spice to the dish.
  • It’s a good idea to reserve a little bit of pasta water in case you need to adjust the thickness of your sauce.
  • When I ordered this dish in Barbados, I noticed the Bajan version was often white, rather than orange. To get this color you could use white cheddar.
  • You can use just about any kind of mustard in this dish. You can use a teaspoon of dried ground mustard, or try it with Dijon. I’ve even seen some chefs use honey mustard for a little extra sweetness.
  • Feel free to top your Macaroni Pie with bread crumbs. This is not a traditional topping, but it is delicious! For an extra crispy topping, you can spray your bread crumbs with a little oil before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 744mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 837IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 512mg | Iron: 1mg