Randy Chandler
Macaroni and cheese pie is a delicious, creamy comfort food that is a staple at many family gatherings and socials in the Southern and Caribbean regions. It is a variation of the traditional macaroni and cheese dish, baked like a pie in a casserole dish and enriched with eggs. The recipe is flexible and can be customised with different types of cheese, meats, vegetables, and seasonings to suit one's taste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Comfort food, side dish |
| Cuisine | Caribbean, Southern, Scottish |
| Ingredients | Macaroni, cheese (cheddar), cream cheese, marble cheese, evaporated milk, butter, eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, vegetable seasoning, pepper, salt, paprika, breadcrumbs, fresh herbs, chilli flakes, haggis, bacon |
| Equipment | Casserole dish, baking dish, saucepan, oven |
| Cooking Method | Baking |
| Cooking Time | 20-40 minutes |
| Calories | 639kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Macaroni and cheese pie recipe
Macaroni and cheese pie is a staple of Southern family dinners, church dinners, and socials. It is a creamy comfort food made with macaroni, evaporated milk, and lots of cheddar cheese. This recipe puts a Caribbean spin on the classic dish.
Ingredients
- Macaroni
- Evaporated milk
- Cheddar cheese
- Butter
- Eggs
- Salt
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Vegetable seasoning
- Black or white pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- While the macaroni is cooking, slowly melt butter in a separate pot over low heat. Stir in evaporated milk and pepper; cook until heated through.
- Whisk eggs in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot evaporated milk mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, until thoroughly incorporated.
- Gently mix the cooked macaroni, salt, and egg mixture until combined.
- Spoon 1/4 of the macaroni mixture into the bottom of the prepared casserole dish and top with 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Repeat layering three more times, then sprinkle paprika over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 20 minutes.
- Allow the pie to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
You can customize this recipe by adding different types of cheese, meats, or vegetables. For a Caribbean-style macaroni and cheese pie, you can add cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable seasoning, and black or white pepper. You can also try a sweeter version of the classic Caribbean recipe by adding brown sugar.
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Preparing the macaroni
Boiling the Macaroni
Start by bringing a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. You can add about a teaspoon of salt to the water. This helps to season the macaroni as it cooks. Once the water is boiling, add the macaroni to the pot. Stir the macaroni occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly. The macaroni should be cooked until it is tender yet firm to the bite. This usually takes around 8 minutes, but you can also follow the package instructions for the best results.
Draining and Rinsing
Once the macaroni is cooked to your desired texture, it's important to drain the pasta and stop the cooking process. Drain the macaroni in a colander or sieve, and then rinse it under cold running water. This rinsing step helps to remove excess starch and prevent the macaroni from overcooking or becoming sticky.
Adding Seasonings (Optional)
At this stage, you can choose to add some seasonings to the cooked macaroni. This step is optional but can enhance the flavour of your macaroni and cheese pie. You can add a pinch of chilli flakes, pre-cooked lardons, cubed bacon, or even haggis for a unique twist. Simply mix your desired seasonings into the cooked macaroni.
Combining with Cheese
In a separate pot, you can start preparing the cheese sauce. Melt some butter over low heat, and then slowly add in milk or evaporated milk while stirring. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable seasoning, or pepper to taste. Once the mixture is heated through, you can gradually add in your shredded cheese. Common cheese choices include cheddar, parmesan, or a combination of mild and sharp cheddar. Stir constantly to prevent the cheese from burning and to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
Mixing Macaroni and Cheese
Now it's time to combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce. Gently mix the two together until well combined. You can season with salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer a creamier consistency, you can also add a small amount of milk or water to adjust the sauce's thickness. Make sure everything is well incorporated, and you're ready for the next step of assembling and baking your macaroni and cheese pie!
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Making the sauce
To make the sauce for a macaroni and cheese pie, you'll need butter, flour, milk, and cheese. Some recipes also include eggs, cream cheese, and seasonings.
Start by melting the butter in a pot over low heat. You can add some flour to create a roux, whisking it together until it starts to froth. Then, slowly add in the milk while stirring. Keep stirring until the mixture thickens, then turn down the heat to a simmer.
Now it's time to add the cheese. Keep stirring while you add the cheese to ensure it melts smoothly and doesn't become lumpy. You can use shredded cheddar, parmesan, or a combination of mild and sharp cheddar—adjust the quantities to your taste and consistency preference. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a small amount of milk or water.
For a more complex flavour profile, you can add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable seasoning, black or white pepper, mustard, or even a pinch of chilli flakes. If you're making a Caribbean-style macaroni pie, you might want to add some sweetness with brown sugar.
Some people prefer to add eggs to the sauce. To do this, whisk the eggs in a separate bowl until smooth, then slowly incorporate about half a cup of the hot milk mixture, a tablespoon at a time, until combined. You can then add this egg mixture to your sauce, being careful to stir constantly so that the eggs don't scramble.
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Combining the macaroni and sauce
Preparing the Sauce
Start by melting butter in a pot over low heat. The amount of butter can vary, but a typical range is between 2 tablespoons and 6 tablespoons. This forms the base of your sauce. Next, add flour to create a roux. Whisk the mixture until it froths up, which should take around a minute. Remove the pot from the heat before slowly adding milk and continuously stirring. The milk forms the liquid base of your sauce and ensures a creamy consistency. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can reduce the amount of milk or add it gradually until you achieve the desired consistency.
Adding Cheese
Once you have a smooth, creamy sauce, it's time to add the cheese. The type and amount of cheese can vary according to your taste. Cheddar is a popular choice, and you can use shredded, mild, sharp, or a combination of these. You can also add Parmesan cheese for extra flavour. Slowly add the cheese to the sauce, stirring constantly to ensure it melts evenly. If you prefer a stronger cheese flavour, you can add more cheese or reduce the amount of milk in the sauce.
Combining Macaroni and Sauce
Now it's time to bring the dish together. Take your cooked macaroni and pour the sauce over it in the pot, stirring to combine. At this stage, you can also add salt and pepper to taste. If you want to add some spice, you can include mustard, chilli flakes, or garlic powder. Keep in mind that the sauce should coat the macaroni evenly, so stir gently but thoroughly.
Layering and Baking
After combining the macaroni and sauce, it's time to assemble the pie. Layer the mixture into a prepared casserole dish or baking pan. Typically, you would start by spooning a layer of the macaroni mixture into the bottom of the dish and then topping it with shredded or grated cheese. Repeat these layers until you've used all the macaroni mixture, usually about three more layers. Finally, sprinkle the top with cheese or breadcrumbs, and your dish is ready to bake!
Feel free to experiment with different cheeses, spices, and herbs to make this dish your own!
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Baking the pie
To bake the macaroni and cheese pie, preheat your oven to 180°C or 356°F. If you are using a casserole dish, spray it with cooking spray. If you are using a baking dish, grease it. If you are using jars or glasses to mould your pie, you will need to work the pastry off gently before placing the macaroni mixture into the casings.
Next, prepare the macaroni mixture. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite. The cooking time can vary from 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the recipe. Drain the water and set the cooked macaroni aside.
While the macaroni is cooking, prepare the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a separate pot over low heat. Add flour and stir the mixture until it starts to froth. Then, slowly add milk while stirring. Keep stirring until the mixture thickens. Turn down the heat to a simmer and add the cheese. You can also add seasonings like salt, pepper, mustard, chilli flakes, or bacon at this stage. Keep stirring to prevent the mixture from becoming lumpy.
Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Now, you can fill the casings or the baking dish with the macaroni and cheese mixture. Squish it down gently with a spoon so that it is fairly compact. You can sprinkle grated cheese across the top of your pie.
Finally, put the macaroni pie in the oven and bake until bubbling or firm. The baking time can vary from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the recipe. If the top of the pie starts to brown too quickly, cover it with foil for the remaining baking time.
Let the pie rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
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Frequently asked questions
The ingredients you will need are macaroni, butter, flour, milk, eggs, and cheese. You can use a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, parmesan, or cream cheese. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, vegetable seasoning, paprika, or mustard.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions or until tender yet firm, usually around 8 minutes. Drain the macaroni and set it aside.
Melt butter in a separate pot over low heat. Add flour and stir until it forms a froth. Slowly add milk while stirring to create a roux. Once the mixture thickens, add the cheese and stir until melted. You can also add eggs to create a custard-like texture.
In a baking dish, layer the cooked macaroni and cheese sauce, sprinkling each layer with shredded cheese. Repeat the layers a few times. Bake in the oven at a temperature between 350°F and 425°F until bubbling or golden brown, typically around 20-40 minutes.
