This is not your ordinary mac & cheese. What differentiates the Haitian makawoni au graten (also spelled macaroni au gratin) from mac & cheese are the noodles – there are no elbow macaroni here, since they are replaced by larger pasta types such as rigatoni and penne, along with some unusual flavorings such as mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and white pepper.

All of the ingredients are typically placed in a casserole dish and sprinkled with grated cheese such as parmesan or cheddar. Some cooks like to add other flavorful additions such as ham or shredded chicken. It is said that makawoni au graten is best consumed during the colder seasons as it is a typical comfort food dish.