There’s comfort food, and then there’s next-level comfort food—this Oxtail Pot Pie is exactly that. Imagine slow-braised, fall-apart oxtail bathed in a rich, savory gravy, layered beneath a golden crust of creamy mac and cheese. Every bite is a symphony of deep, bold flavors, velvety cheese, and tender, melt-in-your-mouth oxtail. It’s the kind of dish that wraps around you like a warm hug, perfect for a cozy night in or a show-stopping addition to your dinner table.

This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience—a dish that takes its time, allowing flavors to develop into something unforgettable. The oxtail, seasoned and braised to perfection, brings an indulgent richness, while the mac and cheese crust adds that extra level of decadence. It’s comfort food with soul, and once you make it, you’ll be hooked.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Deep, rich flavors – Braised oxtail cooked low and slow results in tender, succulent meat and a gravy bursting with flavor.
• Ultimate comfort – Creamy, cheesy mac and cheese doubles as the crust, giving you the best of both worlds in one dish.
• Perfect for entertaining – Individual ramekins make this a beautiful and impressive dish to serve at gatherings.
• Make-ahead friendly – Both the oxtail and mac and cheese can be prepared in advance, making assembly a breeze.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Oxtail

• Oxtails, trimmed
• Bell peppers, red onion, and green onion
• Fresh ginger and garlic
• Dried oregano and allspice powder
• Fresh thyme
• Browning sauce
• Ketchup (optional)
• Brown sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Canola oil

For the Mac & Cheese

• Elbow macaroni, cooked
• Half-and-half
• Mild cheddar and Muenster cheese
• Unsalted butter and flour
• Garlic, salt, and pepper

How to Make Oxtail Pot Pie (VIDEO)

Prepare the Oxtail

In a large bowl, combine the oxtail with bell peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, dried herbs, and spices. Let marinate for at least 24 hours, up to 48 hours for maximum flavor.

In a large pot, heat canola oil over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir constantly until it caramelizes into a deep amber color.

Remove the oxtail from the marinade, reserving the liquid, and sear in batches until browned on all sides. Set aside.

Deglaze the pot with the reserved marinade, then return the seared oxtail to the pot. Add enough water to barely cover the meat.

Simmer on low for 2-3 hours until the meat is fall-apart tender. Remove from the pot, shred the meat, and discard the bones.

Skim off excess oil from the gravy, then stir in ketchup and reduce until thickened. Return the shredded oxtail to the pot, mix well, and set aside.

Make the Mac & Cheese

In a pot over medium heat, melt butter. Once bubbling slightly, whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.

Slowly pour in the half-and-half, whisking continuously to prevent lumps.

Continue whisking until the sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid boiling to prevent separation.

Season with garlic, salt, and pepper, then remove from heat and stir in the cheeses until fully melted.

Fold in the cooked macaroni and set aside.

Assemble & Bake

Spoon a layer of shredded oxtail and gravy into the base of each ramekin.

Sprinkle with shredded cheddar, then top with mac and cheese.

Finish with another layer of cheddar and place ramekins on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Storage & Reheating Tips

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F until heated through, or microwave in short intervals.
• Freeze: Assemble the pot pies in ramekins and freeze before baking. When ready to eat, bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.

Print

Oxtail Pot Pie With a Mac & Cheese Crust

Rich, braised oxtail meets creamy mac and cheese in this indulgent take on pot pie. Tender, fall-apart oxtail is slow-cooked in a deeply flavorful gravy, then layered with sharp cheddar and velvety mac and cheese before baking to golden perfection. Each ramekin is a decadent bite of comfort—savory, cheesy, and utterly satisfying. Whether you’re looking to impress guests or savor a cozy meal at home, this dish delivers bold flavors with every spoonful.

Course brunch, dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Caribbean

Keyword mac and cheese, oxtail, pot pie

Prep Time 1 day day

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Servings 6

Author kingcooks

Equipment

• 6-8 8 oz ramekins

Ingredients

Oxtail

• 4-5 lbs of oxtails
• 1 cups bell peppers chopped
• 1/2 cup red onion chopped
• 1/2 cup green onion chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger minced
• 1 tbsp garlic minced
• 1 tbsp oregano dried
• 1 tbsp all spice powder
• 7-8 sprigs of thyme tied together
• 2 tbsp browning
• 2 tbsp ketchup optional
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp pepper
• 1 tbsp canola oil

Mac & Cheese

• 8 oz elbow macaroni cooked
• 4 cups half and half
• 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded (plus more for topping)
• 1 cup Munster cheese shredded
• 4 tbsp flour
• 4 tbsp butter unsalted
• 1 tsp garlic minced or paste
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

Oxtail

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients listed under “Oxtail” except for the brown sugar, ketchup, and canola oil.
• Mix thoroughly and allow to marinate for at least 24 hours, up to 48 hours.
• In a large pot over medium heat, add canola oil and brown sugar. Stir constantly until the sugar caramelizes into a light brown color.
• Remove the oxtail from the marinade, reserving the liquid. Sear the oxtail in batches on all sides, then set aside.
• Deglaze the pot with the reserved marinade. Return the seared oxtail to the pot and add enough water to barely cover the meat.
• Simmer over low heat for 2-3 hours until the oxtail is fall-apart tender. Remove from the pot and shred the meat, discarding the bones.
• Skim off excess oil from the gravy, then stir in the ketchup. Bring to a boil and reduce until thickened.
• Return the shredded oxtail to the pot, mix well, then remove from heat and set aside.

Mac & Cheese

• In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Once bubbling slightly, whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Slowly pour in the half-and-half, whisking continuously to create a smooth sauce with no lumps.
• Continue whisking until the sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Do not let it come to a boil, as this may cause it to break.
• Season with garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Remove from heat and whisk in the cheddar and Muenster cheese until melted.
• Fold in the cooked macaroni and set aside.

Assemble

• Spoon a layer of shredded oxtail and gravy into the base of each ramekin.
• Sprinkle with shredded cheddar, then top with mac and cheese.
• Finish with another sprinkle of cheddar and place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!