**Baked Mac and Cheese with Hidden Cauliflower: A Comforting and Nutritious Dish for Everyone**
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food loved by people of all ages. However, it's often seen as unhealthy due to its high calorie and fat content. This baked mac and cheese recipe offers a healthier twist by incorporating hidden cauliflower, making it a more nutritious and balanced dish. The cauliflower adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess to the mac and cheese without overpowering the cheesy flavor. With a crispy breadcrumb topping and a flavorful blend of cheeses, this baked mac and cheese is sure to satisfy your cravings without compromising on taste or health. Whether you're looking for a comforting weeknight dinner, a side dish for a special occasion, or a fun meal for kids, this baked mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower is a perfect choice.
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH HIDDEN CAULIFLOWER
"If you're having trouble getting your kids to eat veggies, try this recipe. They'll love how the cauliflower gets all mixed in with the noodles and cheese," says Valerie.
Provided by Valerie Bertinelli
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, grate the cauliflower on the large holes of a box grater or chop it into chunks and pulse to rice-size pieces in a food processor.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the grated cauliflower and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, another 5 minutes. Add the flour; cook for 1 minute, stirring. Gradually add the milk while stirring constantly, then increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the cheddar, Colby Jack, French onion dip, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt until the cheese and dip melt. Add the cooked pasta and stir to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- Top the pasta with the crushed potato chips. Bake until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes (be careful, the potato chips can burn easily).
MAC AND CHEESE WITH CAULIFLOWER
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 grated garlic clove in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until foamy. Stir in the panko, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the parsley.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the cauliflower during the last 4 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain the macaroni and cauliflower; set aside. Carefully wipe out the pot.
- Return the pot to the stove, add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and melt over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 grated garlic cloves and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, return to a simmer and cook until thickened and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and cheddar until smooth; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Stir the spinach into the cheese sauce until wilted, then add the macaroni and cauliflower; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the reserved cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is creamy and smooth. Divide among bowls and top with the herbed panko.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 740, Fat 35 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Cholesterol 99 milligrams, Sodium 873 milligrams, Carbohydrate 74 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 32 grams, Sugar 11 grams
HIDDEN VEGGIE MAC & CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: elbow macaroni, water, cauliflower florets, butternut squash, carrot, milk, cheddar cheese, cream cheese
Provided by Hannah Williams
Categories Dinner
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Add water, cauliflower, squash, and carrots in a pot over medium heat. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender.
- Add everything into a blender, including cooking water, and blend until smooth.
- Return blended veggies to the pot over medium heat, and add the milk, cheese, and cream cheese. Stir until smooth.
- Add macaroni, reduce heat, mix thoroughly, and cover for 20 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630 calories, Carbohydrate 69 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 29 grams, Sugar 8 grams
BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This incredible and substantial side dish has that traditional buffalo-wing flavor, but without any meat. Serve with extra hot sauce on the side for your friends and family who love heat.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h35m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Cook the cauliflower until just tender, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or spider to remove the cauliflower and immediately submerge it in the ice water to cool completely, then drain. Bring the salted water back to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the blanched cauliflower and garlic and cook 2 minutes, then add 1/2 cup hot sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute more.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and mustard until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, then add the remaining 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the Cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.
- Spread half of the macaroni in the prepared baking dish and pour over about half of the cheese sauce. Top with the cauliflower mixture and the remaining macaroni. Pour the remaining cheese sauce evenly on top.
- Put the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in the panko, blue cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then serve with additional hot sauce on the side.
BAKED CAULIFLOWER MACARONI & CHEESE
Cauliflower florets are baked into this creamy macaroni and cheese with a golden brown panko topping.
Provided by Horizon Organic
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Horizon® Organic
Time 30m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a ceramic or glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower florets and boil for one minute. Remove with a slotted spoon.
- Cook pasta shells in the same water, following instructions on the Horizon package. To the drained pasta, add 1/2 cup milk (instead of 1/4 cup as shown on the package), 2 tablespoons butter, and packet of cheese powder.
- Stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese; mix well until combined and cheese is melted. Add cauliflower and mix. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Spoon macaroni and cheese into prepared baking dish. Smooth out the top.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter. In a small bowl, mix together panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 337.1 calories, Carbohydrate 35.7 g, Cholesterol 51.6 mg, Fat 18.8 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 10.5 g, SaturatedFat 11.6 g, Sodium 691.8 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
CAULIFLOWER "MAC AND CHEESE" BAKE
Replace macaroni with cauliflower in our twist on a classic Mac and Cheese. Our imposter pasta is sure to become a new family favourite.
Provided by Cracker Barrel
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips CRACKER BARREL Shreds
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Cook cauliflower in boiling water in large saucepan 4 minutes; drain well.
- Melt 2 Tbsp. margarine in large saucepan on medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in flour and mustard; cook and stir 1 minute. Whisk in milk; cook 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add 1-1/4 cups Cheddar and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan; stir until Cheddar is melted. Add cauliflower; stir to evenly coat. Spoon into 2.5-L casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray.
- Microwave remaining margarine in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec. or until melted. Stir in bread crumbs and remaining Parmesan; sprinkle over cauliflower mixture.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through, topping with remaining Cheddar for the last 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 320.7 calories, Carbohydrate 25.4 g, Cholesterol 22.6 mg, Fat 18.7 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 16.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.7 g, Sodium 460.5 mg, Sugar 8.8 g
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE
This roasted cauliflower mac and cheese is a no-pasta version of a classic.
Provided by Fernella
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Cauliflower
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Spray cauliflower florets with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper; place on a baking sheet.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat half-and-half in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add Mexican, Cheddar, and cream cheeses slowly, stirring to combine, until melted.
- Butter an 8x10-inch baking dish.
- Mix roasted cauliflower with cheese sauce. Transfer to the prepared dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 624.5 calories, Carbohydrate 15.6 g, Cholesterol 156.1 mg, Fat 50.5 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 30.7 g, SaturatedFat 33.2 g, Sodium 845.6 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
Tips:
- Choose the right type of cauliflower: For the best results, use a head of cauliflower that is fresh and compact. Avoid heads with brown spots or blemishes.
- Grate the cauliflower finely: This will help it blend in with the other ingredients and ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Don't overcook the cauliflower: Overcooked cauliflower will become mushy and lose its flavor. Cook it just until it is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of the mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or try a different type of cheese, such as Gruyère or Gouda, for a more unique flavor.
- Don't be afraid to experiment: There are many different ways to make baked mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower. Get creative and try different ingredients and flavors to find your favorite recipe.
Conclusion:
Baked mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower is a delicious and nutritious dish that is perfect for a family meal. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. So next time you are looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try.
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