**Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: A Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Comfort Food Dish**
Craving a comforting and cheesy pasta dish without the guilt? Look no further than Cauliflower Mac and Cheese! This innovative recipe transforms the humble cauliflower into a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional macaroni. With its creamy, cheesy sauce and crispy breadcrumb topping, this dish will satisfy even the most discerning palate. Whether you're following a low-carb, gluten-free, or simply seeking a healthier option, this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is sure to become a favorite. Get ready to indulge in a guilt-free comfort food experience!
**Other Exciting Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try:**
* **Cheesy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:** This classic recipe features a rich and creamy cheese sauce made with cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. It's the perfect comfort food for a cozy night in.
* **Lightened-Up Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:** For a healthier twist, this recipe uses Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cheese to create a lighter and more nutritious version of the classic dish. It's perfect for those watching their waistline or following a healthier lifestyle.
* **Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:** Add a kick of heat to your mac and cheese with this spicy version. It features a creamy sauce made with diced jalapeños, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. It's sure to wake up your taste buds!
* **Broccoli and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:** This recipe combines the goodness of cauliflower and broccoli into one delicious dish. It's a great way to sneak in extra vegetables for picky eaters or those looking to increase their veggie intake.
* **Loaded Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:** Take your mac and cheese to the next level with this loaded version. It's topped with crispy bacon, diced tomatoes, green onions, and a drizzle of ranch dressing. It's the ultimate comfort food extravaganza!
CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the water with salt.
- Spray the baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
- Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and pat between several layers of paper towels to dry. Transfer the cauliflower to the baking dish and set aside.
- Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, and whisk in the cream cheese and mustard until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, salt, pepper and garlic and whisk just until the cheese melts, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, pour over the cauliflower, and stir to combine. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until browned and bubbly hot, about 15 minutes. Serve.
CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking dish with butter.
- Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water until just crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
- In a large saucepan, heat the milk and butter over medium heat. Whisk in the dry mustard and add some hot sauce, salt and pepper. Just before the milk comes to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in the pepper jack and goat cheese. When melted and smooth, stir in the cauliflower. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle over the Parmesan.
- Bake until the top is golden brown and the mixture is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
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
BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER GRATIN MAC N CHEESE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Salt the water and add the broccoli and cauliflower florets. Boil the vegetables for 5 minutes, then remove them with a spider or a strainer and drain. Add the pasta to the water and undercook by about 2 minutes, drain.
- Meanwhile, combine the sour cream in a large bowl along with the mustard, chives, garlic, hot sauce and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the pasta and cauliflower and 2/3 of the cheese. Stir to combine, then transfer it to a casserole or baking dish and cover with the remaining cheese. Cool and chill for a make-ahead meal.
- To heat and eat, put the casserole on baking sheet and bake it in the middle of a preheated 375 degree F oven until deeply golden and bubbly, about 40 to 45 minutes.
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
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).
KETO CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE
I knew when beginning a keto lifestyle that I would have to figure out a way to get some of my comfort foods. I can't even believe how good this turned out.
Provided by Nikki Johnson
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 50m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Place cauliflower in a large pot and cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until fork-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
- Meanwhile, combine Cheddar cheese, Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and onion in a large bowl. Add drained cauliflower and mix until cauliflower is well coated with cheese mixture. Transfer to an oven-safe casserole dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and cheese is completely melted, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 393.1 calories, Carbohydrate 5.1 g, Cholesterol 75.8 mg, Fat 34.7 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 16.6 g, SaturatedFat 17.3 g, Sodium 537 mg, Sugar 1.6 g
CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE
It's mockaroni and cheese! Cauliflower stands in for pasta in this low-carb, gluten-free version.
Provided by James Ashton Greene
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 55m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and boil until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and place into the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
- Blend together Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, ground mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a bowl; beat with an electric blender until smooth.
- Spoon blended mixture over cauliflower and stir until cauliflower is completely coated.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, about 35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 131.6 calories, Carbohydrate 8.1 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 3 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 616.2 mg, Sugar 4.6 g
Tips for Making the Best Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:
- Choose the Right Cauliflower: Select a head of cauliflower that is fresh, firm, and white. Avoid any heads with brown spots or bruises.
- Steam or Roast the Cauliflower: Steaming or roasting the cauliflower before blending it will help enhance its flavor and texture. Steaming preserves more nutrients, while roasting brings out a slightly caramelized flavor.
- Use High-Quality Cheese: Opt for good quality cheddar, Parmesan, and cream cheese for the best flavor. Freshly grated cheese melts better and provides a creamier texture compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Season Well: Don't be afraid to season the cauliflower mac and cheese generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. These basic seasonings enhance the flavors of the dish.
- Add-Ins and Variations: Feel free to experiment with different add-ins like cooked bacon, diced bell peppers, or chopped spinach to create unique flavor combinations.
- Adjust the Consistency: If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a bit more milk or broth. For a thicker consistency, reduce the liquid or add more cheese.
- Serve Immediately: Cauliflower mac and cheese is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. The crispy topping and gooey cheese sauce are at their peak when served hot.
Conclusion:
Cauliflower mac and cheese is a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional mac and cheese. It's a versatile dish that can be customized with various add-ins and seasonings to suit your taste preferences. Whether you're following a low-carb or gluten-free diet or simply seeking a lighter version of this classic comfort food, cauliflower mac and cheese is a satisfying and guilt-free option. So, grab your favorite cauliflower and give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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