If you're looking for a healthier version of the classic comfort food mac and cheese, look no further than this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Bake. This recipe swaps out the traditional macaroni noodles for cauliflower, resulting in a dish that is lower in carbs and calories but just as creamy and delicious.
This recipe is also a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables into your diet. The cauliflower is roasted until tender and then combined with a creamy cheese sauce made with cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. The macaroni and cheese is then baked until bubbly and golden brown. The result is a dish that is sure to please everyone at the table.
In addition to the classic macaroni and cheese bake, this article also includes recipes for other variations on this dish, such as a lighter version made with Greek yogurt and a spicy version made with jalapeños. There's also a recipe for a cauliflower macaroni and cheese soup, which is perfect for a cold winter day.
No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and healthy take on a classic comfort food.
BAKED CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Place 1 inch of water in a large pot with 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until tender crisp, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
- Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook about 2 minutes.
- Stir in flour. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually 3 - 4 minutes, to cook out the flour.
- Add the milk and continue whisking, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil and becomes smooth and thick, about 2 minutes stirring; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper.
- Once it becomes thick, remove from heat completely onto another burner if possible. Add the cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup at a time mixing well until cheese is all melted.
- Stir in cooked cauliflower, then pour into a baking dish and bake until bubbly and golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Then broil 2 minutes, or until the top is slightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 1/4 cups, Calories 238 kcal, Carbohydrate 16.5 g, Protein 14 g, Fat 14.5 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Cholesterol 42 mg, Sodium 381 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 7 g
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" 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
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.
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.
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
CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
Cauliflower "mac" and cheese is a great alternative to a pasta side dish. It's rich and creamy and gets the kids to love cauliflower!
Provided by Leigh K
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Cauliflower
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a baking dish lightly with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in cream cheese and mustard until smooth. Add 1 cup Cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and coriander. Whisk just until the cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour over cauliflower, stirring gently to combine. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar.
- Bake in the preheated oven until light brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 345.6 calories, Carbohydrate 9.6 g, Cholesterol 100.9 mg, Fat 29.5 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 12.9 g, SaturatedFat 18.5 g, Sodium 490.5 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
CAULIFLOWER "MAC" AND CHEESE
Somewhere between macaroni and cheese, British cauliflower cheese and a cauliflower gratin is this burbling dish of tangy, creamy cauliflower. Cauliflower florets cut into noodle-size pieces step in for macaroni in this pasta-less macaroni and cheese; they're roasted and draped in a mixture of melty Cheddar, heavy cream, garlic and cayenne. You could also add mustard, thyme or rosemary, or even caramelized onions, and swap out the Cheddar for Gruyère or another cheese. As the cauliflower cooks in the cream mixture, the cream thickens slightly and the cauliflower continues to brown. Serve it with a bright, crisp salad to offset the richness.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, vegetables, main course, side dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, spread in an even layer and roast until browned and cooked through but retaining some bite, about 15 minutes.
- Transfer the cauliflower to an 8-inch or other 2-quart baking dish. (You could also bake this in individual ramekins; just mix the cauliflower with the other ingredients in a medium bowl before dividing.) Reserve 1/4 cup Cheddar. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups Cheddar, heavy cream, garlic and cayenne to the cauliflower and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, then top with the reserved 1/4 cup Cheddar.
- Roast until the cream has thickened, the cheese has melted, and some of the cauliflower is browned on top, 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- Choose the right cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy for its size, with tightly closed florets. Avoid heads with brown or yellow spots, as these may indicate spoilage.
- Prepare the cauliflower correctly: To ensure that the cauliflower cooks evenly, cut it into florets of roughly the same size. You can use a food processor to quickly and easily break down the cauliflower into florets.
- Don't overcook the cauliflower: Cauliflower should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked cauliflower will become mushy and lose its flavor.
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a major impact on the flavor of your mac and cheese. Choose a cheese that melts well and has a strong flavor, such as cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan.
- Make sure the sauce is thick enough: The sauce should be thick enough to coat the cauliflower florets without being too runny. If the sauce is too thin, it will not hold its shape when baked.
- Don't be afraid to experiment: There are many ways to customize this recipe to suit your own taste. Try adding different spices, herbs, or vegetables to the sauce. You can also top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or grated Parmesan cheese before baking.
Conclusion:
Cauliflower mac and cheese bake is a delicious and satisfying dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and it is also a good source of protein and calcium. With its creamy, cheesy sauce and crispy topping, this dish is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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