Best 4 Cauliflower Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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**Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese: A Low-Carb Comfort Food Twist**

Cauliflower macaroni and cheese is a delicious and healthy twist on the classic comfort food. This recipe uses cauliflower instead of pasta, making it a low-carb and gluten-free option. It's perfect for those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, or for anyone looking for a healthier alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese. The cauliflower is roasted until tender and then combined with a creamy cheese sauce made with cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère cheeses. The result is a flavorful and satisfying dish that's sure to please everyone at the table. This article provides three variations of cauliflower macaroni and cheese: the classic version, a bacon and jalapeño version, and a roasted red pepper and spinach version. Each variation offers a unique flavor profile, so you can choose the one that best suits your taste.

Let's cook with our recipes!

SKINNY CAULIFLOWER MACARONI AND CHEESE



Skinny Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese image

The savory version of having your cake and eating it too, this slimmed-down, super-creamy mac and cheese gets a veggie boost from 2 cups of cauliflower florets, which add wonderful flavor and texture.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

8 cups water
2 cups chopped cauliflower florets
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (8 oz)
1 1/2 cups fat-free (skim) milk
3 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1/2 cup Progresso™ Panko Italian style crispy bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Steps:

  • In 4-quart saucepan, heat water to boiling over medium heat. Add cauliflower and macaroni; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until macaroni is tender. Drain; return to saucepan, and cover to keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Spray 2-quart glass baking dish with cooking spray. In 2-quart saucepan, stir milk, flour, mustard, salt, black pepper and red pepper with whisk until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.
  • Add cheese sauce to cooked pasta mixture; mix well. Spoon into baking dish. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle over pasta mixture in baking dish. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Carbohydrate 47 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 3 g, Protein 19 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 670 mg, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 1/2 g

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH CAULIFLOWER



Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower image

Homemade, hearty, and slightly healthier way to eat mac and cheese by adding cauliflower.

Provided by Erin Marie Harvanek

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (8 ounce) package grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups reduced-fat sour cream
½ cup 1% milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup bread crumbs
½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Add cauliflower during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add oil to the pasta pot. Add onion, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, just until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in pasta-cauliflower mixture, Cheddar cheese, sour cream, milk, and Dijon mustard. Transfer mixture to a shallow 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Top with parsley before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 391.7 calories, Carbohydrate 49.4 g, Cholesterol 38.2 mg, Fat 14.6 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 443.6 mg, Sugar 4.4 g

CAULIFLOWER MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE



Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese Casserole image

A delicious way to enjoy cauliflower with a creamy cheese sauce that really adds much moisture to this casserole.

Provided by Cheerios

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h10m

Yield 7

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup sausage links
1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
¼ cup butter, melted, or more as needed
¼ cup all-purpose flour, or more as needed
1 ½ cups milk
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, divided
2 slices bread, toasted

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish.
  • Heat a skillet over medium heat; cook sausage until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. Cut sausage into small cubes.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
  • Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour and cook until a thick paste forms, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly mix milk into butter-flour mixture until sauce is smooth and thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir 1 cup Cheddar cheese into sauce until melted and smooth.
  • Spread cauliflower into the prepared casserole dish; top with macaroni, covering the entire surface. Stir cheese sauce into cauliflower and macaroni until well coated. Sprinkle 1 cup Cheddar cheese over the top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 35 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.3 calories, Carbohydrate 31.2 g, Cholesterol 64.9 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 17.6 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Sodium 489.4 mg, Sugar 5.5 g

MACARONI AND CHEESE (WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH OR CAULIFLOWER)



Macaroni and Cheese (With Butternut Squash or Cauliflower) image

Created by Jessica Seinfeld From the book Deceptively Delicious Jessica says, " I leave a box of store-bought macaroni and cheese out on the counter and the kids naturally assume ..."

Provided by Karen in MA

Categories     Cheese

Time 10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
nonstick cooking spray
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nonfat milk (skim)
1/2 cup butternut squash or 1/2 cup cauliflower, puree
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander.
  • While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
  • Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned (1-2 minutes).
  • Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken (3 to 4 minutes).
  • Add the vegetable puree, cheddar, cream cheese and seasonings and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 529.1, Fat 32.8, SaturatedFat 18.8, Cholesterol 91.3, Sodium 745.5, Carbohydrate 35.9, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 3, Protein 22.8

Tips:

  • Select the right cauliflower: Choose a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy for its size with tightly packed florets. Avoid heads with brown spots or blemishes.
  • Cut the cauliflower into small florets: This will help them cook evenly and absorb the cheese sauce better. You can use a food processor or a knife to cut the cauliflower into florets.
  • Steam the cauliflower: Steaming the cauliflower is a gentle cooking method that helps preserve its nutrients and texture. You can steam the cauliflower in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water or use a microwave steamer.
  • Make the cheese sauce: While the cauliflower is steaming, you can make the cheese sauce. Use a roux (a mixture of butter and flour) as the base of the sauce and then add milk, cheese, and seasonings. You can use different types of cheese to make the sauce, such as cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyère.
  • Combine the cauliflower and cheese sauce: Once the cauliflower is steamed and the cheese sauce is made, combine the two in a large bowl. Stir until the cauliflower is evenly coated with the cheese sauce.
  • Bake the cauliflower macaroni and cheese: Pour the cauliflower mixture into a greased baking dish and bake in a preheated oven until the cheese sauce is bubbly and the cauliflower is tender. You can top the casserole with bread crumbs or grated Parmesan cheese before baking.

Conclusion:

Cauliflower macaroni and cheese is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese. It is made with cauliflower instead of pasta, which makes it lower in carbs and calories. The cauliflower is steamed to preserve its nutrients and texture, and then it is combined with a creamy cheese sauce. The casserole is baked until the cheese sauce is bubbly and the cauliflower is tender. Cauliflower macaroni and cheese is a great main course or side dish for any occasion.

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