Macaroni and cheese, a classic comfort dish, gets a healthy makeover with the addition of cauliflower. This creamy and cheesy pasta is made with a blend of cauliflower and macaroni, providing a boost of nutrients and a lighter texture. The recipe uses a combination of sharp cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce made with milk, butter, and flour. It's a perfect meal for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend lunch.
In this article, we've compiled a collection of macaroni and cheese with cauliflower recipes that cater to different dietary preferences and tastes. From a low-carb version made with cauliflower rice to a gluten-free option using chickpea pasta, there's something for everyone. We also have a vegan macaroni and cheese recipe made with a creamy cashew sauce and a flavorful roasted cauliflower topping. Whether you're looking for a healthier take on a classic dish or a plant-based alternative, these recipes offer a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.
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
SKINNY CAULIFLOWER MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
CAULIFLOWER "MACARONI" AND CHEESE
A healthier version of the classic comfort food... it won for "Best Mac and Cheese" at our annual cookout, kids love it, and you don't feel as guilty!
Provided by angelinamarie3
Categories Cauliflower Side Dishes
Time 40m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and set on paper towels to dry.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in heavy cream and cook until bubbling. Slowly add 1 cup Cheddar cheese; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Place cauliflower in the prepared baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over top and stir until thoroughly coated. Sprinkle remaining Cheddar cheese over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is fully melted, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 261.8 calories, Carbohydrate 6.3 g, Cholesterol 71.8 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 11.7 g, SaturatedFat 13.7 g, Sodium 283.9 mg, Sugar 2.5 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.
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 & MACARONI CHEESE
What do you get if you add cauliflower, cheese and macaroni? Comfort food heaven
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Lunch, Main course
Time 30m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni following pack instructions, adding the cauliflower for the final 4 mins.
- Melt the butter in a pan, then stir in the flour and mustard powder and cook for 2 mins. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time to get a smooth sauce. Add three-quarters of the cheese and some seasoning to the sauce.
- Drain the macaroni and cauliflower and stir into the cheese sauce. Transfer to an ovenproof dish, then sprinkle over the remaining cheese and flash under a hot grill until golden and bubbling. Serve with a green salad, if you like.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 446 calories, Fat 17 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 57 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 19 grams protein, Sodium 0.68 milligram of sodium
CAULIFLOWER MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by KathyP53
Categories Cheese
Time 1h20m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In bowl, combine crumbs, melted butter, parsley, 1 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoons black pepper. In 4 quart pot over medium heat; cook pancetta 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl; reserve fat.
- Cook cauliflower in batches 10-12 minutes, adding up to 3 tablespoons butter if needed. Transfer to bowl. Deglaze pot with 2 tablespoons water; add to cauliflower. Wash pot.
- In same pot over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Cook flour 3 minutes. Whisk in wine and milk; cook 10 minutes. Stir in cheeses, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoons black pepper, cayenne, nutmeg and cream, then cooked pasta, pancetta and cauliflower. Top with bread crumbs., Bake 30 minutes, broil 4-5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 589.9, Fat 26, SaturatedFat 15.2, Cholesterol 77.7, Sodium 481.4, Carbohydrate 68.2, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 4.9, Protein 20.7
CAULIFLOWER AND MACARONI
This is another wonderful old recipe from my Aunt. Can also be made with broccoli and any type of pasta. This is a great way to use up any leftover quantities of dried macaroni.
Provided by Maureenie
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 55m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat olive oil over medium flame in pot with low sides.
- Add garlic, parsley, oregano, and red pepper.
- Add 1 cup of reserved liquid from cauliflower and 1 cup water.
- Add cauliflower, cover, and bring water to a boil.
- Add salt and pasta and stir well. Lower heat to simmer and cover.
- Cook and stir until done, about 20 minutes.
- Consistency will be thick and soupy. Can add more cauliflower water if too dry during cooking.
- Sprinkle with cheese before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 330, Fat 7.9, SaturatedFat 1.2, Sodium 360.5, Carbohydrate 55, Fiber 7.3, Sugar 6.1, Protein 11.9
Tips:
- To save time, use a pre-riced bag of cauliflower.
- If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower by hand.
- Be sure to drain the cauliflower well after ricing or grating it.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese. A sharp cheddar or a blend of cheeses will give you a more flavorful mac and cheese.
- If you like a crispy topping, sprinkle some bread crumbs or crushed crackers on top of the mac and cheese before baking.
- Serve the mac and cheese immediately, or bake it ahead of time and reheat it when you're ready to eat.
Conclusion:
This macaroni and cheese with cauliflower is a delicious and healthy twist on a classic comfort food. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner or a potluck. The cauliflower adds a boost of nutrients without sacrificing any of the flavor. So next time you're craving mac and cheese, give this recipe a try.
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