Best 7 Macaroni Cauliflower Cheese Bake Recipes

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**Macaroni Cauliflower Cheese Bake: A Comforting and Nutritious Casserole Dish**

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with our macaroni cauliflower cheese bake, a delightful casserole that combines the classic flavors of macaroni and cheese with the health benefits of cauliflower. This recipe is a perfect blend of indulgence and nutrition, featuring a creamy cheese sauce, tender macaroni, and roasted cauliflower florets. Each bite offers a satisfying combination of textures and flavors, making it a hit with both kids and adults. Discover the culinary delight of this macaroni cauliflower cheese bake, along with variations and serving suggestions, to elevate your mealtime experience.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

BAKED CAULIFLOWER MACARONI & CHEESE



Baked Cauliflower Macaroni & Cheese image

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

Cooking spray
1 ½ cups bite-size cauliflower florets
1 (6 ounce) box Horizon® ClassicMac™ Pasta Shells & White Cheddar Cheese
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
½ cup reduced fat milk
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
⅓ cup shredded sharp white Cheddar cheese
⅔ cup panko bread crumbs
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

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 CASSEROLE



Cauliflower

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Kosher salt, as needed, plus 1/2 teaspoon
1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
Vegetable oil spray
1 cup heavy cream
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar, plus 1/2 cup for topping the casserole
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

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 MAC AND CHEESE WITH HIDDEN CAULIFLOWER



Baked Mac and Cheese with Hidden Cauliflower image

Provided by Valerie Bertinelli

Categories     side-dish

Time 50m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

Cooking spray
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
1 small head cauliflower, cored
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons creamy French onion dip
8 ounces shredded mild Cheddar
8 ounces shredded Colby Jack cheese
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 cups crushed sour cream-and-cheddar potato chips

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
  • Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the package directions. Drain and reserve.
  • 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 onions 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 off the heat and stir in the French onion dip, Cheddar, Colby Jack, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt until melted. 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).

CAULIFLOWER "MACARONI" AND CHEESE



Cauliflower

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

1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

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 & MACARONI CHEESE



Cauliflower & macaroni cheese image

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

250g macaroni
1 head cauliflower , broken into pieces
25g butter
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tsp English mustard powder
450ml milk
100g cheddar , grated

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

MACARONI AND CAULIFLOWER CHEESE BAKE



Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese Bake image

Sourced from the recipe section of a friends Woman's Day Magazine. I have a hankering for anything with cauliflower lately. You could substitute other vegetables if cauliflower is not your thing.

Provided by The Normans

Categories     Weeknight

Time 1h

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

250 g macaroni
500 g cauliflower, cut into florets
60 g butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup plain flour
3 cups milk
2 cups parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
4 slices rindless bacon, chopped
220 g bocconcini, torn

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 200C/ 390°F Cook pasta in large saucepan of boiling salted water following packet directions. Add cauliflower half way through cooking time. Drain well and return to pan.
  • In separate pan, melt butter on medium heat, saute onion 3-4 minutes until tender, add flour and cook stirring for one minute. Remove pan from heat and gradually add milk and thyme and whisk until combined. Return pan to medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat, stir in 1 1/2 cups of parmesan and the mustard. Season to taste.
  • Add cheese sauce to pasta mixture, stirring to combine. Transfer to shallow oven proof dish. Top with bacon, bocconcini and remaining parmesan. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1182.1, Fat 37.7, SaturatedFat 20.1, Cholesterol 96.8, Sodium 1601.4, Carbohydrate 163.5, Fiber 49.2, Sugar 47.7, Protein 76.8

MACARONI CAULIFLOWER CHEESE BAKE



Macaroni Cauliflower Cheese Bake image

This is one of Jamie Oliver's quick pasta meals, from his Ministry Of Food cookbook. You can either serve the dish unbaked so it is silky and gooey, or you can grill it so it has a crispy, golden topping. You can add a grated hard-boiled egg, flaked smoked haddock, or cooked prawns if you want.

Provided by Sara 76

Categories     Cheese

Time 20m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 medium cauliflower
200 g cheddar cheese
100 g parmesan cheese
1 bunch fresh flat leaf parsley
sea salt
400 g macaroni, uncooked
200 g creme fraiche

Steps:

  • TO PREPARE YOUR PASTA:.
  • Remove the outer green leaves from the cauliflower and discard.
  • Slice the end off the cauliflower stalk.
  • Cut the head into small florets.
  • Halve the thick stalk lengthways then slice thinly.
  • Grate the cheddar cheese and parmesan into a large bowl.
  • Finely chop the parsley stalks and leaves.
  • TO COOK YOUR PASTA:.
  • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.
  • Add the macaroni and all of your cauliflower and cook according to the macaroni packet instructions.
  • Place the bowl of cheese over the saucepan and add the creme fraiche.
  • Carefully stir every so often until the cheese is smooth and melted.
  • If the water boils up underneath the bowl, just turn the heat down slightly.
  • Add all the chopped parsley to the melted cheese and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Carefully remove the bowl of cheese using a towel or oven gloves and set aside.
  • Drain the macaroni in a colander over a bowl, reserving the cooking water.
  • Return the pasta to the pan, pour in the melted cheese and stir.
  • It should have a lovely silky consistency, but if it's too thick, add a splas of your cooking water to thin it out a bit.
  • At this point you can either serve the macaroni as it is, or finish it under the grill to make it crispy and golden on top.
  • To do this, preheat your grill to medium heat.
  • Add 150ml of the reserved cooking water to the macaroni, stir in, then transfer to a baking dish.
  • Place under the grill until golden and bubbling.
  • TO SERVE YOUR PASTA:.
  • Divide the pasta between plates or bowls, or place the baking dish in the middle of the table next to a nice green salad and let everyone help themselves.

Tips:

  • Choose the right type of cauliflower. A head of cauliflower that is firm and white will yield the best results.
  • Cut the cauliflower into small florets. This will help them cook evenly.
  • Steam the cauliflower. This is the best way to preserve the cauliflower's nutrients and prevent it from becoming mushy.
  • Use a good quality cheese. A sharp cheddar or Gruyère cheese will give the dish a rich, flavorful taste.
  • Don't overcook the macaroni. It should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
  • Add your favorite seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper are all good options.
  • Top with breadcrumbs. This will give the dish a crispy, golden crust.
  • Bake until bubbly and golden brown. This will ensure that the dish is cooked through and the cheese is melted and gooey.

Conclusion:

Macaroni cauliflower cheese bake is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. With a few simple tips, you can make a macaroni cauliflower cheese bake that is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

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