BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH HIDDEN CAULIFLOWER

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Baked Mac and Cheese with Hidden Cauliflower image

"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

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

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).

ETHO Watkins
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I'm not a fan of cauliflower, but I was willing to try this recipe. The cauliflower was definitely noticeable, but it wasn't too overpowering. The mac and cheese was still delicious.


Douglas Banda
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This mac and cheese was delicious! The cauliflower added a nice subtle sweetness and the cheese sauce was perfect. I would definitely make this again.


Tina Williams
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I love this recipe! It's a great way to sneak some extra vegetables into my kids' diet. They love the mac and cheese and they don't even notice the cauliflower.


Entoscorp Consultancy
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This mac and cheese was a bit too dry for my taste. I think it needed more milk or cream. The cauliflower was also a bit too crunchy for my liking.


gorgedfog
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I'm not a fan of cauliflower, but I was willing to try this recipe because I love mac and cheese. I was pleasantly surprised! The cauliflower was not noticeable and the mac and cheese was still delicious.


Echo Ellen
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This mac and cheese was easy to make and turned out great! The cauliflower was a nice addition and the cheese sauce was perfect. I'll definitely be making this again.


Igiraneza Nairotte
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I love this recipe! The cauliflower is a great way to add some extra vegetables to mac and cheese without sacrificing any of the flavor. It's also a great way to get kids to eat their veggies.


Chidera Reyes
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This mac and cheese was a bit too rich for my taste. The cheese sauce was very heavy and the cauliflower didn't really add anything to the dish.


cem.e.ter.y collector
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I followed the recipe exactly and my mac and cheese turned out perfect! It was creamy, cheesy and the cauliflower was a great addition. I will definitely be making this again.


Oneman squad
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This mac and cheese was a bit bland for my taste. I think it needed more seasoning. The cauliflower was also a bit too mushy for my liking.


Ansar Saudia
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I was skeptical about adding cauliflower to mac and cheese, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cauliflower was not noticeable and the mac and cheese was still delicious. I would definitely make this again.


Angela Shaw
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This mac and cheese was easy to make and turned out great! The cauliflower added a nice texture and the cheese sauce was perfect. I'll definitely be making this again.


Gregory Reed
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I'm always looking for ways to make my mac and cheese healthier, so I was excited to try this recipe. The cauliflower was a great addition and I didn't even notice it was there. The mac and cheese was still creamy and delicious.


Jaimala Wankhede
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This baked mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower was a hit with my family! They loved the cheesy, creamy sauce and the cauliflower added a nice subtle sweetness. The cauliflower was also a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables.