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).

TBMA3 SENPAI
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Overall, this was a good recipe. I would make it again, but I would make a few changes to suit my taste.


ShahG ShahG
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This recipe was a bit too time-consuming for a weeknight meal. I would have preferred a quicker and easier recipe.


Samantha Mejia
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The cauliflower was a bit too crunchy for my liking. I would have preferred it to be softer.


bad boy302
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This recipe was a bit bland for my taste. I had to add some extra salt and pepper to make it more flavorful.


David Smoore
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I will definitely be making this again. It's a great recipe for a weeknight meal.


Selia Ragab
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This recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My kids loved the mac and cheese and they didn't even notice the cauliflower.


kelvin smith
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I thought the cauliflower would be too noticeable, but it wasn't. It just added a nice texture and flavor to the dish.


Henry Hathaway
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This was a delicious and easy recipe. I made it for a potluck and it was a big hit. Everyone loved it.


Walter Balram
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I love that this recipe uses cauliflower to sneak in some extra veggies. My kids love mac and cheese, so this is a great way to get them to eat their vegetables.


Enwerem Emeka
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This recipe was easy to follow and the end result was delicious. The cauliflower made the mac and cheese lighter and healthier, without sacrificing any of the flavor.


Philip kwemoi 980
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I was skeptical about adding cauliflower to mac and cheese, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cauliflower added a nice texture and flavor to the dish. My kids didn't even notice it was there!


Shuvo Mojumder
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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 tender cauliflower. I will definitely be making this again.