Best 6 Cauliflower Macaroni Cheese Recipes

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Cauliflower macaroni cheese, a dish that combines the flavors of pasta and cheese with the health benefits of cauliflower, is a comforting and delicious meal. It is a popular option for those seeking a healthier alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese, as it is lower in calories and carbohydrates. This dish can be enjoyed by people of all ages and is a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. With its creamy texture, cheesy goodness, and cauliflower's subtle flavor, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

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 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.

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

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:

  • Choose the right cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower that is compact and heavy for its size. Avoid heads with any brown spots or blemishes.
  • Use a food processor to rice the cauliflower: This is the quickest and easiest way to get evenly sized cauliflower rice. You can also use a grater or a knife, but it will take longer.
  • Cook the cauliflower rice until it is tender: You want the cauliflower rice to be soft enough to eat, but not so soft that it becomes mushy. Cook it for about 5 minutes, or until it is just tender.
  • Use a thick roux to make the cheese sauce: This will help to prevent the cheese sauce from becoming thin and runny. Cook the roux over medium heat until it is golden brown, about 2 minutes.
  • Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in the flavor of the macaroni and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or try a different type of cheese, such as Gruyère or Parmesan, for a more complex flavor.
  • Don't overcook the macaroni and cheese: Once the cheese sauce is melted and the macaroni is coated, remove it from the heat. Overcooking will make the macaroni and cheese dry and rubbery.

Conclusion:

Cauliflower macaroni and cheese is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese. It is made with cauliflower rice, which is a low-carb, high-fiber substitute for pasta. The cauliflower rice is cooked in a creamy cheese sauce, and then topped with a crispy breadcrumb topping. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table, even those who are not following a low-carb diet.

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