Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – The Large Man’s World ®

This cauliflower mac and cheese offers you all of the tacky and hearty goodness of mac and cheese, minus all of the carbs and energy! It’s fast to make and even faster to eat!

Every time I’m watching my carbs however craving consolation meals, cauliflower mac n cheese is all the time a wonderful thought. 

As an alternative of utilizing conventional macaroni noodles, I changed them with flippantly cooked cauliflower. After overlaying it in a creamy cheese sauce, I may barely inform that this was lacking the pasta, as a result of let’s be actual…the most effective a part of mac and cheese is the tacky sauce. It makes a wonderful vegetable facet dish, or you possibly can amp it up and make it a meal by itself!

Desk of Contents

1. Why this recipe works
2. Elements wanted
3. Tips on how to make cauliflower mac and cheese
4. Recipe suggestions and variations
5. Storage directions
6. Continuously requested questions
7. Extra scrumptious methods to make use of cauliflower
8. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Why this recipe works

• It’s more healthy. Apart from the truth that this recipe makes use of cauliflower, it additionally makes use of a lot much less cream and cheese than conventional mac and cheese recipes. It’s additionally unintentionally gluten-free and keto pleasant.
• One dish surprise. Like my cauliflower casserole, every part is baked in a single dish so clear up is an absolute breeze.
• Stuffed with textures and flavors. You get the tender cauliflower florets, creamy sauce, and a beneficiant layer of cheese. It’s wealthy, savory, and tacky abruptly. 

Elements wanted

This baked cauliflower mac and cheese wants only a handful of substances that may be discovered at any primary grocery retailer. Here’s what you will want: 

• Cauliflower florets– Chop the cauliflower into chunk sized items, so all of them prepare dinner evenly. I all the time attempt to decide on cauliflowers which have loads of florets, as they’ve the most effective taste.
• Cream– Most recipes name for no less than two cups of heavy cream however not my one. One cup is a lot to offer every chunk some scrumptious, creamy goodness. 
• Cream cheese– My secret ingredient! Including a small quantity of cream cheese provides an layer of creaminess with out being overpowering. 
• Cheese– I like to make use of a mixture of mozzarella cheese and sharp cheddar cheese for each the stretchy goodness and in addition full-bodied taste. Any good melting cheese works and if potential, all the time shred the cheese by hand! 
• Dijon mustard– Provides taste and a beautiful delicate tang. 
• Garlic and Onion powder– Provides some taste with out including any contemporary garlic or onion.
• Salt and Pepper0 to style! The quantity urged is a minimum- add extra as desired.
• Butter or olive oil– To grease the baking dish.

Tips on how to make cauliflower mac and cheese

What I really like about this recipe is that it wants little or no prep. As soon as the cauliflower is cooked, the oven takes care of all of the onerous work, and also you’ll be able to dig in! 

Step 1- Prep the cauliflower. In a microwave-safe bowl, add your chopped florets and microwave for five minutes, till tender and crisp. Switch your cauliflower into a big baking dish.

Step 2- Make the sauce. In a small saucepan, add your cream and cream cheese and warmth on medium. As soon as the perimeters of the saucepan start to bubble, whisk very nicely, till the softened each are mixed. Add your shredded cheese, spices, and Dijon mustard and whisk till mixed. 

Step 3- Assemble. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower and stir nicely, guaranteeing it’s coating all of the cauliflower utterly. Sprinkle further cheese on high.

Step 4- Bake. Bake the cauliflower cheese for quarter-hour, or till effervescent and the cheese on high has melted.

Recipe suggestions and variations

• If you happen to don’t have a microwave, you possibly can boil or roast your cauliflower. Make sure you solely prepare dinner it till crisp and tender, round 5 minutes. You can even make my air fryer cauliflower, however the cauliflower shall be a bit extra tender and evident all through the dish. 
• You possibly can bake the cauliflower mac and cheese longer, particularly when you’d choose a softer texture.
• If you happen to’d like further tacky cauliflower mac and cheese, take away midway by, add further shredded cheese on high, and bake an extra 10 minutes.
• For some crunch, add some enjoyable toppings like crispy panko breadcrumbs, diced bacon, crushed pork rind (if keto!), or different cheeses (parmesan cheese is fabulous).
• Swap out half the cauliflower for different greens, like broccoli, mushrooms, or zucchini. 

Storage directions

To retailer: Place leftovers in an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. 

To freeze: Retailer leftovers in a freezer-safe container for as much as two months.

Continuously requested questions

Extra scrumptious methods to make use of cauliflower