Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a creamy, cheesy, low-carb alternative to classic mac and cheese. Easy to make, loaded with flavor, and the perfect comfort food without the pasta!
Servings: 6
Cost: $7.42, $1.24 per Servings
Ingredients
- 6 cups Cauliflower Florets approximately 1 Head Cauliflower cut into 1 inch size pieces
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- ⅓ cup Heavy Cream
- ⅓ cup Milk any unflavored milk of your choice
- 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss 6 cups cauliflower florets, 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper until the cauliflower is well coated.
- Place the cauliflower in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cauliflower is tender but still crispy.
- Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Stir in ? cup heavy cream and ? cup milk. Heat for a few minutes until warmed through and brought to a gentle simmer. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, a little at a time, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Stir in the cauliflower and gently toss until it's coated in the cheese sauce.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Recipe Tips
- Shredded Cheese - I recommend shredding your own cheese instead of using store-bought pre-shredded cheese so that it melts evenly and smoothly.
- Preparing Cauliflower - You can boil the cauliflower instead of roasting in this recipe if you prefer but I think that it makes the cauliflower too soft and makes the sauce too watery so I prefer roasting it.
- Melted Cheese - When melting the cheddar cheese, you can add the saucepan back to the heat if needed to melt but slowly and gradually add heat so that you do not overcook the cheese.
- Bacon - Add crumbled bacon on top for a delicious savory flavor.
- Spicy Version - Add 1/2 tsp of cayenne or chopped jalapeños for a kick of flavor.
- Extra Cheesy - Mix in Gruyere or smoked gouda.
- Vegetable Boost - Sneak in broccoli florets or other veggies.
- Make it a Full Meal - Stir in cooked chicken or sausage.
- BBQ or Buffalo Sauce - Mix in 1/4 cup of BBQ Sauce or Buffalo Sauce for added flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 688mg | Potassium: 366mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 653IU | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 1mg
