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Creamy, cheesy, guilt-free goodness! It’s your new comfort food: Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese. Combine roasted cauliflower florets with rich cheese sauce. It’s a perfect dish for low-carb diets that adds more veggies to your plate. You will enjoy cozy flavors without heavy carbs. Get ready to savor every creamy bite that will be a hit at your next dinner.
Creamy, Cheesy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
As moms, dads, wives, heads of households, employees, or whatever roles you fill in life, we look for simplicity. We all love taking care of our loved ones and ensuring their happiness. While looking for healthier options, I tried swapping pasta for cauliflower in mac and cheese.
So, I roasted the cauliflower florets and mixed them with a creamy cheese sauce. My family enjoyed the warm, cheesy bites, and they forgot about the pasta. It has become one of our go-to recipes without the carb overload. They fell in love with cauliflower mac and cheese. And take my word for it; your family will love it too.
Table of Contents
- What Makes Cauliflower Mac’n’Cheese Special
- Main Ingredients for Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
- Step-by-Step Process for Making Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Special Variations for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- How to Serve Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Pro Tip
- Storage Tips
- Pro Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- More Recipes You Should Try
- Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe
Recipe Overview
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Roasting
Skill Required: Easy, beginner-friendly
Signature Taste: Cheesy with a mildly nutty cauliflower flavor
Diet Info: Low-carb, Vegetarian friendly
What Makes Cauliflower Mac’n’Cheese Special
Mac’n’Cheese is a great comfort food. Its hearty cheesy sauce mixed with pasta makes for a satisfying dish that warms the soul. Plus, it’s an easy dish to whip up.
It’s always been popular because it usually comes in microwavable or quick stove-top cooking instructions. This recipe offers you a lighter and healthier version with homemade sauce that is just as easy and quick as making it store-bought!
Well, the obvious reason this is considered a lower-carb Mac and Cheese recipe is because it’s pasta-free! We all know pasta is loaded with carbs and though sometimes we do need the energy we get from a large dose of carbs, we know it’s best to not overdo it.
Cauliflower is the perfect substitute for pasta. Especially roasting it or broiling it as my recipe calls for. Ensuring that the cauliflower is well-roasted helps keep it from falling apart when mixed into the creamy cheese sauce. It also gives it great texture when eating it!
Main Ingredients for Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower: It is the star ingredient. It takes the place of pasta giving a lid, nutty flavor. A nutrient-dense alternative with a satisfying texture once roasted!
Butter: It is the base of the roux, giving a rich and smooth texture to the cheese sauce.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: It adds a bold, tangy flavor that perfectly combines with the mild flavor of cauliflower.
Monterey Cheese: It perfectly mels adding a mild, creamy taste. It also combines with the sharpness of cheddar to get the perfect balance of flavors without overwhelming the dish.
Flour: It is the thickening agent that combines with the butter to make the roux.
Whole Milk or Heavy Milk: This is the base of the cheese sauce Whole milk gives a lighter sauce Heavy cream adds an extra rich taste making the cheese sauce keto-friendly,
Salt and Black Pepper: As simple as they are. salt and black pepper are essential to enhance and balance the dish’s flavors.
Step-by-Step Process for Making Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Wash and cut cauliflower into florets.
Place on a sprayed baking sheet and roast for about 15 -20 minutes. Broil for a few minutes if needed.
Gently fold in the roasted cauliflower.
Gently fold in the roasted cauliflower.
Add all the cauliflower and gently mix.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Special Variations for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: If you are a fan of spicy dishes, add a dash of cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or chopped jalapenos to the cheese sauce. Perfect for a kick of heat!
Herb Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: Before adding the flour, saute minced garlic and a sprinkle of Italian herbs in the butter. You can use thyme, rosemary, or basil. This creates an aromatic dish with a touch of Mediterranean flavor.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: Roast some broccoli florets with the cauliflower to get a mix of flavors and textures. A nice color contrast in one dish!
Crispy Topping: You can add grated cheese or seasoned breadcrumbs to the top of your dish. Then, broil until golden and crispy.
How to Serve Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Family-Style Dish: You can choose to cook this up layered in a Pyrex and serve it warm so everyone can revel in its cheesy glory! Or, you can cook it as I did in one pot and serve it up on individual plates.
With a Protein Side: If you choose to have a heartier meal, you can serve grilled chicken takka, air fryer salmon, or a slice of meatloaf. You will add some protein that complements the cheesy flavors. Perfect for a family meal or friend gatherings!
With a Side Salad: Serve this dish with a yummy refreshing side salad like Greek salad, Refreshing Cucumber Salad, a Mediterranean salad, or any salad with a dressing of your choice. You can also serve it up with naan, flat bread, or even garlic bread!
Other sides: It can be served with mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, jalapeno pickles, hummus, onion rings, or crispy garlic parmesan potato!
Pro Tip
Let’s make the cauliflower mac and cheese more keto-friendly! Just omit the milk and use heavy cream or any keto-friendly cream or milk option of your choice. Also, knowing which types of cheeses to combine to keep the sauce creamy will help if you want to omit cream or milk altogether. A great option for a creamy cheesy sauce is the cream cheese!
Storage Tips
Refrigerating: If you have leftovers, place them in an air-tight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: It is possible to freeze cauliflower mac and cheese. However, upon defrosting, the sauce might become thin and slightly watery. If you choose to freeze it, place it in an airtight container and store it for up to 2 months. Consider using small freezer containers for individual portions.
Reheating: You can reheat cauliflower mac and cheese in the microwave in 1-minute intervals. Stir in between to ensure even reheating. You can add a splash of milk and cream to keep it creamy. You can also reheat it in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 350F.
Pro Tips
If you want a light sauce, use almond milk or coconut milk if you don’t mind the flavor.
It’s a great idea to season the florets as they roast, right before you broil, with salt and black pepper or spices of your choice, to add up flavors.
When you roast, try to get the cauliflower florets a little extra crispy for better texture and to prevent them from getting too mushy when folded into the sauce.
Make sure you melt your cheeses well and get the sauce to the perfect consistency before folding in the roasted cauliflower.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can simply omit the whole milk and use a low-carb substitute. A low-carb heavy cream or low-fat milk will do just as fine as whole or almond milk. You can also choose lighter, fat-free cheese options from your local grocery store to save on carbs and make this an even healthier meal option!
It’s important to know that the more the sauce cools, the thicker it will become so it shouldn’t be served too hot or it will seem thinner. But, if it really is thinner than what you want, just add more shredded cheese!
It can also be gluten-free if you omit the flour and use cream cheese to help keep the sauce nice and thick.
More Recipes You Should Try
- Béchamel Pasta Bake (Macarona Béchamel)
- The Best Macaroni Salad with Tuna
- Best Mac and Cheese Recipe
- McDonald’s Secret Big Mac Sauce (Copycat)
- Cheese and Hotdog Stuffed Pastry
- Smoked Paprika and Garlic Baked Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash and cut cauliflower into small florets. Place on a sprayed baking sheet. Generously spray the cauliflower florets then roast for 15 -20 minutes at 450F. Broil for a few minutes if needed.
- In a large sauce pan melt the butter, then add flour and whisk until combined.
- Pour in the milk as you whisk over medium high heat. Add in the salt and pepper.
- Lower the heat to low then add in the cheese is melted and mixture has thickened.
- Gently fold in the roasted cauliflower until they are all coated with the cheese sauce. Enjoy warm
