Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Made with only 8 simple ingredients, this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe comes together quickly and easily. Cauliflower florets coated in a delicious cheesy sauce then baked until bubbly, you won’t even miss the heavy carbs with this veggie-packed meal.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 337kcal
- 1 large head of cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a 9" x 14” baking dish with olive oil spray or grease with butter.
Fill a large pot with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Add the cauliflower and place the lid on the pot. Cook until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and cook until it has melted completely. Whisk in the flour and continue to cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, whisking constantly.
While continuing to whisk, add the milk along with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Whisk for another 3 to 4 minutes or until it has slightly thickened.
Turn off the heat and add the cheese, cooking until the cheese has completely melted. Add the cooked cauliflower and toss to coat well.
Pour all of the contents of the pan into a baking dish. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Optional: broil for an additional 2 to 5 minutes to make the top browned.
- If you have the time, grate your own cheese for the smoothest result.
- Make sure you remove the saucepan from the heat source before adding the cheese in. Adding the cheese too soon will lead to the cheese breaking down into a gritty texture.
- When you mix in the cheese, avoid pouring it all in at once. Add around half a cup of cheese at a time into the saucepan, and whisk until it’s all melted before adding in another half cup. Repeat until all the cheese has melted into the sauce.
- For a more decadent sauce, you can swap half the milk for heavy cream.
- If the sauce is not as thick as you prefer, you can add extra cheese to it. However, keep in mind that the cheese sauce will thicken as it cools.
- For an added crunch, you can put traditional breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, or even crushed pork rinds on top of the mixture for a crispy crumb topping.
- When picking a head of cauliflower, choose one that’s dense and feels heavy for its size. It should be compact and firm. Avoid any with yellow or brown spots on them.
Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 849mg | Potassium: 693mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 752IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 479mg | Iron: 1mg