Description
A creamy, cheesy comfort dish made lighter with cauliflower. This cauliflower mac & cheese has all the flavor of the classic but with a veggie twist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 8 oz elbow macaroni (or pasta of choice)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional topping: breadcrumbs or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Steam or boil cauliflower florets until tender, about 8–10 minutes. Drain well.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in milk, stirring until sauce thickens.
- Add cheddar, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in cooked macaroni and cauliflower, mixing until evenly coated.
- Optional: Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, and broil until golden.
- Serve hot, garnished with parsley if desired.
Notes
You can make this dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and flour. For extra richness, stir in a splash of cream or a little cream cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop / Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: cauliflower mac and cheese, healthy mac and cheese, comfort food, pasta recipes