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This creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese offers a lighter spin on the classic dish – it’s low on calories and keto-friendly!
Now this is a veggie you’ll actually wanna eat! I love making these cheesy cauliflower as an indulgent side dish that’s low calorie but high in protein.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Healthier comfort food: Your fave mac and cheese, in a low carb format. Enough said.
Delicious sauce: It’s super creamy and delicious, made with cream cheese and cheddar.
Power your fitness goals with protein.
Learn how to eat more protein for breakfast, prep healthy lunches for work and enjoy delicious dinners you actually look forward to.
Ingredients and substitutions
Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like avocado oil.
Cauliflower – use pre-cut cauliflower to save time.
Yellow onion – white onion would be the best substitute here.
Butter – try using margarine instead.
Milk – use regular milk, half and half or skim milk.
Light cream cheese – you can leave this out and double up on the cheddar cheese.
Cheddar cheese – mozzarella, gouda or Swiss would all be good.
Chopped chives – feel free to leave these out altogether.
How to make cauliflower mac and cheese
Step 1: Roast the cauliflower.
Roast the cauliflower and onions until fully cooked.
Step 2: Make the cheese sauce.
Whisk the butter, milk, cream cheese and cheddar cheese together.
Step 3: Simmer the sauce.
Simmer until smooth.
Step 4: Toss everything together.
Toss the cauliflower in the cheese sauce and serve.
Tips for the best mac and cheese
Make sure you get the best mac and cheese every time with these tips:
Use freshly grated cheese: It’ll give you a way better melt than the pre-shredded stuff.
Spice up the sauce: Turn up the heat by adding jalapenos, green chilies or chili powder.
Let the sauce simmer: Simmer over low until it gets nice and thick.
Try out different variations: Add in extra veggies, meat like bacon or chicken, or different cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best kind of cheese for mac and cheese?
I like using a combination of cream cheese and cheddar cheese, but mozzarella, gouda, Swiss and/or parmesan would all be good.
Why is my sauce grainy/gritty?
If your cheese sauce is grainy or gritty, you had the heat turned up too high. You need to simmer the sauce over low heat for best results.
Can I use frozen cauliflower?
Yes, but it’ll need to cook for longer (about 30 mins). Make sure to pat it dry before tossing it in the sauce.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy this mac and cheese on its own or as a side dish to one of these yummy mains:
Preheat oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add cauliflower and onions and toss with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
While cauliflower is cooking, make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a large saucepan, then add milk, cream cheese and cheddar cheese, whisking to combine and simmering over low heat for 4-5 minutes until smooth.
Remove cauliflower from oven and toss in cheese sauce. Garnish with extra shredded cheddar cheese (optional) and chives then serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Cook the cheese sauce over low heat so the milk doesn’t curdle.
Use your favourite cheese like Swiss, mozzarella, gouda or parmesan.
Store any leftovers in the fridge for 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 mins.
Hey there, my name’s Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I’m a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I’ve got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master’s degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women’s Health, Reader’s Digest and more. I’m also the founder of Dinner Prep Pro, which is a meal prep app and community that helps busy people get more time back, save money on food and reduce stress during the work week. Thanks for being here and I hope to inspire you with my recipes and meal planning tips!
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