Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

This creamy cauliflower mac & cheese will make your whole family happy! Kids and adults love this comfort food that gives you all the cheesy goodness with way more nutrition than regular mac and cheese.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 25 minutes, Serves: 8 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, High-Calcium, Bone Health, Nut-Free, Healthy Aging, Low-Sodium, Soy-Free, Vegetarian, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 247 Calories, 17g Fat, 12g Carbs, 13g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cauliflower florets: You’ll need 8 cups of bite-size pieces from 1-2 heads. Pick cauliflower that’s white and firm – it’s going to be your pasta substitute and tastes amazing!

Reduced-fat milk: Get 1¾ cups total, and we’ll divide it up during cooking. This makes the sauce creamy without being too heavy.

Cornstarch: Just 2 tablespoons will thicken up your cheese sauce perfectly. It’s the secret to getting that smooth, creamy texture!

Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese: You’ll want 2 cups shredded for the best flavor. The sharper the cheese, the more delicious your dish will be!

Reduced-fat cream cheese: Get 8 ounces and cut it into small pieces before you start. This makes everything extra creamy and rich.

Salt and pepper: Just ½ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper to bring out all those yummy flavors.

Fresh chives or parsley: Chopped up for garnish – this adds a nice pop of color and fresh taste on top!

How to Make Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Step 1: Cook your cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes. You want them just tender, not mushy! Drain them well when they’re done.

Step 2: While the cauliflower cooks, heat 1½ cups of milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat it until you see steam rising from the surface.

Step 3: Mix the remaining ¼ cup milk with cornstarch in a small bowl until completely smooth. No lumps allowed here – whisk it really well!

Step 4: Add your cornstarch mixture to the hot milk and whisk constantly. Keep whisking for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce simmers and gets thick.

Step 5: Take the pan off the heat and stir in your Cheddar and cream cheese pieces. Stir until everything melts into a beautiful, smooth sauce.

Step 6: Add the salt and pepper, then fold in your drained cauliflower. Stir gently to coat everything with that amazing cheese sauce.

Step 7: Garnish with chopped chives or parsley if you want. Serve it up hot and watch everyone smile!

Easy and Quick Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Version

Want to make this even faster? You can use frozen cauliflower florets straight from the bag! Just microwave 8 cups of frozen cauliflower for about 8 minutes until tender, then drain well. Skip the boiling water step completely and jump right to making your cheese sauce. This saves you a few minutes and one less pot to wash!

Serving Ideas

This creamy cauliflower mac & cheese is a complete meal all by itself! Serve it alongside some crispy roasted chicken or grilled pork chops for a hearty dinner. A simple green salad with fresh tomatoes makes a perfect light side dish too.

Storage

Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days in a covered container. To reheat, just warm it up in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. You can also reheat it on the stove over low heat, stirring gently until warmed through.

Substitutions

No extra-sharp Cheddar? Regular Cheddar or even Gruyere cheese work great too! If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use 2 tablespoons of flour instead. Regular milk works fine if you don’t have reduced-fat, and you can swap the cream cheese for more regular cheese if needed.

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the cauliflower: It should be tender but still have a little bite to it. Mushy cauliflower makes the whole dish watery!
• Shred your own cheese: Pre-shredded cheese has coatings that can make your sauce less smooth. Fresh shredded melts so much better!
• Keep the heat low: Once you add the cheese, keep the heat off or very low. High heat can make cheese sauce grainy.
• Drain well: Make sure your cauliflower is really well-drained before adding it to the sauce. Extra water will thin out your beautiful cheese sauce.

FAQs

Can I make this ahead of time?

You bet! This dish actually tastes even better the next day. Just store it in the fridge and reheat gently when you’re ready to eat. The flavors have time to blend together beautifully.

Will kids actually eat cauliflower this way?

Sure! Most kids can’t even tell it’s cauliflower because it’s covered in all that delicious cheese sauce. It looks just like regular mac and cheese, so they dig right in!

Can I freeze this recipe?

I don’t recommend freezing this one because the cheese sauce can get grainy when thawed. But it keeps great in the fridge for a couple days, so you can make it ahead that way instead!

Is this really as good as regular mac and cheese?

It’s different but just as satisfying! You get all that creamy, cheesy comfort food feeling with way more nutrition. Plus, you won’t feel heavy and sluggish after eating it like you might with the pasta version.

I hope your family loves this healthier take on mac and cheese as much as mine does! Let me know how it turns out for you – I love hearing about your cooking adventures!