• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Worldly Treat

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Cookie Policy (EU)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Lunch/Dinner » Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    Published: Jan 15, 2020 · Modified: Oct 29, 2024 by Maureen Celestine with 1 Comment

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy, and flavorful. It is a lighter version of the classic mac n cheese. Pair it with a salad or my yeast banana roll bread for a weeknight supper.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you'd like to go the classic route, try my mac and cheese recipe using gouda cheese. It's so good!

    creamy cauliflower sauce with pasta in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • Reasons to Love this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe:
    • 📃Ingredient Description
    • 💭Variations and Substitutions
    • 📝Step-by-Step Instructions
    • 👩🏽‍🍳Maur's Tips
    • Great toppings for Mac and Cheese
    • ✅Recipe FAQS
    • Love One Pot Dishes? Here are Some Tasty One Pot Dishes to Try:
    • 📖 Recipe

    If you want to indulge but not feel overwhelmed by the number of cheesy calories in the classic Mac and Cheese, this creamy cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe is the right balance for you. The cauliflower's rich taste and creamy texture retain its ranking as comfort food. 

    Reasons to Love this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe:

    • It's simple and easy to put together.
    • Versatile: Although I baked mine, you don't have to go that far. We enjoyed it in its creamy texture from the stovetop.
    • It is excellent for a crowd! Just like my baked beans with ground beef casserole.
    • This one-pot pasta recipe skips the classic béchamel method that uses butter, milk, and flour. Instead, we'll use a cauliflower sauce as the base for this Mac and Cheese. Trust me, you won't want to return to the classic version once you try this method. Plus, it reduces some of the carbs—did someone say touchdown? Lol.
    • It is budget-friendly and family-friendly.

    📃Ingredient Description

    The main ingredients for this dish are:

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (with cauliflower sauce)
    • Macaroni: This is a classic pasta shape for mac and cheese. Its hollow tubes perfectly hold the creamy sauce. You can substitute it with other short pasta, like penne or shells.
    • Cauliflower is another main ingredient in this dish. I recommend the yellow cauliflower, as it mimics the look of cheddar cheese. We are going to steam it and then blend it with the rest of the ingredients. White is fine if that's all you have.
    • Cream: Heavy cream was blended with the cauliflower, yielding a thick and nutritious sauce for the pasta's base.
    • Seasonings: I seasoned the sauce with a pinch of nutmeg and ample smoked paprika for a distinct flavor.
    • Cheese: A blend of cheeses, such as gruyere, fontina, and sharp cheddar, was used to thicken the sauce and enhance the dish's taste.

    💭Variations and Substitutions

    📝Step-by-Step Instructions

    Cooking the cauliflower and pureeing it to form a base sauce.

    Step 1: Bring vegetable broth to a boil, cook cauliflower florets until tender, drain and cool, then cook bacon until crisp.

    Step 2: sauté shallots and garlic in the grease, combine with seasonings and puree everything with cream, milk, nutmeg, and gruyere.

    Boiling the pasta and combining with the sauce before baking.

    Step 3: Cook the elbow pasta according to the package instructions, drain, and mix with cauliflower sauce, cheese blend, and bacon bits.

    Step 4: Transfer to individual cast iron pans, top with more cheese, bacon, and toasted breadcrumbs, and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden and bubbly.

    👩🏽‍🍳Maur's Tips

    • Select densely packed cauliflower heads; avoid blemished or smelly ones.
    • Both white and yellow cauliflowers are fine.
    • Choose high-moisture cheeses with low melting points, such as fontina, Monterey jack, cheddar, smoked gouda, or gruyere.
    • I recommend smoked gruyere for its nutty and sweet flavor.
    • Add a handful of cheese blend for optimal flavor.
    • Even though I topped my dish with shredded cheese because I ran out of fresh cheese, I wouldn't recommend using pre-shredded cheese, as it doesn't melt smoothly.
    cauliflower mac and cheese in a small pan.

    Great toppings for Mac and Cheese

    Some people prefer their Mac and cheese plain, while others can't get enough crunchy toppings. I enjoy it with Italian-style panko bread crumbs and crispy bacon or lobster tail. Add chopped ham, crab meat, scallions, broccoli, or even more cheese like grated Parmigiano Reggiano if you want to elevate yours.

    ✅Recipe FAQS

    What type of Pasta should I use for Mac and Cheese:

    Use a pasta-like macaroni (straight or elbow) with a good surface area to catch all the creamy sauce. Pasta such as shells, penne, orecchiette, ziti, rigatoni, rotelle, e.t.c are great choices too.

    Can I make the cheese sauce ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make the cheese sauce ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently over low heat, stirring to maintain a smooth texture. If it thickens, add a splash of milk or pasta water, then proceed with the rest of the recipe.

    What are the Best Cheeses for this dish?

    Cheddar is a classic choice for mac and cheese because it melts well and provides a sharp, tangy flavor. However, multiple types of cheese can elevate your dish. Examples are gouda, gruyere, and parmesan, to mention a few.

    Love One Pot Dishes? Here are Some Tasty One Pot Dishes to Try:

    • Cheesy Corn Casserole served in a casserole dish.
      Cheesy Corn Casserole
    • gouda mac and cheese on a flat surface garnished with breadcrumbs and herbs.
      Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • A bowl of beef masala in a tray on a flat surface.
      Beef Masala
    • Baked beans with ground beef.
      Baked Beans with Ground Beef

    Have you given this recipe or any other from my website a try? Please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and sharing your experience in the 📝 comments section. Your feedback means the world to me, and I'm excited to hear from you!

    PEACE & LOVE

    Maureen

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your continuous support.

    Chicken Caprese salad with creamy basil pesto

     

    Peace & Love

    Maureen

    📖 Recipe

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (with cauliflower sauce)

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (with Cauliflower sauce)

    This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy, and it’s full of flavor. It's the perfect dinner for a relaxing weekend.
    5 from 21 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 33 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 53 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 699kcal
    Author: Maureen Celestine

    Ingredients

    • 8 .oz elbow pasta (about 2 cups)
    • 1 medium head Cauliflower (about 1lb 5oz)
    • 4 Cups vegetable Broth 
    • 5 bacon strips
    • 2 Shallots
    • 4 garlic cloves
    • 1 teaspoon  ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon  salt
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ cup  Heavy cream
    • ½ cup whole milk
    • ½ cup  shredded smoked Gruyère
    • 1 cup  Cheese blend
      (Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Fontina or Gouda) + more for topping
    • ½ cup Panko bread crumbs (Italian style, recommended).

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray 3 mini cast iron pans or casserole dish with cooking spray. 



    PREPARE THE CAULIFLOWER SAUCE

    • Pour the vegetable broth into a medium pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 
      Core, Wash and Cut the cauliflower into florets and add to the broth. Reduce heat to medium, cover with a tight lid, and cook for 8 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain the cauliflower and reserve the broth for later. Set aside to cool slightly.



    • Layout the bacon strips without overlapping in a cold skillet. Cook over medium heat for 6 mins (3 mins on each side). Turn the strips as needed until they reach the desired crispness.



      Drain well on a paper-towel-lined plate. Chop into bits. Set aside



    • Meanwhile, place the chopped shallots, in the bacon grease and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Add garlic and continue to cook for another 2 minutes. 



    • Add the salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to the shallot mixture and cook, stirring, for about a minute. Remove from the heat.

      (optional) Toast the bread crumbs in the bacon grease for 2 minutes and set aside for later.



    • Using a heavy-duty blender, puree the cauliflower, shallot mixture, heavy cream, milk, nutmeg,  and gruyere. Check the seasoning and adjust to taste.



    COOK THE PASTA

    • Bring the remaining vegetable broth to a boil and cook the elbow pasta according to package instructions. Drain and return to saucepan.

    BAKE

    • Ladle the cauliflower sauce into the pan with pasta, add the cheese blend, and bacon bits and combine. At this point, you can add more milk if it’s not as creamy as you would like. Adjust to taste
      Spoon the pasta into an individual cast iron pan or casserole dish. Top with more cheese (parmesan), bacon,  and toasted breadcrumbs. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden. Remove from oven and serve. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 699kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1058mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 780IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 352mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @WorldlyTreat or tag #worldlytreat!

    More lunch-dinner-recipes

    • Hot honey chicken wings with hot honey sauce.
      Hot Honey Chicken Wings
    • Hot honey chicken tenders on a platter.
      Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
    • Chicken alfredo with blackened seasoning in a pan on a flat surface.
      Blackened Chicken Alfredo
    • Air fryer frozen wings on a platter with carrots and celery and ranch dressing.
      Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings (no thaw)

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Creamy vegan cashew sauce - WORLDLY TREAT says:
      February 25, 2021 at 12:03 am

      […] Thanks to the nutritional yeast in it, it gets a cheesy flavor. So, you can use it to make vegan mac n cheese. […]

      Reply
    5 from 21 votes (21 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Maureen celestine

    Thanks for stopping by. It means the world to me. On Worldly Treat, you'll discover family-friendly dishes, one-pot recipes, signature cocktails, classic African dishes, holiday favorites, and lots more! Easy recipes for the everyday home cook. You can taste the world right in your kitchen without taking a trip. Please follow along. Let's get cooking!

    Learn more...

    Spring Recipes

    • Chicken Fruit salad in a bowl
      Chicken Fruit salad
    • halibut steak on a plate with veggies
      Pan-Seared Halibut with Dill sauce
    • whole tilapia fish air fried and served alongside spicy pepper sauce and sautéed bell pepper vegetables.
      Whole Tilapia in the Air Fryer
    • TUNA-EGG-SALAD sandwich
      Tuna Cucumber Salad Sandwich (no Mayo)
    • Homemade pineapple coconut popsicles on a pink background.
      Homemade Pineapple Coconut Popsicles
    • seared salmon served with greens
      Pan-seared Salmon with Spinach and Fennel
    • banana and spinach smoothies getting poured into a cup.
      Spinach and Banana Smoothie
    • Homemade lemons with honey in a jar.
      Homemade Lemons with Honey

    Popular Recipes

    • Smoky Nigerian jollof rice
      SMOKY NIGERIAN JOLLOF RICE
    • A bowl of beef masala in a tray on a flat surface.
      Beef Masala
    • Nigerian Meat Pie
      NIGERIAN MEAT PIE
    • Italian pepperoni pizza recipe-063
      Italian Pepperoni Pizza Recipe (with veggies)
    • Chicken Fruit salad in a bowl
      Chicken Fruit salad
    • a glass of rum cider cocktail
      Rum Cider Cocktail

    SEARCH FOR RECIPES

    Worldly Treat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program that is designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fee through advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please visit my Disclosure and Privacy Policy page for more details.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As seen on

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    Let's Connect!

    • Sign Up! For brand new recipes and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 worldlytreat.com

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.