Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

If you’re looking for a low carb alternative to the traditional macaroni and cheese, this is it! Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is every bit as good, if not better than the indulgent, high carb Mac and cheese and what makes it even better is that it’s a much healthier choice for a fantastic side dish!

For many years, we’ve been doing a low(er) carb lifestyle and it has really worked for my family.  We’re not strict “keto”, but we try to cut the carbs whenever we can.  

With cauliflower Mac and cheese, you don’t feel like you’ve sacrificed anything, though.  It’s super rich, creamy and very indulgent.  You can eat this, pretty much guilt free AND it will satisfy your comfort food cravings.

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cauliflower Mac and cheese

Cauliflower mac and cheese

If you’re ready to try and enjoy one of the best low carb, keto friendly comfort foods around, you’ve come to the right place!

Ingredients:

  • Cauliflower florets
  • Butter
  • Cream cheese
  • Colby jack cheese
  • Mozzarella cheese (not shown in above pic.)
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Bacon 
  • Tony Cachare’s seasoning or salt & pepper 

Let’s make it!

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay the cauliflower florets on it in a single layer. Season with (my favorite) Tony Chachere’s seasoning. If you don’t have any Tony’s, a little salt & pepper will work!  

Put in the oven on 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

While the cauliflower’s in the oven, melt the butter in a saucepan with the cream cheese, the heavy cream and the cheeses (one cup each) and stir until creamy.

Next, put the cauliflower in a casserole dish.

cauliflower Mac and cheese

Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and mix until it’s completely coated with the delicious cheese sauce.

cauliflower Mac and cheese

Almost there!

Sprinkle the crispy, crumbled bacon and the remaining half cup of cheese over the top.

Place it in the oven and broil until the cheese turns a golden brown.

cauliflower Mac and cheese

Serve with grilled or baked chicken, pork chops, fish or just about anything you think would go with traditional Mac & cheese!

cauliflower Mac and cheese

I hope you give cauliflower Mac and cheese a try and let me know how you like it!

Tips for making easy cauliflower mac and cheese

  • If you prefer to use fresh cauliflower, cut it into small florets and roast in the oven on 450 degrees for about 20 minutes (instead of 350 degrees for 10 minutes.) FYI…frozen cauliflower is cheaper than a fresh head AND it’s already cut up for you.
  • If you don’t want to cook your bacon, you can use “real bacon pieces” that you buy in a package, already cooked.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • The cheeses in the recipe are my favorites, but you can mix it up a little by changing the cheeses. You could use Monterrey jack, cheddar, parmesan or Gruyere.  Any of these would be delicious!
  • Try adding a little more protein to cauliflower Mac and cheese by adding diced or rotisserie chicken.

Other post you might like:

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Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Author: 
Recipe type: Side dish
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
This is one of my favorite low carb (keto friendly) side dishes that goes with just about everything...especially grilled chicken! It's super creamy, incredibly indulgent and unbelievably low carb! Great for any weeknight, a backyard BBQ or a special occasion dinner!
Ingredients
  • 1 bag frozen cauliflower
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 1½ cups Colby Jack or cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • 4 strips of cooked bacon, crumbled or you can use bacon pieces
  • Tony Chachere's seasoning or salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat ove to 350 degrees
  2. Put cauliflower on a lined baking sheet and sprinkle with Tony Chachere's seasoning or salt & pepper.
  3. Roast in oven for about 10 minutes.
  4. While the cauliflower's in the oven, melt the butter in a saucepan with the cream cheese, the heavy cream and the cheeses (one cup each) and stir until creamy.
  5. Put the cauliflower in a casserole dish and mix with cheese sauce.
  6. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top and put in the oven on broil for until the top is golden brown.

cauliflower Mac and cheese

cauliflower Mac and cheese

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