• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Life is but a Dish

Easy, approachable recipes for the everyday home cook

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • About Me
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Cakes, Cupcakes & Cookies
    • Chicken
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Drinks & Cocktails
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Fish & Seafood
    • Gluten Free
    • Grilling
    • Healthy
    • Instant Pot & Slow Cooker
    • Lunch
    • Meat
    • Muffins & Quick Breads
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Quick & Easy
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Stews
    • Turkey
    • Vegetarian
    • Veggies
  • Cook with Confidence
  • Shop
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Me
  • All Recipes
  • Quick & Easy Recipes
  • Cook with Confidence
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

    Oct 20, 2015 / by Laney Schwartz / 2 Comments(updated Dec 2, 2021)

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    You guys wanna hear some fun news?

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese-4

    Remember last year when I teamed up with Jen Widerstrom from The Biggest Loser? Well, we’re at it again and this time we’re bringing you recipes twice a month.  We’re focusing on recipes that are quick and easy, like these Spicy String Beans with Crushed Macadamia Nuts, and transformational dishes such as this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese!

    Transformational, meaning comfort food with a twist.  How can we turn everyday, typically unhealthy foods, into a healthier choice?  I know.  Why ruin mac and cheese with vegetables?!?  Bleh!  I promise. If I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t have even noticed.  Do you hate me yet?

    Well, if you’re gonna eat mac and cheese you may as well give your body a break and lighten it up a bit, right?  I mean, I get it. There are some foods in life that are meant to be eaten as is.  Like ice cream for example.  If you’re gonna eat ice cream, JUST EAT IT.  Sure, there are ways to lighten it up, even ways to make it “healthy”.  But why?  I say if you’re gonna eat ice cream, then just go for it dude. And don’t look back.  Now.  Let’s talk mac and cheese.

    All I did to this recipe was take away some of the naughtiness.  There’s no flour, no butter, and I substituted just SOME of the cheese and replaced it with creamy cauliflower.  That’s the beauty of this vegetable.  It can go undercover.  Kind of like how it did in these Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. Once cooked and blended, cauliflower thinks it’s cream.  Sneaky little guy.

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese-5If you want to be REALLY good, you can use a gluten free pasta, which would work just fine. However, I did not. Well, here you have it folks.  You won’t miss the creamy, cheesy texture of traditional mac and cheese, I promise!  Don’t knock it ’til you try it.

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese-3

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

    • Yield: 3 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 cups uncooked macaroni,can also use gluten-free pasta
    • 5 cups chicken stock,or vegetable stock
    • 1 12 ounce bag cauliflower florets, or 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
    • 1 cup shredded cheese,I use a mixture of fontina, gruyere, and parmesan
    • 3/4 teaspoon salt
    • Garnish with chopped chives and extra shredded parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to package, about 7-8 minutes. Drain noodles and set aside.
    2. In the same pot bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until fork tender, about 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of the chicken stock and set aside. Drain the rest of the cauliflower.
    3. Place the cooked cauliflower in a blender and add the reserved 1 cup of stock. Blend until very smooth. Pour the sauce back into the pot and warm over low heat. Add the cheese and stir continuously until cheese has melted and sauce is smooth. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt or more to taste. Add the cooked noodles to the cheese sauce and stir until well coated.
    4. Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with chopped chives and extra shredded parmesan cheese if desired.

    Notes

    * I like the combination of the three cheeses in this dish. The fontina is mild and melts beautifully. The gruyere is a little sharp and compliments the mildness of the fontina. And the parmesan gives it a nice salty bite. Together they make the perfect trio for this restaurant style, “healthy-ish” mac and cheese.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @lifeisbutadish on Instagram and hashtag it #lifeisbutadish

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese-2Dig in.

    Share this recipe!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Filed Under: Dinner, Pasta, Vegetarian Tagged With: Cauliflower, cheese, Jen Widerstrom, Life is but a Dish, mac and cheese, Pasta

    Reader Interactions

      Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

      If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means the world and is greatly appreciated!

      xo, Laney

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

      Comments

    1. Jennifer

      January 15, 2018 at 6:27 pm

      I tried this recipe and the cauliflower and cheese clumped together. Any thoughts on why? And how can I get a creamy texture?

      Reply
      • Life is but a Dish

        January 17, 2018 at 12:04 pm

        Hmmm…maybe add a little more liquid?

    Primary Sidebar

    About me

    Welcome to Life is but a Dish! I create easy, approachable recipes for the everyday home cook. Behind every recipe, photo and blog post is me – just an everyday mom, home cook and girl who’s obsessed with food. Let me tell you a little bit about what makes me, me!

    READ MORE…

    6 cheat sheets to help jumpstart your success in the kitchen

    AS FEATURED IN:

    Life is but a Dish is featured in: Shape Magazine Buzzfeed Huff Post Los Angeles Magazine FeedFeed

    lifeisbutadish

    Recipes you can trust ⬇️

    LANEY - Easy Everyday Cooking
    Quick 5-minute lunch! Quick 5-minute lunch!
    7-Ingredient Chimichurri Sauce that goes on litera 7-Ingredient Chimichurri Sauce that goes on literally EVERYTHING! You gotta try it. Full recipe on the blog.
    2 minutes. 4 ingredients. Let’s go. ⁣ ⁣ 💚 2 minutes. 4 ingredients. Let’s go. ⁣
⁣
💚 Greek yogurt⁣
💚 Lime zest & juice⁣
💚 Salt ⁣
💚 Pepper⁣
⁣
Mix together and drizzle on everything. ⁣
⁣
Recipe: search Life is but a Dish Lime Crema
    Are we ready for salads yet? ⁣ ⁣ If so, this S Are we ready for salads yet? ⁣
⁣
If so, this Simple Kale Mango Salad is the perfect transition into spring. ⁣
⁣
The colors tho! 😍😍😍⁣
⁣
Recipe: Search Life is but a Dish Kale Mango Salad⁣
⁣
https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/kale-mango-salad/
    DINNER TONIGHT: Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Lime DINNER TONIGHT: Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Lime Crema. ⁣
⁣
✅ quick ⁣
✅ easy⁣
✅ delicious⁣
⁣
Who’s in? 🙋🏻‍♀️⁣
⁣
Recipe: https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/sheet-pan-shrimp-fajitas-with-lime-crema/
    This recipe is SO GOOD!!! Sautéed Zucchini, Corn This recipe is SO GOOD!!! Sautéed Zucchini, Corn & Mint Salad! 
.
Recipe: https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/sauteed-zucchini-corn-mint-salad-w-lemon-parmesan/
    I couldn’t love you any more if I tried. Happy b I couldn’t love you any more if I tried. Happy birthday to my baby, the sweetest, most gentle soul. ❤️
    FAQ: How do I get my chicken to be juicy and flavo FAQ: How do I get my chicken to be juicy and flavorful? ⁣
⁣
ANSWER: An awesome marinade. ⁣
⁣
There are some other key factors to making sure your chicken doesn’t taste like rubbery cardboard, 😝 but a marinade is an easy and great place to start. ⁣
⁣
Try this 5-minute Mexican Lime Chili Marinade that will leave you with delicious and juicy chicken every time. ⁣
⁣
Who’s ready for spring? 🌱⁣
⁣
https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/5-minute-mexican-lime-chili-marinade/
    Last minute dinner idea, inspired by you!⁣ ⁣ S Last minute dinner idea, inspired by you!⁣
⁣
Somebody shared that they made (and loved) this recipe yesterday and I was re-inspired to make this oldie but goodie! ⁣
⁣
Your shares mean everything so please keep cooking, keep sharing and make this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Pasta because OH EM GEE. 😍⁣
⁣
https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/instant-pot-butternut-squash-pasta/
    Load More Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2022 · Privacy Policy · Support by Foodie Digital