Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – The Roasted Root | Wholesome Residing Heaven

Creamy low-carb Cauliflower Mac and Cheese with caramelized onions and crispy bacon for the cheesiest, dreamiest vacation facet dish! This straightforward recipe requires easy components that may be discovered at any grocery retailer. Recipe consists of range high directions and baking directions. 

Whereas I sometimes preserve my facet dishes pretty wholesome in the course of the vacation season, I simply love together with one or two choices which can be excessive decadent and scrumptious. 

As a result of we’re a household of cheese lovers over right here, something with cheese or a cream sauce like my Mediterranean Scalloped Potatoes or Cheesy Green Bean Casserole will get the stamp of approval.

Nicely.

Whereas I don’t sometimes prepare dinner with numerous dairy, I made a decision to whip up essentially the most luscious creamy low-carb mac and cheese recipe, utilizing none apart from: cauliflower.

That is troubling to some and welcome with open arms by others.

Irrespective of your relationship with cauliflower, we will all agree that something slathered in a wealthy cream sauce is sure to be scrumptious, as is true on this case.

Neither my husband nor I are over the moon enthusiastic about cauliflower because it stands alone, however we each discovered this creamy cauliflower mac to be a pleasant expertise. The tender cauliflower florets have simply the appropriate mushy but al dente texture to take in the scrumptious sauce.

So for these of you who’re in search of a low-carb facet dish this vacation season, this creamy dreamy keto pleasant cauliflower casserole is strong gold! It’s arguably as engaging as the actual factor.

I’ve included each range high directions and baking directions. Personally, I extremely suggest the baked cauliflower mac and cheese model as it’s simply so decadent!

In case you’re in search of a very dairy-free possibility, make my Creamy Dairy-Free Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole.  

Let’s dive into the straightforward components for low carb cauliflower mac and cheese.

Components for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:

Cauliflower: Choose up a big head of cauliflower to show into low-carb mac and cheese. Sure, recent cauliflower takes the place of macaroni noodles on this recipe, however don’t fear.

We positively smother the cauliflower in a wealthy and creamy cheese sauce in order that it’s just about unrecognizable. Steaming the cauliflower forward of time softens it up in order that it has a stunning texture. 

In case you’re anxious to make baked macaroni and cheese utilizing precise pasta noodles, be at liberty to observe this similar recipe changing the cauliflower with 16 ounces of macaroni noodles. Merely observe the package deal directions for cooking the noodles previous to combining them with the sauce.

Bacon: Bringing an infusion of bacon deliciousness, we prepare dinner up some thick minimize bacon strips and use the bacon fats to caramelize the onion.

The crispy bacon will get chopped up and sprinkled on high on the finish, as a result of we all know tips on how to social gathering.

Yellow Onion and Garlic: Contemporary onion and garlic cloves get chopped up and added to the sauce in order that the entire dish has a giant, daring taste. I like caramelizing the onion till it’s deeply golden brown as a result of this provides an incredible quantity of taste.

In case you’re pressed for time, you may merely sauté the onion till it’s mushy quite than spending the time to caramelize it. In case you aren’t a fan of garlic taste in your mac and cheese, you may skip the garlic.

Alternatively, in case you are a garlic lover, be at liberty to extend the quantity in order that the garlic taste actually shines by means of. Be at liberty to swap out the recent garlic with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. 

Butter: We create a roux utilizing butter and all-purpose flour in order that our creamy cheese sauce seems good and thick. In case you don’t have butter available, exchange it with olive oil.

All-Objective Flour: We have to thicken the cheese sauce with some type of thickening agent and I like making roux as a result of it’s a simple manner of getting ready a goof-proof cream sauce. In case you’re gluten-free, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix.

In case you observe a low-carb weight loss plan or a keto weight loss plan, don’t freak out. There are solely two tablespoons of flour in the complete recipe, which isn’t sufficient to interrupt the carb financial institution.

Half & Half: For essentially the most sultry, silky, thick and creamy sauce, we use half & half. You need to use complete milk, though the tacky sauce gained’t be fairly as creamy. Heavy cream works right here too, though I don’t suppose the additional fats is critical.

In case you’re dairy-free, be at liberty to switch the half and half with full-fat canned coconut milk. I’ve employed this tactic in lots of recipes prior to now.

You can even combine in 4 ounces of cream cheese for those who just like the tangy cream cheese taste in keto mac and cheese recipes. 

Grated Cheese: Choose your favourite melting cheese to make use of in mac and cheese and go wild right here! I take advantage of Colby Jack cheese, however you should use gentle, medium, or sharp cheddar cheese, gouda, gruyere, or any melting cheese you like.

Any mix of cheeses works as long as you’ve verified you take pleasure in it in cauliflower mac n cheese. You can even combine in some parmesan cheese or asiago cheese for that rustic vibe. 

Use 2 cups for creamier cauliflower mac, or 3 cups for cheesier mac and cheese. 

I don’t suggest utilizing pre-shredded cheese, because it doesn’t soften in addition to freshly grated bricks of cheese, which throws off the feel. For that reason, I like to recommend taking the time to grate your individual cheese.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Add a beneficiant pinch of salt and pepper to the cream combination to your private style. For a small kick of warmth, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. 

All of those components mixed ends in one of the vital scrumptious low carb recipes that tastes just like conventional mac and cheese.

Can I Make This Recipe Dairy-Free?:

Sure, completely! Here’s what you do for dairy-free cauliflower mac and cheese. Use full-fat canned coconut milk as a substitute of half & half and exchange the grated cheese together with your favourite dairy-free cheese (vegan “cheese” shreds). In case you have dietary yeast available, I additionally suggest including 3 to 4 tablespoons for a good richer cheese taste.

The cooking directions are the identical for the dairy-free possibility.

I can be clear after I say I haven’t met a dairy-free cheese that I used to be loopy about, however in case you are accustomed to a model you take pleasure in, be at liberty to maneuver ahead.

Now that we’ve coated the fundamental components, let’s make this scrumptious low-carb mac and cheese recipe.

Make Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:

Chop the pinnacle of cauliflower into small florets in order that they’re concerning the measurement of macaroni noodles. I like to recommend chopping the cauliflower into smaller items in order that it has an identical consistency to cooked pasta noodles.

Convey giant pot of water to a full boil. I like to recommend a big thick-bottomed pot resembling a Dutch oven. Ideally, this would be the similar pot you utilize for the entire recipe.

I like to recommend utilizing a Dutch oven when you’ve got one. As soon as the water is at a full boil, add the chopped cauliflower florets. Return the water to a rolling boil and prepare dinner for 8 to 10 minutes, or till the florets are tender.

Drain the cauliflower right into a colander and put aside till prepared to make use of.

Place the pot again on the range high and warmth to medium-high. Place the strips of bacon on the new floor and prepare dinner, flipping each couple of minutes, till the bacon is crispy.

Switch the bacon to a plate (or a chopping board) and put aside to chill. Depart the entire bacon drippings within the pot, as you’ll use them to sauté the onion.

Cut back the warmth to medium warmth and switch the chopped onion to the pot with the bacon fats. Sprinkle the onion liberally with sea salt. Cook dinner, stirring sometimes, till the onion has softened considerably and is starting to caramelize, about 20 minutes complete.

The aim of this step is to create deeper caramelized onion taste and to additionally soften the onion to the extent that the feel isn’t noticeable. If you wish to save time and the feel of al dente onion doesn’t hassle you in creamy mac and cheese, you may sauté it for simply 5 minutes.

As soon as the onion is golden brown and really mushy, add within the minced garlic and prepare dinner for 3 minutes longer, till the garlic could be very aromatic.

Stir within the flour till it seems as if it has dissolved.

Pour within the half and half and proceed heating slowly till the sauce has thickened considerably. Keep away from bringing the milk to a full boil and preserve the warmth on medium.

Stir within the grated cheese till it has melted and the sauce is good and thick and creamy.

Switch the cooked cauliflower to the pot with the creamy cheese sauce and stir properly till the cauliflower is totally mixed.

Style the do-it-yourself mac and cheese for taste and add sea salt and pepper to your private style.

You possibly can both cease right here and serve the mac and cheese with chopped bacon bits and chives on high, or you may switch the mac and cheese to a casserole dish and broil it for a couple of minutes to create a golden brown topping.

Observe the directions beneath for the baked model.

Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

In case you’re going with this non-obligatory step, flip your oven onto the excessive broil setting and transfer one of many oven trays to the rack that’s second or third from the highest. Spray a big 13” x 9” casserole dish with cooking spray.

Pour the tacky cauliflower combination into the ready baking dish and unfold it into a good layer. Sprinkle the tacky cauliflower with additional cheese (I add about 1 to 2 cups extra cheese on high).

Broil for 3 to five minutes or till the cheese has melted and has reached your required stage of golden brown shade.

Take away the baked mac and cheese casserole from the oven and sprinkle it with chopped crispy bacon and chopped chives. 

Serve baked cauliflower mac and cheese together with your most important dish and luxuriate in! This straightforward facet dish pairs properly with any of your favourite protein. 

Retailer leftover tacky cauliflower in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 7 days.

Make this straightforward cauliflower mac and cheese recipe in the course of the vacation season for all of your meals gatherings! Cauliflower recipes are perfect for a low carb way of life as a result of cauliflower is a low-carb vegetable that has impartial taste, making it an excellent canvas for larger flavors. 

For a keto Thanksgiving or for many who are carb aware, low-carb facet dishes like this one are an effective way of protecting the vacation particular and never sacrificing on enjoyment. 

Keto cauliflower mac can be an important recipe to make 12 months spherical, because it serves many people and pairs properly with any most important dish.

In case you’re in search of extra facet dish inspiration, additionally check out these reader favorites!

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Creamy tacky cauliflower casserole, let’s go!

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