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this is a picture of cauliflower mac and cheese in a white baking dish with a silver serving spoon on a dark surface. garnished with panko breadcrumbs, bacon, and minced parsley.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe

Fall in love with Cauliflower Mac and Cheese! Creamy, cheesy, and the perfect side dish recipe! It's healthy comfort food at its finest!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 429kcal
Author: Ruth Truett

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • chef's knife
  • 9x13 baking dish
  • large skillet
  • whisk
  • spatula

Ingredients

  • 6-8 cups cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces 1½-2 heads of cauliflower depending on size
  • 1-2 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour or your favorite GF flour blend
  • 2 cups whole milk, warm
  • 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 cup gouda cheese, grated
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese

Crunchy Topping

  • 4-5 strips bacon, diced
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs I used a roasted garlic flavor
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

Prep the Cauliflower

  • Add the cauliflower to a 9x13 baking dish along with the avocado oil. Add kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste. Bake in a preheated 400° oven for 30 minutes or until cauliflower is just tender, stirring halfway.

Make the Cheese Sauce

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet and whisk in the flour. Cook this for a few minutes to get rid of any raw flour taste. Add the warm milk in increments, whisking continuously to prevent clumps.
  • Once all the milk has been incorporated, add in the kosher salt, pepper, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and dried dill weed. Taste for salt levels, adding some if you would like.
  • Slowly, and off of the heat, add the cheddar and gouda cheese. Whisking continuously until the cheese is melted and thoroughly incorporated.

The Crunchy Topping

  • Cook the bacon in a skillet on medium-high heat until crisp. Toss in the panko and stir around for a few minutes letting the panko absorb the bacon fat. This lets it become super crispy.

Finishing

  • Lower the oven temperature to 350°
  • Combine the cheese sauce and the cooked cauliflower in the original 9x13 baking dish. Top with parmesan cheese and the panko/bacon situation. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until nice and bubbly.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Add the cheese off of the heat helps to prevent a grainy cheese sauce. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1136mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 642IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 492mg | Iron: 1mg
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