Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

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September 13, 2016 by Ciara Attwell, Updated January 4, 2024

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A healthy twist on an old family favourite. This Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is packed with hidden veggies that the kids can’t see or taste!

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (1)

Macaroni Cheese is definitely up there in my top “go-to” family dinners. My kids and my husband love it.

It’s easy to make and I nearly always have the ingredients in my store cupboard and fridge.

With summer coming to an end here in the UK, I know mac & cheese is going to be back on our menu a lot over the next few months.

And so I decided to update my classic recipe with this healthier veggie-packed version!

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (2)

My kids are not fans of cauliflower and it can be tricky even getting them to try Cauliflower Cheese.

I decided instead to make a cheesy sauce using cauliflower which I could then bake in the oven with macaroni.

The cooked cauliflower is blitzed in a blender with milk, cheese and butter, creating a delicious thick and creamy sauce. The kids absolutely loved it and they had no idea of my secret hidden vegetable ingredient!

I used panko breadcrumbs to top my Mac & Cheese as they make an extra-crunchy topping but, either fresh or dried normal breadcrumbs work well too.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (3)

This is definitely my new favourite way to make Mac & Cheese for my family and it will make the perfect comfort food during the cold winter months!

Ifyoutry this recipe yourself please do let me know what you think in the comment below.

Or tag me in a picture onFacebookorInstagramusing the hashtag #myfussyeater.I love seeing all your pictures!

And if you’d like another Mac & Cheese recipe then check out my

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (4)

Or you may also like my One Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta.

★★★★★ 4.9 from 15 reviews

Author: Ciara Attwell @ My Fussy Eater
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main Meal
Method: Baked
Cuisine: European
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

A healthy twist on an old family favourite. This Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is packed with hidden veggies that the kids can’t see or taste!

Ingredients

350g / 10oz macaroni pasta
1 medium cauliflower
1 low sodium vegetable stock cube
200ml / ¾ cup milk
100g / 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 tbsp butter
½ tsp dijon mustand
salt and pepper to taste
To Top:
25g / ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese
15g / ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
cherry tomatoes

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200c / 400f.
Cook the macaroni in a pan of boiling water according to the package instructions.
Cut the cauliflower into small florets. Place in a saucepan with the stock cube. Cover with boiling water and cook for 5-6 minutes until the cauliflower has softened.
Once the cauliflower has cooked, drain it and add to a blender, along with the milk, grated cheese, butter and dijon mustard. Blitz until all the ingredients have combined to a sauce consistency. If it seems too thick then add a little extra milk. Season with salt and pepper if you wish.
Drain the pasta and return it to the saucepan. Add in the cauliflower sauce and mix well.
Transfer the pasta into one large or several small baking dishes. Sprinkle the extra cheese and panko breadcrumbs on top and finally finish with a whole cherry tomato.
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the top is crispy.
Allow to cool a little and then serve.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (15)

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (16)

Comments

Sally says
December 30, 2023 at 8:19 am
Great recipe for a quick dinner. I altered the recipe to my style. Went something like this
– Throw cumin seeds into frypan
– add
— oil and fry until cumin is fragrant (high heat)
— diced onion and fry until golden
— crushed garlic and chilli and quickly sautee (medium heat)
— cauliflower rice, and heat through for 5-6 minutes.
– boil water, add stock, stir and add to cauliflower (absorbs quickly)
– add salt (as required) and stir
– heat cauliflower through well (another 10-15 minutes, dependant on quantity)
– mix milk, Dijon and cheese in a jug and add to pan (personallu like more dijon)
– cover with breadcrumbs and cheese and throw in oven for 20-25 mins.
We enjoyed it as a meatless dinner and added a poached egg for protein.
Thanks for the inspiration. Will definitely cook again.
★★★★★
Reply
- Vicky says
  January 2, 2024 at 11:59 am
  See Also
  The BEST Chili Mac Recipe Scalloped potatoes recipe | Sainsbury`s Magazine 8 Quick And Easy Recipes For Students - Society19 UK Our Favourite Pasta Recipes To Ever Grace Delish's Cooking Pages
  Thank you! great how you adapted the recipe to suit you. Enjoy.
  Reply
Emma Duke says
August 9, 2023 at 8:23 am
Love,Love,Love!!!! simple to make and delicious. Thank you for this recipe idea.
★★★★★
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Jess says
May 12, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Does the mac freeze?
Reply
- Vicky says
  May 15, 2023 at 9:58 am
  Hi Jess, We have never tried to freeze this recipe as normally best served straight from the oven, but cant see any reason it wouldn’t freeze perfectly well.
  Reply
Chrissy says
April 27, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Made this for our fussy eater and she devoured her whole plate. Plus hubby and sister loved it too. Thank you! So easy to make too. Will definitely putting it in the recipe book
★★★★★
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- Vicky says
  May 3, 2023 at 10:25 am
  Amazing to hear your whole family loved this recipe, please feel free to share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram, we love seeing them.
  Reply
Rebecca Irvine says
July 13, 2021 at 5:28 pm
Lovely recipe! My little one ate it no problem, success! Thank you for the recipe, awesome way to make a sauce and hiding veg at the same time xx
★★★★★
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Adam says
March 7, 2021 at 6:43 pm
My family ate this right up, even after they found out it contained cauliflower. I used red lentil rotini for added vegetables and protein. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
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Catherine says
November 20, 2020 at 5:22 pm
My fussy 6 year old son loved this! Will be making again. Thank you for a fantastic recipie thats so easy to cook!
★★★★★
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Jodie says
October 17, 2020 at 9:08 am
My 10,9 and 2 year olds smashed this cauli mac n cheese tonight! They loved it. It’s definitely going into the regular rotation.
★★★★★
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pancake says
September 25, 2019 at 10:51 am
I cooked this macaroni today. After a taste test I know my 5 year old is going to love this. She is very preferential when it comes to taste and textures so this recipe was a blessing for me.
The video is clear and concise. Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Reply
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Arlene says
August 4, 2019 at 1:48 am
Love love these. My son was sick as a baby after numerous surgeries he had a to a gtube and refused to eat now after his latest surgery. Gtub is out! He loves food now and however he is 10 but is 3 mentally. He is eating at a toddler stage. Comfort food. Thank you for this variety. I am enjoying reading these can’t wait to try! I am at a loss because he stuck on the stuff he is eating now so variety is the spice of life!
★★★★
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Sonali says
December 21, 2018 at 9:07 pm
This is a lifesaver dish for my family. I made it for first for my daughter’s birthday and it was polished off by the kids very quickly. Since then it has been a firm favourite.
★★★★★
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Michelle says
July 1, 2018 at 3:28 pm
My 13 month old loved it! How long can it last in the fridge? Also, can I freeze it and if so how long can I keep it in the freezer?
★★★★★
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- Ciara Attwell says
  July 1, 2018 at 7:03 pm
  It will last 48 hours covered in the fridge and yes you can freeze it too. I would keep it max 3 months in the freezer.
  Reply
Indy says
March 19, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Fantastic! Was so pleased with this as the kids loved it and ate the lot and had absolutely no idea there was cauliflower that they usually hate in there! Love the little dishes you serve yours in. xxx
★★★★★
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Lilly says
March 8, 2018 at 11:08 am
Another hit recipe thanks Ciara!
★★★★★
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- Lisa says
  August 26, 2021 at 6:17 pm
  Love this recipe. So tasty. And kids did not suspect a thing! More hidden veg recipes please x
  Reply
Sheena says
February 6, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Trying this tonight! Fingers crossed…
Reply
ela says
January 15, 2018 at 9:30 pm
kid loved it!
★★★★★
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Diana says
November 17, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Absolutely loved this recipe! So easy and sooooo tasty! My daughter had no clue bout the secret ingredient 😉
Reply
- Ciara Attwell says
  November 20, 2017 at 12:04 pm
  That’s brilliant!
  Reply
Gia says
September 27, 2017 at 3:04 pm
This came out great! I changed it up, as I like stovetop mac. So I used a can of evaporated milk & eggs instead of regular milk (Alton Brown style). And added more cheese. Kids loved it!
Reply
Jan says
September 20, 2016 at 2:36 am
Can this be frozen?
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- Ciara Attwell says
  September 20, 2016 at 1:20 pm
  Yes the sauce will freeze well on its own.
  Reply
Jessica says
September 14, 2016 at 7:19 pm
That looks delicious!!
Reply
- Ciara Attwell says
  September 14, 2016 at 7:43 pm
  Thank you 🙂
  Reply
Michelle @ Modern Acupuncture says
September 14, 2016 at 11:08 am
Love this! Can’t wait to try it. I’m always trying to add more veggies to my meals. Love your photos as well! Somehow you made mac n cheese pretty! 🙂
Reply
Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed says
September 13, 2016 at 9:25 pm
Mmmmmm!!! These look gorgeous, I love the look of that topping 🙂
Reply
- Ciara Attwell says
  September 14, 2016 at 7:21 am
  Thank you! Panko breadcrumbs makes the best mac and cheese topping!
  Reply
Michelle says
September 13, 2016 at 9:01 pm
This looks delicious, and the dishes are adorable! I pinned it to save for later. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
- Ciara Attwell says
  September 14, 2016 at 7:21 am
  Thanks Michelle!
  Reply
Louisa says
September 13, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Macaroni cheese is a big hit in our house and I love the idea of adding cauliflower to the sauce, although I’m not convinced that my kids (or husband) won’t suss me out if I try this! I love your mini casserole dishes ????
★★★★★
Reply
- Ciara Attwell says
  September 14, 2016 at 7:20 am
  Honestly, my lot had NO idea what the secret ingredient was. And they can usually smell a vegetable from a mile away!!!
  Reply

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower cheese always watery? ›

Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery.

Can you eat cauliflower cheese as a main meal? ›

Cauliflower cheese is a traditional English dish. It can be eaten as a main course, for lunch or dinner, or as a side dish. Cauliflower cheese consists of pieces of cauliflower lightly boiled and covered with a milk-based cheese sauce, for which a mature cheese (such as cheddar) tends to be preferred.

Discover More Details ›

How long do you cook frozen cauliflower cheese? ›

Cauliflower, Plain Flour (Wheat, Gluten), Butter (Milk), Cheese Milk, Salt, Pepper, Mustard, Breadcrumb Topping (Wheat). For allergens see ingredients in bold. Remove all of the film lid. Cook from frozen at about 180°C (Gas Mark 4) for about 35 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and it is heated through.

Why is my cauliflower cheese grainy? ›

The grainy texture is probably because you're not cooking out the flour when it's at the roux stage. When you add the flour to the melted butter you need to stir it and cook it for a good few minutes. To stop it going too watery, make sure you don't overcook the cauliflower and drain it really well.

View Details ›

Why can't you reheat cauliflower cheese? ›

Can you reheat cauliflower cheese? Yes you can, and it will taste fine… But just be aware that it will dry out a little and the cauliflower will be a little bit softer… not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as fresh! Simply place any leftover cauliflower in a lidded container and refrigerate.

How do you keep frozen cauliflower from getting soggy? ›

When prepping frozen veggies, make sure to fully cover each piece in a thin layer of oil, like extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or coconut oil. The fat will help your cauliflower or corn crisp up evenly on the outside while keeping its interior tender. Simply hand-toss them in a bowl with oil to evenly coat them.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese - My Fussy Eater | Easy Family Recipes (2024)