Description
Want some macaroni and cheese, but don’t want wheat, carbs, and/or dairy? Here is a Cauliflower Mac and cheese recipe that’s low on carbs and high on veggies and protein. Best of all, you can make it in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 – 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 lbs frozen cauliflower
- 0.75 – 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 0.75 – 1 cup nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives, green onions, or cilantro
Instructions
- In a wide soup pot or heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Transfer the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate or bowl. Drain off most of the fat remaining in the pan, and don’t wipe the pan clean of fat.
- While the bacon is cooking, cook the frozen cauliflower. (You’ll probably have to do it in two batches – one for each 1-lb bag). Dump all the cauliflower from one bag onto a big plate and microwave for 3 – 5 minutes, or until the cauliflower is warm (no icicles). Repeat with the second 1-lb bag.
- After the cauliflower is warm, loosely chop it so that the florets are broken down into slightly smaller than bite-size pieces.
- Transfer the warm chopped cauliflower to the pot you used to cook the bacon. Add the remaining ingredients, except the chives, starting with 0.75 cup of the nutritional yeast and coconut milk. Stir to combine. Add more nutritional yeast, coconut milk, salt and pepper to get the consistency and taste you like best.
- Stir in half of the bacon and transfer to a serving dish (optional – we just serve it from the pot). Garnish with the remaining bacon and the chives. Serve.
Notes
Vegan variation: omit the bacon or sub with vegan bacon (or sausage)
Add-ins: The options are endless! Here are some ideas:
- I added three sliced sausage links to make it more main-dish worthy for the meat-lovers in my family.
- Add a cup of chopped leftover chicken, ham, or any other meat.
- As with traditional mac ‘n’ cheese, try adding other veggies (peas, anyone?). I like sauteing a few sliced mushrooms with the bacon in Step 1.
- Turn up the heat: garnish with sliced jalepeños or red pepper flakes; mix in 2 tablespoons of Frank’s or Sriracha sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.25 of recipe
- Calories: 239
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 539 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
Keywords: gluten-free, dairy-free, low carb