Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is roasted cauliflower florets, smothered in a perfectly seasoned, rich, and creamy cheddar cheese sauce, and baked to perfection. This is a family favorite recipe and a great low-carb option for mac and cheese lovers.
This is one of our favorite go-to side dishes. It is as good as baked mac and cheese or instant pot mac and cheese, with fewer carbs and calories. Enjoy this tasty dish with buffalo chicken or pulled pork.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Cauliflower: You will need a large head or two smaller heads (about 1 1/2-2 lbs).
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Milk: preferably whole, but you can use 2% in a pinch.
- Cheddar: sharp, mild, or white, or any combination of these.
How to Make Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Drizzle the cauliflower with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Roast it for about 20 minutes. While it is roasting, make the cheese sauce.
Melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, while whisking. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth. Continue cooking and whisking several times until thickened.
Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, ground cayenne, and most of the cheese in several increments until smooth. Pour the cheese mixture over the roasted cauliflower. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- If the casserole dish has any moisture after roasting the cauliflower, remove it. Tilting the casserole and using a paper towel to soak up the moisture is an easy way to do that.
- Warm the milk in the microwave at 20-30% power for 1-minute intervals until room temperature.
- Garnish the casserole with chopped fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or rosemary.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warm.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetables: Add a few cups of chopped broccoli florets and roast them at the same time as the cauliflower. Follow the recipe as instructed. Add some frozen baby peas or sautéed zucchini at the same time as the cheese sauce.
- Spice it up: For a little heat, add some minced jalapeno, pickled jalapenos, or chopped green chiles.
- Protein: For a complete meal, add some cooked diced or shredded chicken or some cooked ground beef, turkey, pork, or chicken.
- Topping: Finish with a buttery cracker crumb topping like in this chicken cordon bleu casserole or panko bread crumb topping like in this spinach casserole.
More Cauliflower Casserole
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large head cauliflower (1½-2 lbs) cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk warmed to room temperature
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 4 ounces white cheddar, shredded (about 1 cup)
- chopped fresh parsley garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees,
- Place the cauliflower florets in a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish. Drizzle the cauliflower with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Roast it uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, while whisking. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth. Continue cooking and whisking frequently until thickened.
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, ground cayenne, 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and ¾ cup shredded white cheddar in several increments until melted and smooth. Pour the cheese mixture over the roasted cauliflower.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- If there is any moisture in the casserole dish after roasting the cauliflower, remove it. Tilting the casserole and using a paper towel to soak it up is an easy way to do that.
- Warm the milk in the microwave at 20-30% power for 1-minute intervals until room temperature.
- Garnish the casserole with chopped fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or rosemary.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warm.
Eileen M Loya
Perfect! I was craving for mac and cheese last week but had to hold back because I was cutting down on carbs. I love that I can still have that creamy cheesy goodness and use cauliflower instead of macaroni. I am going to make this on the weekend.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Eileen! You are going to love it. It is delicious!
May
Cayenne!!! I forgot to get that!
I actually recently got a new pack of garlic and onion powder to bake cauliflower — but I was relying on a list in my head. I should’ve seen this recipe prior.
Barbara
OMG, the cauliflower mac and cheese was so yummy. I am definitely adding it to our regular rotation. It’s such a clever twist on comfort food without sacrificing that creamy, cheesy goodness!
Beth Pierce
I agree, Barbara! So happy that you liked it.
Catalina
I’ve been looking for low-carb options that still feel like comfort food, and this one totally hit the spot. Even my kids loved it, which is a big win in my house!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Catalina! I am so glad that the kids liked the cauliflower mac and cheese.
Kristy Bullard
I have to eat gluten-free and I MISS mac n cheese. This recipe really hits the spot – my kids even like it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kristy! I am sure you use a gluten free flour for the cheese sauce.
Michelle
Anything covered in cheese is a sure win! I whipped this recipe up last night and it was a total hit. I never thought I could get my kids to eat cauliflower but I did.
Emily
I’ve been on such a cauliflower kick lately, that this could not have come at a better time. I’m going to try making this for Friday night dinner tomorrow!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Emily! Enjoy!
Mow De
I’ve got broccoli mac and cheese – thanks, Mum! I really need to mix things up a bit. Can’t wait to try this tried-and-tested recipe using cauliflower!
Jocelyn
I’ve always wanted to try this recipe so this is my sign to try it now. It looks delish…
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jocelyn! Enjoy!
Maria
Ooh. This was so good. It’s everything cauliflower and cheese sauce wishes it could be! The kids and I loved it.