Description
A creamy and comforting low-carb alternative to traditional mac and cheese, using cauliflower florets instead of pasta for a healthier and vegetable-packed dish. This cauliflower mac and cheese features a rich cheese sauce made with cheddar, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, and a hint of mustard and hot sauce for added depth of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower
- 1 pound cauliflower florets
Dairy and Cheese
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Seasonings
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- Dash of hot sauce
Instructions
- Boil the Cauliflower: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Chop the cauliflower into small pieces roughly the size of macaroni noodles, then add them to the boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes until just tender but not mushy.
- Drain and Prepare Cheese Sauce: Drain the cooked cauliflower well. Return the pot to the stove and add the heavy cream, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, ground mustard, salt, pepper, and a dash of hot sauce to the warm pot with the drained cauliflower.
- Melt and Combine: Stir the mixture well, allowing the cheese to melt fully into a creamy sauce, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes. If needed, briefly turn on the heat to help melt the cheese, but avoid cooking for too long as that can cause the sauce to become grainy.
- Serve: Once the cheese sauce is smooth and well combined with the cauliflower pieces, serve the dish immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure it melts smoothly without clumping.
- You can substitute Monterey Jack with mozzarella or any mild melting cheese if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to your spice preference.
- This dish is best enjoyed immediately to appreciate the creamy texture of the cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, low-carb mac and cheese, cauliflower recipe, cheesy cauliflower, healthy mac and cheese alternative
