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Home » Cauliflower Recipe » Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole

Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole

Published: May 8, 2017 · Modified: Jun 9, 2021 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Spicy Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese Casserole

This Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole recipe is a mock macaroni and cheese recipe made with fresh steamed cauliflower instead of pasta. It is a low carb and healthier macaroni and cheese option.

Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole recipe via flouronmyface.com

Is this cauliflower mac and cheese with no pasta really a macaroni and cheese recipe? No, of course not. But if you love cauliflower recipes,  are on a low carb diet, keto diet or are avoiding pasta for dietary reasons it is a good substitution.

It does have 2 tablespoons of flour in it so if you are eating gluten free you will have to use a gluten free flour substitute. I have never tried using another thickener to make this homemade cheese sauce recipe so I have no idea if that will work. If you try it please let me know how it turned out.

Homemade cheese sauce for cauliflower mac and cheese recipe.

Low Carb Pasta Substitutes

If you are on a low carb diet than you know one of the things you miss the most while low carbing is macaroni and cheese or pasta recipes.

Substituting cauliflower for pasta kind of gives you the same texture and can satisfy some of those pasta cravings.

This spicy and cheesy cauliflower casserole bake recipe does not have cream cheese or sour cream in it. I made the cheese sauce using my favorite homemade white sauce recipe that starts out with a roux.

Spicy Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese recipe made with homemade cheese sauce and roasted peppers

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Sauce recipe

This basic homemade white sauce recipe can be used to make so many different recipes once you master the art of making it. It is not hard to make but you can't rush the technique or you will end up with a pot full of scalded and curdled milk. Once the milk has scalded and burnt to the bottom of the pot there is no fixing it and you will have to start over.

This Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole gets the spicy flavor from roasted peppers. onion and garlic. The roasted vegetables add a deliciously spicy flavor you won't get if you just chop the vegetables.

It would probably still taste very good with the chopped vegetables but I love the flavor roasted vegetables can add to a recipe. You could even go as far as roasting the cauliflower if you like.

Cauliflower Casserole recipe

I've used Montery Jack cheese as the main cheese for this cauliflower mac and cheese recipe and topped it of with a a layer of more Montery Jack cheese with some shaved Parmesan cheese. You could use sharp white cheddar instead.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe made with Montary Jack and Parmesan cheese

How to make Spicy Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese Casserole recipe

Ingredients
  • 1 head of cauliflower, steamed and cut into florets (or 4 cups frozen and thawed cauliflower florets) I used my (affiliate link) Instant Pot to steam the cauliflower.
  • 1 roasted poblano pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 large roasted jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 medium roasted onion, chopped
  • 5 cloves of garlic, roasted and chopped
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese or Sharp White Cheddar
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
  1. Roast the vegetables following the instructions here. Place the hot roasted peppers into a container with a lid and allow to cool. Once cool remove skin from the peppers and chop. Chop the onion and garlic. Set the chopped vegetables aside while making the cheese sauce.
  2. Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Add the flour, salt, pepper and paprika to the melted butter and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly pour half the milk into the pot whisking continuously until all lumps are gone. Add the remaining milk and bring the sauce to a boil whisking the entire time.
  3. Once the milk comes to a boil it will begin to thicken. Continue boiling on medium high heat for about 8 minutes whisking the entire time to prevent scalding. Remove the pot from the heat and stir 2 cups of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or Sharp White Cheddar) into the hot milk mixture. Once the cheese has melted set the pot aside.
  4. Preheat oven to 375 F. degrees.
  5. Mix the cauliflower and roasted chopped vegetables together in a large bowl. Pour the cheese sauce into the bowl and gently fold until combined.
  6. Pour the cauliflower mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Monterrey Jack cheese over the top. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
  7. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and it is bubbling.
  8. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
  9. Makes 6 servings.

 Print the Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe below.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe made with Montary Jack and Parmesan cheese

Spicy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
Satisfy your pasta cravings with this Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese recipe made with steamed cauliflower, two cheeses and roasted peppers, onion and garlic.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
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Servings 6 servings
Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients  

  • 1 head cauliflower (steamed and cut into florets (or 4 cups frozen and thawed cauliflower florets) I used my (affiliate link) Instant Pot to steam the cauliflower.)
  • 1 roasted poblano pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 1 large roasted jalapeno pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 1 medium roasted onion (chopped)
  • 5 cloves garlic (roasted and chopped)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese or Sharp White Cheddar
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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Instructions 

  • Roast the vegetables. Place the hot roasted peppers into a container with a lid and allow to cool. Once cool remove skin from the peppers and chop. Chop the onion and garlic. Set the chopped vegetables aside while making the cheese sauce.
  • Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Add the flour, salt, pepper and paprika to the melted butter and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly pour half the milk into the pot whisking continuously until all lumps are gone. Add the remaining milk and bring the sauce to a boil whisking the entire time.
  • Once the milk comes to a boil it will begin to thicken. Continue boiling on medium high heat for about 8 minutes whisking the entire time to prevent scalding. Remove the pot from the heat and stir 2 cups of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or Sharp White Cheddar) into the hot milk mixture. Once the cheese has melted set the pot aside.
  • Preheat oven to 375 F. degrees.
  • Mix the cauliflower and roasted chopped vegetables together in a large bowl. Pour the cheese sauce into the bowl and gently fold until combined.
  • Pour the cauliflower mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Monterrey Jack cheese over the top. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
  • Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and it is bubbling.
  • Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 679mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 789IU | Vitamin C: 68mg | Calcium: 558mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag @flouronmyface2

Here are a few recipes using a homemade white sauce as the base

  •  Easy Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce #1 Flour On My Face recipe
  • Cheesy Veggie Mac recipe
  • Sweet Onion Tart recipe
  • Cream Roasted Asparagus Soup recipe
  • Crock Pot Cream of Chicken Soup

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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan

    May 23, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    What a great idea! I've been swapping spaghetti squash and zoodles in a lot of recipes, but hadn't though of this. Definitely going to try this one.

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      May 24, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      Susan

      It is delicious. I love swapping out cauliflower for pasta. I hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
  2. Donna @ Modern on Monticello

    May 21, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    Such a nice twist on a great comfort food. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
  3. Veena Azmanov

    May 09, 2017 at 2:31 pm

    This is such an awesome twist on a classic recipe Arlene. I love Cauliflower. One of the few veggies my kids eat. I can't wait to try this version. Yum...

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      May 09, 2017 at 11:56 pm

      Thanks Veena you can make so many kinds of recipes with cauliflower!

      Reply
  4. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

    May 09, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    This is a great spin on a true classic. Perfect way to enjoy cauliflower....and I think even cauliflower haters would have a hard time not eating this delicious version.

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      May 09, 2017 at 11:57 pm

      Cauliflower haters should really try this recipe. They will be amazed!

      Reply
  5. Tally Academy online

    May 09, 2017 at 2:01 am

    Look so really delicious! I love this!

    Reply

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Arlene Mobley Food & Lifestyle Blogger


Hi, I'm Arlene Mobley the cook & photographer here at Flour On My Face. I have been cooking for my family for over 35 years. I love sharing recipes to help busy families get dinner on the table. Learn more here

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