This easy weeknight dinner is sure to become a favourite. It's all the creamy, cheesy goodness of classic mac and cheese with the added bonus of a nutritious, whole head of cauliflower.
What sets this recipe apart is the herby panko crumb topping, offering a crunch that elevates every bite. Paired with a leafy green salad, it makes for a delicious and satisfying vegetarian dinner — perfect for cozying up to on any evening. Leftovers? They're an amazing lunch treat.


1 cauliflower, medium, about 750g, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
250 g macaroni
1 cup milk, 250ml
300 ml pouring cream
120 g vintage cheddar, grated, about 1 cup
135 g parmesan, finely grated, about 1 1/2 cups
1⁄4 tsp ground nutmeg
1⁄4 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp pepper
6 sprigs thyme, fresh, leaves picked
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Turn your recipe chaos into a plan for the week.
Browse 1000+ inspiring creator recipes
Unlimited recipe import from social media, blogs and more
Generate shopping lists and meal plans in seconds with AI
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan forced. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Chop the florets and stems into small bite sized pieces and set aside. Grate the on the fine side of a box grater, setting aside 1/2 a cup for the breadcrumb topping. Grate the on the coarse side of a box grater.
Cook the pasta in boiling water for 6 minutes then add the to the pot with the pasta and cook for a further 2 minutes. Drain the pasta and cauliflower and return to the pot.
Add , , grated , and 1 cup of the finely grated to the pasta-cauliflower mix. Season with , and and gently stir to combine well. Spoon into a 20cm x 30cm ovenproof dish.
To make the breadcrumb topping, pick the from the stems, you'll need about 2 tablespoons of leaves. In a small bowl, combine the thyme leaves, , and remaining ½ cup of . Mince the directly into the bowl, add the , season generously with and , and mix well to combine. Scatter breadcrumbs evenly over the pasta mix.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and crunchy on top.
Use freshly grated cheese for a smooth and creamy mac and cheese. Pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents, which affect how it melts, so grate your own cheese if you can!






