Sign in
recipe image 0
recipe image 1
recipe image 2

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

10
20 minsPrep
20 minsCook
Save
Plan

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.

Show More
Milly S
L
ash 🍓
10

Ingredients 13

6 serves
Convert

For The Mac And Cheese

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

For The Breadcrumb Topping

6 sprigs thyme, fresh, leaves picked

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Add all to Groceries
Nutritionper serving
Calories633 kcal
Fat39g
Carbohydrates45g
Protein24g
Fiber5g
Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients in this recipe. It isn't a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

Your new home
for cooking

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

Clove is free. Download the app today.

Method 5

Start cooking
Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and crunchy on top.

Clove Kitchen

Clove Kitchen's tips

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!

Helpful tips

Can I use different types of cheese?

Can I add more vegetables?

Can I change up the Breadcrumb Topping?

How do I store leftovers?

Can I freeze this dish?

Rate this recipe

Notes

10
Great recipe, super easy! I added bacon to it & it went down well.
Delicious and cosy winter dish! Served as a side with leftover soup. Yum. The garlicky-herb crumb was a game-changer- don’t skip this step!! Keep in mind that the nutmeg is a powerful spice, so don’t add too much if you want it to be a subtle flavour in the dish.
Delicious and cosy winter dish! Served as a side with leftover soup. Yum. The garlicky-herb crumb was a game-changer- don’t skip this step!! Keep in mind that the nutmeg is a powerful spice, so don’t add too much if you want it to be a subtle flavour in the dish.
Cauliflower Mac and cheese. Felt like comfort food and this didn’t disappoint. Would like to say portion control is a thing but I ate it all! Was dubious about the nutmeg but that was ok too
Cauliflower Mac and cheese. Felt like comfort food and this didn’t disappoint. Would like to say portion control is a thing but I ate it all!
Was dubious about the nutmeg but that was ok too
Total comfort food, very rich so a good side I would say rather than a meal (personal preference) and maybe an extra 5-10minutes in the oven.
Total comfort food, very rich so a good side I would say rather than a meal (personal preference) and maybe an extra 5-10minutes in the oven.
Delicious. Healthier version of Mac n cheese with the addition of cauliflower.
Delicious.  Healthier version of Mac n cheese with the addition of cauliflower.
Great twist on a classic! I used wholemeal fusilli cause I had some that needed to be used up, but it still worked.
Great twist on a classic! I used wholemeal fusilli cause I had some that needed to be used up, but it still worked.
A real winner with my family - even my fussy toddler loved it & ate cauliflower for the first time.
A real winner with my family - even my fussy toddler loved it & ate cauliflower for the first time.
Super easy and the bread crumb top was AH-mazing! I didn’t have any cream in the fridge so I replaced it with extra milk and it worked just fine 👌
Super easy and the bread crumb top was AH-mazing! I didn’t have any cream in the fridge so I replaced it with extra milk and it worked just fine 👌
Loved this! Possibly my choice of pasta (mix of rissoni and bow ties as they needed to be used up!) meant it was a little drier than intended, so doing it again I’d probably add a little more milk.