Mac n’ cheese can’t get any simpler than this! I assure you that this recipe is just as easy as making the pre-packaged stuff. And let’s not forget that THIS version is, without a doubt, MUCH healthier!
I can honestly say that I’ve yet to buy my son Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (and I probably never will) but it doesn’t concern me in the least because instead of eating pre-packaged (powdered!!) cheese he gets a healthy homemade version made from genuinely fresh ingredients! Besides, what better way to sneak in add veggies to our kid’s meals…what they don’t know won’t hurt them, right?! 😉
This recipe calls for my creamy cauliflower sauce but you can also steam the cauliflower and mash it before preparing.
1/2 cup elbow macaroni (or pasta of choice)
1 baby cube creamy cauliflower sauce (or 1/4 cup steamed, mashed cauliflower)
2-3 tbsp. grated or crumbled cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice-I used marble)
1/4 cup pasta cooking water
pinch of nutmeg (optional, if not adding creamy cauliflower sauce)
Parmesan cheese to taste
Cook pasta according to package instructions. (The pasta cooking times will vary depending on which type of pasta you choose.) I usually prepare the pasta “al dente” (with just a little bite) since it continues to cook when heating the cauliflower puree and cheese. Once the pasta is cooked, drain (reserving 1/4 of the cooking water) in a small strainer.
Reduce heat to low and return the saucepan to the burner. Add cauliflower puree, and cheese and add 1 tablespoon at a time of the cooking water until you get the desired consistency.
*TIP: I start with 3 tablespoons of the cooking water and add more if needed (to avoid ending up with a runny mac n’cheese!)
Heat through until the cheese is melted and the liquid has almost completely evaporated.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and freshly grated Parmesan!
Serve warm as is or try my Tomato Mac n’ Cheese recipe for a slightly varied version of the original recipe.
Wondering why this recipe is considered “Baby Bites?!” Simply cook the pasta until VERY soft then mash the mac n’ cheese with a fork before serving to baby!
What do you prefer…store-bought Mac n’ Cheese or homemade?
Just what I needed. On the menu this week is homemade Mac and cheese but maybe I will try to sneak some cauliflower in there for a bit of a health boost when the kids aren’t looking! Your recipes are always a great reminder for me to pack in the fruits and veg 🙂
Thanks Cheryl! I’m lucky I don’t have to do it often because my son eats almost anything! I posted this for moms who aren’t so lucky! Let me know if they figure it out or not, lol!
I make a mac and cheese but instead of using cauliflower I add Butternut squash. No one in my house even knew it was in there.
Butternut squash sounds delicious…my son loves it! Will your kids not eat it alone?? If they don’t you might have a hard time tricking them into eating the cauliflower version! ;-))
I made this last year for Easter, and thought I would make the dish extra healthy and only use cauliflower…when we came home from church the whole house smelled like cauliflower and no one liked it at all..your recipe seems delicious enough that I would try it again!!
That’s a tricky one…how do you sneak the cauliflower in without the house stinking?! My husband HATES the smell of cauliflower but thankfully my son doesn’t seem to notice! If you do mix it with the cheddar cheese the taste is surprisingly VERY subtle! You could always add less cauliflower and more cheese, or throw something else in there to distract them…maybe some chopped prosciutto? fresh tomatoes? green onion??? Let me know if you try it again!
This looking amazing! I want to try this now!
Thanks Meredith! It’s a pretty simple recipe but it’s definitely tasty!