One-Pot Bacon Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Bacon Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is a great way to make that classic comfort food into a healthier well-rounded meal. Cauliflower adds extra nutrition, and its color blends right in to the creamy cheese sauce. The cauliflower and pasta cook together in one pot, so dinner is ready in just 35 minutes!
Servings: 6
Calories: 768kcal
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon chopped
- 1 cauliflower (pureed with 1½ cups water)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- 4 cups water
- 1 pound macaroni
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups cheddar and white cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp. Stir occasionally, about 7 minutes. Remove the bacon to a bowl and discard 5 to 6 Tablespoons of the fat. Leave the rest in the pot.
- Meanwhile, wash and cut the cauliflower in quarters. Cut out and discard the stem and roughly chop the cauliflower. Puree the cauliflower in a food processor with 1½ cups of water, until smooth. When the bacon is removed, add the cauliflower puree to the hot bacon fat. Do this right away before the bacon fat starts to burn. Cook about 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic (you can mince it in the now empty food processor), salt, and flour and stir for another minute.
- Add the pasta and 4 cups of water, COVER and increase to high heat. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. ADJUST the heat back down if it sputters out of control! Stir frequently while it boils. Taste a noodle to know when it's done! DO NOT DRAIN.
- When the pasta is cooked, reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Stir in the cheese a little at a time to melt, about 5 minutes. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.
- Top with the bacon, extra shredded cheese, and chopped parsley!
Notes
- To discard the bacon fat, use a measuring spoon and pour it into a glass bowl. Once cooled, discard in the trash, not the drain, or save it to fry your eggs!
- Don't drain the pasta after boiling, it becomes the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 768kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 955mg | Potassium: 585mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1157IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 471mg | Iron: 2mg