Loaded Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – cauliflower tossed in a delicious paleo cheese sauce and topped with bacon. Get your mac and cheese fix without the guilt!
Heeeey guys! Happy Monday!
How was the weekend?
I discovered that Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is now on Netflix and umm, it changed my life. You guys. No one told me that it’s a musical series.
A musical!
Anyway, it’s really good and I’m not gonna tell you how many episodes I watched while I was catching up on some work that I’m waaaay behind on.
But today what I really wanna talk about is a new book from Cassy Joy Garcia of the blog Fed & Fit.
The book is also called Fed & Fit and it is the most beautiful paleo cookbook I’ve ever seen. It has over 175 amazing recipes but I think my favorite part is the 28-day plan.
Cassy lays it all out for you. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Plus, a pre- and post- workout snack. And she’s even planned workouts 5 days out of the week. She has a section in the book where she and the lovely Juli Bauer go through simple (but intense) workouts that you can do at home with minimal equipment.
I’m kind of obsessed with the plan and will be starting it as soon as I get myself to the grocery store.
Loaded Cauliflower Mac and Cheese!
Anyway, I made this Loaded Cauliflower Mac and Cheese so I’d have an excuse to talk all about this book and it was fantastic.
It’s not really mac and cheese, I know. But when you’re doing the paleo thing, this works. I grilled up some chicken thighs and threw them on top and called it dinner several nights in a row. But it’s also an excellent side dish!
Wait, Amanda, you can’t have cheese when you’re paleo.
The sauce calls for nutritional yeast which has a cheesy quality and is also really good for you.
Other recipes from Fed & Fit that I’m excited to make:
- BBQ Cobb Chicken Salad
- Barbacoa with Jicama Tortillas
- Hibiscus Mint Sparkler
- Sausage and Cranberry Acorn Squash
- Tuscan Chicken Frittata
Fed & Fit it out now and if you’re into the paleo lifestyle, you need it!
- 1/2 pound bacon thinly sliced
- 2 heads cauliflower
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives
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In a wide soup pot or heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the bacon into a bowl. Drain off most of the fat remaining in the pan, but don't wipe the pan down.
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While the bacon is cooking, cut the cauliflower florets away from the stems. (You should have 6 cups of florets.) Steam the cauliflower by placing the cauliflower in a large microwavable bowl with 1/4 cup water. Cover and microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until the cauliflower is fork tender.
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Transfer the steamed cauliflower to the pot you used to cook the bacon. Add the remaining ingredients, except the chives, and stir to combine. Stir in half of the bacon and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with the remaining bacon and the chives. Serve warm.
Things you may need for this recipe:
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- Fed & Fit
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- Nutritional Yeast
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- Coconut MIlk
Want more cauliflower recipes?
Korean Beef Cauliflower Rice Bowls
Cauliflower Tots Shepherd’s Pie
What are the net carbs in this dish?
Love that this is low carb AND dairy-free. Just pinned it!
Love this! It’s a paleo recipe the nutritional yeast makes it cheesy. You can also say where’s the macaroni? You guys are mean
I have never heard of nutritional yeast. Where is it located in a grocery store – in with regular yeasts, flour, etc…
In my grocery store, it’s in the baking section and the healthy/gluten-free section. It’s also fairly inexpensive on Amazon if you can’t find it in store.
I made this tonight for dinner and it exceeded my expectations! Hubby loved it too. :) This will become a regular dish in our low carb life. Easy and delicious! Thank you!
Is there any substitute for full fat coconut milk?
this recipe was AMAZING!
You can’t havs Mac and cheese without cheese
It’s vegan.
how is this vegan when it has bacon in it?
The cheese is a vegan cheese sauce. The recipe itself isn’t.
YUM!! This is DELICIOUS. My husband and I made this for Whole30, and gave some to his family whose wide eyes and smiles said just how much they loved it. This will be a new staple in our kitchen from now on. Thank you!!
Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I need to make it again soon!
Wow! I halfed the recipe. My family of four loved this so much tonight. No leftovers and kids asked for seconds. Thank you for sharing.
This recipe is AH-MAZING! I believe it’s my new addiction. I love the idea of it being low carb as I am on a keto diet. Thanks for this recipe!
Looks great ! ! I can I sub for the nutritional yeast ? Flour or ? Just wanting a veggie dish . Thank you :)
The nutritional yeast is what gives it the cheesy flavor so I don’t recommending substituting unless you want to use actual cheese or a vegan cheese product.