Cheat on Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Bites with Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Bites. Who says comfort food can’t be healthy? These high-protein Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Bites are here to challenge the status quo, offering a mouthwatering alternative to the classic mac & cheese. By swapping out traditional pasta for nutrient-rich cauliflower and incorporating a protein boost, these bites are a perfect blend of indulgence and nutrition. These bites will leave you feeling satisfied without any of the guilt.
Check out the full recipe below:
NUTRITIONAL INFO
CAULIFLOWER MAC & CHEESE BITES
Yields: 8 servings | Serving Size: 2 bites
Calories: 290 | Protein: 15g | Fat: 21g | Net Carb: 8g
Total Carb: 10g | Sugar: 3g
Ingredients
CAULIFLOWER MAC & CHEESE BITES
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp tapioca flour
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp garlic powder, separated
- 1 tsp onion powder, separated
- ¼ tsp salt, separated
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 3 Bags Quest Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips, finely crushed
- 1 egg, whisked
- 2 tbsp gluten free all purpose flour
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400 F and prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the cauliflower into 1” pieces and place them on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil and toss to evenly coat. Bake the cauliflower until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Turn off the oven.
- Line a 6×6 inch pan with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Place the butter into the bottom of a medium sized pot over low-medium heat. Once melted, stirin the tapioca flour, heavy cream and water.
- Simmer for 5 minutes and then add in the cheese, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp paprika and stir until the cheese melts.
- Once melted and smooth add in the roasted cauliflower. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to the pan with plastic wrap. Use a rubber spatula to press the cauliflower mac and cheese in an even layer, cover with more plastic and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Place the crushed tortilla chips into a shallow bowl, the egg in its own shallow bowl and the flour along with the remaining spices in a third bowl.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Remove the cauliflower mac and cheese from the pan (it should be solid now) and cut it into 16 evenly sized squares.
- Toss each square in the flour mixture, then coat with the whisked egg and then finally toss in the crushed chips until coated.
- Place each coated square onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake the bites for 12-15 minutes and golden. Serve immediately.