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Cheesy Cauliflower Bacon Pasta

October 24, 2013 by lauren.kelly 16 Comments

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Your comfort food game just got kicked up a whole lot. This Cheesy Cauliflower Bacon Pasta is healthy, simple to make and cozy delicious.

This Cheesy Cauliflower Bacon Pasta is healthy, comfort food at it's best!

This is healthy, comfort food at its finest.  Sometimes you just need a fun twist on a typical macaroni and cheese recipe.  

And doesn’t bacon make everything taste better?  

You can add chopped sausage if you’d like or even white beans or more vegetables.  It’s hearty, delicious and easy.

My kids eat way too much macaroni and cheese these days. It’s one of the few recipes that I will make that they will all eat its very little complaints.

So because I tend to get into food ruts, where I keep making the same recipes over and over again, I keep making my goodlier old faithful, Mac and cheese. I realize that I can spruce it up a bit and my kids might still love it as much.

I wanted to add the cauliflower for two reasons. One, it has such a mild taste that I thought I could get away with sneaking in some veggies.

Another reason I added cauliflower is strictly about appearance. I was hoping because the cauliflower is white and so light it would all blend in and no one would even notice.

Well, they noticed but the good news is that they still ate it. And loved it.

Of course I added bacon because bacon really does make everything better. Especially when you pair it with cheese and pasta. 

It’s the ultimate comfort food.

Remember just any bacon will not do.  Make sure you get uncured, nitrate free, reduced sodium, center cut bacon.

Read the ingredients and make sure your nitrate free bacon does not contain any added sugars either. I like Applegate Farms, but there are plenty of bacon products out there that are uncured, nitrate free and do not contain any added sugar.

You always need to read the full ingredient list, not just the calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat. The ingredients are just as, if not more important.

I have had readers tell me that they made this and doubled the amount of cauliflower and cut the amount of pasta in half to cut back on carbs. They loved it. I think I will try that next time because it sounds delicious. 

I always love to hear your suggestions and additions, you guys are always so creative and have great ideas. Keep them coming!

Print

Cheesy Cauliflower Bacon and Pasta Bake

Healthy, Comfort food, Fall, Local vegetables
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon grapeseed oil
  • 3/4 cup nitrate free bacon divided
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small onion minced
  • 1/2 cup Havarti cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 pound whole grain pasta cooked
  • 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease baking dish and set aside.
  2. Spread cauliflower florets onto baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and grapeseed oil. Place into preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until edges are light brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, cook the bacon until cooked through. Set onto paper towels to drain.
  4. In the same skillet, put garlic and onion and cook on low for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add cheese and milk, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes until cheese is melted. Crumble bacon.
  5. Add cauliflower and 1/2 cup bacon and mix well.
  6. Add cooked pasta and thoroughly combine. Pour into prepared baking dish. Top with Parmesan cheese and remaining 1/4 cup bacon.
  7. Bake for 10-15 minutes until edges are browned.

I wanted to share some more healthier pasta recipes with you guys that I thought you might like:

Healthy Mediterranean Pasta from Well Plated

Healthy Pasta Primavera from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

This Healthy Pasta Primavera from Lauren Kelly Nutrition has no cream in it and is packed with vegetables! #glutenfree @jovialfoods

Healthy One Pot Pasta Recipe from Erin Lives Whole

One Dish Salsa pasta Chicken Bake from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

This One Dish Salsa Pasta Chicken Bake takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and the pasta doesn't need to be cooked before hand. It's not only simple to make, but also healthy and delicious! From Lauren Kelly Nutrition #OrganicforAll

Linguini with Lemon from Love and Lemons

Spicy Sriracha Chicken and Pasta from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Healthy Pasta Recipe from iFood Real

Gluten Free Shrimp Caprese Pasta from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

If you make these Cheesy Cauliflower Bacon Pasta or any of the other recipes I have shared with you, please some back and let me know. You guys know that I love to hear from you!

I hope you enjoy these! Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!

 

 

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Filed Under: Casseroles, Kids, Pasta, Recipes Tagged With: cauliflower mac and cheese, easy, healthy, healthy comfort food

Comments

  1. nutrition sportive says

    November 5, 2013 at 10:35 am

    this look yummy, thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • lauren.kelly says

      November 5, 2013 at 11:25 am

      Thanks for stopping by ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. tisha says

    December 29, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    I was looking for some pasta with cauliflower recipe and my surfing led me to your blog. This looks great! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • lauren says

      December 29, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Great, hope you like it ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  3. sandy says

    January 20, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Your stuff looks yummy

    Reply
    • lauren says

      January 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Sandy! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. [email protected]+A+Mind+Full+Mom says

    December 4, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    This looks amazing! I love using Havarti Cheese!

    Reply
    • lauren.kelly says

      December 4, 2014 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks Kristen!!

      Reply
  5. kita says

    December 4, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    Everything about this is perfect!! We love cauliflower annnd who doesn’t live bacon. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • lauren.kelly says

      December 4, 2014 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks so much Kita!

      Reply
  6. Carla says

    December 5, 2014 at 12:06 am

    Can’t go wrong with cauliflower and bacon!

    Reply
  7. Julia says

    December 5, 2014 at 12:14 am

    Love the flavors in this!

    Reply
  8. Julia says

    December 5, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    I love the cauliflower in this pasta recipe mixed with the bacon. I haven’t tried that combo but I bet its fantastic!

    Reply
  9. [email protected] Plaid & Paisley Kitchen says

    December 5, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    I am always looking for new ways to make cauliflower! this looks so very yummy!

    Reply

Trackbacks

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