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    Whip & Wander » Recipes » mains

    Published: Oct 5, 2022 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    a glass casserole dish with cheesy cauliflower and sausage
    a casserole dish with cheesy cauliflower, red pepper, and kale
    a bowl of sausage and kale cheesy cauliflower
    kale, sausage, and peppers in a bowl of cauliflower with cheese

    This Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper is comfort food at its prime. Cauliflower florets, sausage, Italian kale, and roasted red peppers are enveloped in a seriously creamy cheese sauce, topped with mozzarella balls, and baked until tender and bubbling.

    Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper in a glass casserole dish
    Jump to:
    • What ingredients are in Cauliflower Mac & Cheese?
    • What tools do I need to make this recipe?
    • Looking for more dinner inspiration?
    • Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Kale & Sausage
    a quadrant of 4 images showing cauliflower mac and cheese being prepped
    a quadrant of 4 images showing cauliflower mac and cheese before and after its baked

    What ingredients are in Cauliflower Mac & Cheese?

    • Cauliflower florets - Though cauliflower florets aren't an exact dupe for noodles, they make for a super satisfying alternative that's just asking to be smothered in cheese sauce, just like your favorite mac & cheese.
    • Kale - I prefer Lacinato / Italian kale, but you can use curly kale if you prefer
    • Roasted red peppers - These add a sweet smokiness to the dish that I love. Jars of roasted red peppers are easily found right next to the olives in most grocery stores, but you are also welcome to roast your own from fresh if you prefer.
    • Sausage - The most recent photos I took of this dish include sliced kielbasa sausage, but it's good with just about any type of sausage you prefer -- both link-style and ground. I've enjoyed this dish with bratwurst, Italian sausage, chorizo, turkey or chicken sausages, and bulk sausage and it's been great. Not feeling the meat? You are welcome to enjoy this dish sans meat if you prefer or swap in your favorite plant-based alternative.
    • Cream cheese
    • Cheese - This recipe includes 12 oz (about 3 cups) of cheese in addition to the cream cheese. I like to use a combination of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella, but you're welcome to keep it super simple with just one option if you prefer. Mozzarella balls (ciliegine) are an especially fun choice to add to the top of the dish to create pools of melty goodness.
    • Sour cream
    • Milk
    • Dijon mustard
    • Green onions
    • Kosher salt
    • Cracked black pepper
    • Ground cayenne pepper
    • Nutmeg
    a metal serving spoon resting in a dish of cauliflower mac and cheese
    cauliflower mac and cheese being scooped up with a large metal serving spoon

    What tools do I need to make this recipe?

    • A cutting board
    • A chef's knife
    • A kitchen scale
    • Liquid measuring cups
    • Measuring spoons
    • A large saucepan
    • Kitchen tongs (if using link sausage)
    • A cheese grater
    • A whisk
    • A silicone spatula
    • A 13 x 9 casserole dish

    Are you looking to upgrade your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

    a bowl of cauliflower mac and cheese with sausage and kale and a gold fork
    a bowl of cauliflower cheese with kale and red pepper resting next to a casserole dish on a green cloth

    Looking for more dinner inspiration?

    Love this Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper recipe? Here are some more of my favorite cozy dinner recipes:

    • Cottage Pie with Horseradish Cauliflower Mash
    • Taleggio Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Red Pepper Flakes and Honey
    • Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas with Chipotle Pumpkin Sauce
    • Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
    • Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce and Chorizo
    • Sloppy Joe Bowls
    • Chili with Butternut Squash
    • White Pizza with Pumpkin, Bacon, Kale, and Gouda
    • Golubtsi Cabbage Rolls
    • Salmon with Whisky Cream Sauce and Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower
    cheesy cauliflower with sausage in a bowl resting on a dark green gauzy cloth
    sausage, kale, and cauliflower with cheese in a bowl with a gold fork
    Print
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    cauliflower mac and cheese being scooped up with a large metal serving spoon

    Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Kale & Sausage

    ★★★★★ 5 from 55 reviews
    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 55 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hours 15 minutes
    • Yield: 6 large portions 1x
    • Category: Mains
    • Method: Oven / Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper is comfort food at its prime. Cauliflower florets, sausage, Italian kale, and roasted red peppers are enveloped in a seriously creamy cheese sauce, topped with mozzarella balls, and baked until tender and bubbling.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 600 g (6 cups) cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
    • 70 g (2 cups, tightly packed) Lacinato kale, deveined and chopped
    • 4 oz (½ cup) roasted red peppers, chopped
    • 12-16 oz sausage (Kielbasa, bratwurst, Italian, bulk, chorizo - can use link or ground)*
    • 1 tbsp butter or olive oil, divided (to coat the casserole dish and brown sausage links)
    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 6 oz (¾ cup) whole milk
    • 4 oz (½ cup) sour cream
    • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
    • 80 g (1 cup) green onions, chopped
    • ½ tsp Kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
    • ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
    • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
    • 8 oz (2 cups) cheese, shredded (cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Gouda all work great)
    • 4 oz mozzarella balls (ciliegine) (may sub for additional shredded cheese if preferred)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 F / 190 C.
    2. Lightly oil or butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Add cauliflower florets, kale, and red peppers. Reserve to the side.
    3. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 teaspoon butter or ghee to melt. Add sausage links to brown turning on each side every ~2 minutes. The sausage does not need to be fully cooked through, you just want to get a nice brown on the outside. Remove from heat, slice into ½ inch coins, and reserve to the side. (Alternatively, if you are using ground sausage, brown the sausage, drain excess fat, and reserve sausage to the side).
    4. In the same saucepan, lower heat to medium-low and add cream cheese, milk, sour cream, and Dijon mustard. Using a whisk, break up the cream cheese until melted. The sauce may look slightly separated as it melts but will emulsify as the cheese is added.
    5. Slowly add 8 oz (2 cups) of the shredded cheese, about 2 oz (½ cup) at a time, whisking each in until fully combined and emulsified.
    6. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg, whisking to combine.
    7. Once the sauce is fully combined and smooth, pour over the top of the cauliflower and kale mixture and add sausage. Fold sauce into the ingredients until well-coated, then add mozzarella cheese balls to the top.
    8. Cover the casserole dish with tin foil and transfer to the oven to bake for 20-minutes. Carefully remove the casserole dish and remove the tin foil from the top. Return the dish to the oven for a further 20-25-minutes uncovered. The top of the cheese should be slightly blistered and bubbling. I highly recommend letting the dish sit for atleast 10-minutes after removing it from the oven to help allow the cheese sauce to thicken slightly.

    Notes

    Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

    * The most recent photos I took of this dish include sliced kielbasa sausage, but it's good with just about any type of sausage you prefer -- both link-style and ground. I've enjoyed this dish with bratwurst, Italian sausage, chorizo, turkey or chicken sausages, and bulk sausage and it's been great. Not feeling the meat? You are welcome to enjoy this dish sans meat if you prefer or swap in your favorite plant-based alternative. This dish is easily made gluten-free when you select a sausage that is also gluten-free.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 portion
    • Calories: 713
    • Sugar: 6 g
    • Sodium: 1158 mg
    • Fat: 59 g
    • Saturated Fat: 30 g
    • Carbohydrates: 13 g
    • Fiber: 4 g
    • Protein: 33 g
    • Cholesterol: 170 mg

    Keywords: Cauliflower, Sausage, Kale, red pepper, cheese, Mac & Cheese

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

    Related

    « Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas with Chipotle Pumpkin Sauce
    Wild Rice Salad with Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Balsamic Mushrooms »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cheryl Malik says

      September 09, 2019 at 9:49 am

      I need to try this recipe ASAP. Perfect combination of flavors.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. STACEY CRAWFORD says

      September 08, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      This is a good way to get me to eat more kale with this cheesy comfort dish! Brilliant 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Hope says

      September 07, 2019 at 9:44 pm

      This looks so hearty, filling and delicious! Perfect comfort food!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. jennifer says

      September 07, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      Don't mind if I eat the whole pan! Lol, it loos sooo delicious . . who needs noodles!?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Anne Lawton says

      September 07, 2019 at 7:19 am

      I love this recipe. Full of deliciousness and healthy ingredients.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Raia Todd says

      September 06, 2019 at 11:11 am

      Oh. my. goodness. The flavors in this have me drooling! So much comfort food there.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Megan Stevens says

      September 06, 2019 at 8:50 am

      Oh my goodness, that cheese sauce with the Dijon looks amazing!! I can't wait to make this. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. paleoglutenfreeguy says

      September 05, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      This is the best combo - comfort food but healthy! You can eat this without feeling weighed down and gross afterward. it's delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Irena Macri says

      September 05, 2019 at 12:28 am

      All my favourite foods in one dish! This was totally delicious and I no pasta was missed 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Jean Choi says

      September 04, 2019 at 12:38 pm

      Wow, drooling. This looks fantastic! Love kale and sausage combo.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. ChihYu says

      September 03, 2019 at 7:30 pm

      A hearty bowl of cheesy goodness!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Daniela says

      September 03, 2019 at 1:28 pm

      This is one impressive dish! Pretty spectacular I must say! And I love that it's low carb!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Geetanjali Tung says

      April 12, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      Wow it looks so fav! Love the flavors added here. I am sure it would be a hit at my place. Will definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Lathiya says

      April 12, 2019 at 2:25 pm

      This Mac and Cheese with Kale and sausage looks delicious. It makes a whole some meal, perfect for quick dinner.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Mimi says

      April 08, 2019 at 4:20 pm

      I did notice and I am absolutely happy about it - cauliflower has been "my thing" lately so I can't stop enjoying all the cauliflower recipes that I stumble upom. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. April says

      April 08, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      Great notes for special diets. And a fabulous recipe in general - really like the combination of all the ingredients here. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    17. Maman de sara says

      April 08, 2019 at 3:54 pm

      This dish looks like the healthiest version of mac&cheese, yummy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. Kari Heron says

      April 08, 2019 at 9:38 am

      This looks so yummy! I have been making these casseroles with cauliflower but I love your combination with the kale and sausage!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Jacqueline Debono says

      April 07, 2019 at 8:18 am

      Baked cauliflower cheese has been a favourite side dish of mine since childhood. I've never added sausage to it, or kale. Sounds delicious and good enough to be a meal on its own!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    20. Alexis says

      April 06, 2019 at 7:08 pm

      What a fun twist on the usual mac and cheese. I lvoe that you've incorporated veggies into a traditional carb loaded recipe. This looks delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
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