Buffalo Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Recipe

close up of buffalo cauliflower mac and cheese in white bowl

4.63 from 24 ratings

Buffalo Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Recipe

This healthy buffalo cauliflower mac and cheese is made with cauliflower and chicken, and it's a healthy weeknight meal! This spicy cauliflower mac and cheese with chicken can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stove top.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 21 Day Fix, 2B Mindset, buffalo chicken, Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, healthy, mac and cheese

Servings: Servings

Calories: 306kcal

Author: Becca Ludlum

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt
Crockpot
Sealing Rings

Ingredients

1 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp dill dried
½ tsp parsley dried
1 head cauliflower cut into bite sized pieces
¾ cup hot sauce Frank's ORIGINAL, not Buffalo
¾ cup cottage cheese
¾ cup Greek yogurt plain, 2%
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
2 tbsp brown rice flour or whole wheat flour

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions

Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté. Add the oil and allow it to heat up. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and sauté until the chicken is browned. 1 tsp olive oil, 1 lb chicken breast
Add garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dill, and parsley to the pot. Mix up the chicken so that the seasoning is evenly distributed. 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp dill, 1/2 tsp parsley
Add the cauliflower to the Instant Pot and cover with the hot sauce. The hot sauce acts as your liquid for this recipe. Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. 1 head cauliflower, 3/4 cup hot sauce
Cook the chicken and cauliflower on high pressure using the manual setting for 1 minute. Let the pressure release naturally for 3-5 minutes before manually releasing it. *See recipe tips section if you're nervous about overcooking the cauliflower.
In a high speed blender, mix together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to create a creamy sauce. I know it's difficult for some to trust the Greek yogurt/cottage cheese blend–trust me. The blending will remove the chunks from the cottage cheese and take that tangy taste out of the yogurt. 3/4 cup cottage cheese, 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
Blend the sauce until smooth, then pour the sauce over the chicken and cauliflower. Add the cheese and brown rice flour. Carefully fold the sauce and cheese in so that the cauliflower holds its shape. 1 cup cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp brown rice flour
Garnish and serve while still warm, or pack up for lunch throughout the week.
Note: For this buffalo cauliflower mac and cheese to work you must cut the chicken into small bite sized pieces and brown the chicken. If you skip this step the chicken will not have enough time to cook. Plus, it keeps the chicken from cooking in a solid lump.

Stove Top Instructions

Heat a large skillet on the stove and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, sauté the chicken until it is browned. 1 tsp olive oil, 1 lb chicken breast
Add the seasonings, hot sauce, and cauliflower to the skillet. Mix it up so the cauliflower is covered in hot sauce. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium low heat. 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp dill, 1/2 tsp parsley, 3/4 cup hot sauce , 1 head cauliflower
Allow the cauliflower and chicken to cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the cauliflower is tender.
Blend together the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make a cream sauce. Remove the cauliflower and chicken from the heat when it's cooked. 3/4 cup cottage cheese, 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
Stir the sauce, cheddar cheese, and brown rice flour into the skillet until the cheese melts. Garnish and serve. 1 cup cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp brown rice flour

Video

Notes

If you're nervous about overcooking the cauliflower, manually release the pot after 2 minutes. If the cauliflower isn't cooked yet, close the pot back up and allow it to sit for a couple more minutes before checking it again.

Nutrition