16 Creative Cauliflower Recipes The Whole Family Will Love

By Southern Living Editors

Updated January 22, 2020

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

The cauliflower craze is sweeping the South, and we're totally on board. Although the fluffy white vegetable is often compared to broccoli, cauliflower stands out with its delicate taste, soft texture, and versatility. An excellent absorber of herbs, oil, and spices, this fibrous vegetable is a fresh, nutrient-rich alternative to many starch ingredients. If you’re crazy for cauliflower, then it’s time to get crafty. There are so many different ways this veggie can be incorporated into your daily dishes. Swap out potato chips with roasted cauliflower, or pair roasted chicken with steamed cauliflower. Whether you prefer to steam or sauté, you’ll never tire of the different ways to dress up this veggie. Try riced cauliflower for an easy side dish that is lower in carbs. Not sure where to start? Take a look at our favorite cauliflower recipes, and you'll be cooking with cauliflower in no time.

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Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Get your daily dose of veggies, by mixing in cauliflower to this skillet mac and cheese.

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup

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Recipe: Creamy Cauliflower Soup

This easy soup comes together in under an hour, making it a comforting dish for an easy weeknight meal.

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Skirt Steak and Cauliflower Rice with Red Pepper Sauce

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Skirt Steak and Cauliflower Rice with Red Pepper Sauce

Cauliflower rice is a great low-carb option and pairs nicely with this skirt steak.

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Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling; Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

Kids will hop on the vegetable train with this loaded cheesy cauliflower dish.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots

This roasted cauliflower absorbs the sweet and spicy flavor from this one pan dish.

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Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad

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Recipe: Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad

This easy version of broccoli salad features frozen broccoli plus cauliflower and chopped carrot for added color and crispness.

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Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Easy Cauliflower Casserole

This casserole will trick all the baked mac-n-cheese lovers in your house. It swaps out pasta for veggies and relies on pantry staples like panko and cream of chicken soup.

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Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Riced cauliflower is added to this beloved mashed potatoes recipe for an extra creamy side dish.

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Cauliflower Wings

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cauliflower Wings

This vegetarian version of buffalo wings will please everyone at your next party. Coated in batter and punchy homemade sauce, you may even trick some guests into thinking they are the real thing.