Cauliflower Bleu Cheese Pasta Bake

With an entire head of cauliflower, bleu cheese and macaroni pasta, this pasta bake is creamy, easy to make, and delicious. A wonderful recipe on those days when you want to make something quick and have it taste amazing too.

Lots of veggies for a healthier pasta bake

With an entire cauliflower, bell peppers, onions and garlic this pasta bake is veggie loaded making it healthier and lighter. These veggies are so delicious together, that you may just choose to serve them as a side dish 😀.

Bleu cheese for that cheesy creamy flavor

This pasta bake actually tastes like mac n cheese! The bleu cheese is so creamy that it melts into the pasta bake creating a lovely cheesy sauce. So much easier than making a traditional rue based cheese sauce.

Macaroni pasta for the best flavor

Why macaroni ? I find this one works well with creamy bleu cheese and makes it easy to get a fork full of pasta and veggie together in every bite.

Veggies, bleu cheese, pasta = delicious gourmet pasta bake

Here are the steps for this outstanding pasta dish.

First, cut up the cauliflower into florets, drizzle olive oil and bake for 30 minutes. While it’s baking, cook the pasta. And while the pasta is boiling, in another pot saute garlic, onions and peppers in olive oil until the onions and peppers are tender.

Next combine the cooked pasta with the onions and peppers. Once the cauliflower is roasted add that to the pasta. Lastly add the bleu cheese and stir in. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly.

Pour the pasta and veggies into a baking dish. Top with extra shredded parmesan or cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until the pasta is bubbly around the edges. Cauliflower bleu cheese pasta bake is ready!

Cauliflower Bleu Cheese Macaroni Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower cut into florets
6 small sweet bell peppers cut into small pieces
1 onion thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic finely chopped
1lb macaroni pasta
6 tbsp creamy bleu cheese
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Red chili flakes
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan or cheddar chese

Directions:

Place cut cauliflower on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400F. Drizzle with olive oil and toss the cauliflower. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Cook the macaroni according to package directions. When its ready, save 2 cups pasta water then drain the pasta and set aside.

In a large pot warm 2 tbsp olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and shallow fry until the onions are translucent. Add red chili flakes if using. Then add the peppers and cook until they are slightly tender about 2 minutes.

Next add the cooked pasta and roasted cauliflower to the onion and pepper mixture and toss together. Turn the stove off. Add the 2 cups of pasta water. Then add the bleu cheese. Combine all together. Taste for salt an adjust accordingly. Pour into 9×13″ baking dish. Top with shredded cheddar cheese or Parmesan, and sprinkle of black pepper.

Place in 400F oven and bake for 30 minutes until the edges are bubbly. Take out of oven and let sit for a few minutes before serving.