Cauliflower is a versatile alternative for those who have wheat allergies. You probably have seen lots of recipes using cauliflower as a gluten-free substitution for certain ingredients.
Roasted cauliflower also tastes great in regular pasta recipes, especially if you need something light to break up your regular weekly dinners. Continue reading to learn about our top favorite roasted cauliflower pasta dishes.
1. Baked Cauliflower Pasta Recipe
Our first recipe uses cauliflower in addition to cooked pasta shells. Doing this adds texture, flavor, and healthy vegetables to this cheesy pasta dish.
Oh yeah, and did we mention cheese? This recipe calls for three different kinds of cheeses, namely ricotta, Pecorino Romano, and mozzarella.
Before you begin, be sure to chop and roast your cauliflower. Then, boil pasta shells until they are al dente.
Lastly, cook some garlic in butter, take it off the heat, and add lemon zest straight into the pan. Mix everything together with the seasonings and spread it into a casserole dish and bake it.
Top it with a little lemon juice and fresh parsley to enhance all the flavors of this baked cauliflower pasta dish. You could even add a breadcrumb topping or other roasted vegetables for added texture and color.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Roasted Cauliflower Pasta Recipe
This roasted cauliflower pasta recipe is so easy that anyone can make it. Roast the cauliflower first, then boil some fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta noodles.
Sauté garlic in butter then add lemon zest and seasonings. Next, melt parmesan cheese into this mix, add your noodles and roasted cauliflower, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Feel free to sprinkle in Italian seasoning when you are mixing in the lemon zest and red pepper flakes.
You could even garnish the roasted cauliflower pasta with roughly chopped walnuts or pine nuts if you want to make it more crunchy.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
3. Tomato and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower Pasta
If you have watched any cooking shows, like “Cutthroat Kitchen” or “Iron Chef,” then you’ll definitely recognize the name Alton Brown.
He is a talented chef, and we love his version of roasted cauliflower pasta. We’re sure your vegetarian friends will also appreciate this dish.
He lists both US standard measurement amounts and metric amounts on his site. So no matter where you’re making this, the conversions are right there for you.
This recipe calls for penne or rigatoni pasta, plus sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and breadcrumbs. Much like the first two recipes, you’ll season it with garlic and red pepper flakes.
Incorporate the cooked noodles and top the dish with breadcrumbs before baking it to perfection.
Get the full recipe and directions from Alton Brown.
4. Spicy Vegan Cauliflower Pasta
Not every pasta needs a sauce, and this recipe is living proof of that. This cauliflower pasta calls for just 10 ingredients and it is vegan-friendly (as long as you use vegan noodles).
There are a few things to keep in mind with this recipe. Before roasting the cauliflower, toss it in olive oil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and sea salt.
When cooking your pasta (linguini or fettuccine noodles work best), you can either boil them in plain water or opt for vegetable broth for added flavor.
Once all the components are prepared, toss this cauliflower pasta dish with a pair of tongs and dig in!
Get the full recipe and directions from Minimalist Baker.
5. Bacon Cauliflower Pasta Bake
Macaroni and cheese fans will love this cauliflower pasta bake! What’s even better is that it stores well in the freezer.
All you need to make this dish is bacon, pasta, cauliflower, butter, flour, milk, Dijon mustard, cheddar cheese, and breadcrumbs. Such a straightforward ingredient list, right?
One of the biggest differences you’ll notice in this recipe is how the cauliflower is cooked. Instead of roasting it at the beginning, add the cauliflower florets to the water your noodles are cooking in once they’re almost ready to drain.
To make the sauce, melt some butter and stir in milk, flour, mustard, and cheese. Next, mix everything together and brown some breadcrumbs on top to get that crispy texture.
Add a side salad to this cauliflower pasta dish, and you’ve got yourself a well-balanced meal the whole family can enjoy.
Get the full recipe and directions from BBC Good Food.
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Spicy Truffle Mac and Cheese Recipe post.
