casserole | Fitness With Kayla

So, today at the local market here in Puerto Aventuras I found this…

Yes, that’s right. A Cauliflower larger than my fiancés head.

Now if you haven’t figured it out yet… I LOVE Cauliflower. I’m pretty sure I’ve said that before, but just to reiterate… I LOVE CAULIFLOWER!

This cauliflower is almost 3 times the size of a normal head of cauliflower, so I should be able to make about 3-4 different recipes with this head! YIPPEEEEEE!

I was asked what I was going to do with this amazing find, and one of my answers was to make a broccoli and cauliflower casserole. I decided I would share this delicious recipe with all of you.

Are you hungry yet?

Well, here is goes… Welcome to Cheesy Baked Broccoli and Cauliflower!!!

Instructions:

1 fresh head Broccoli, cut into florets

1/2 fresh head Cauliflower, cut into florets

1/2 Tbsp no salt Butter

1 ½ cups fat-free Milk

2 Tbsp Flour

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Pepper

1 clove Garlic

1/2 tsp (+ more for topping) Paprika

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (I used combination of Cheddar, Monterrey Jack, & Mozzarella)*

5 wedges Laughing Cow Light Cheese, or 4oz Light Cream Cheese**

1/4 cup Light Mayo

1 cup Onion, chopped

1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs***

1/2 Tbsp Butter, melted

*I have used many different cheese blends, and the recipe still turns out great. (Manchego, Chihuahua, Gouda, Cheddar, Monterrey Jack, Mozzarella, etc). I usually have Manchego and Chihuahua on hand, as they are quite affordable here in Mexico.

**As I live in Mexico, Laughing Cow cheese can be a bit more pricy than local cheese choices. If I do not have Laughing Cow cheese, I substitute Light Cream Cheese, and it works great!

***I added a couple of tablespoons of Parmesan cheese in with the Panko Breadcrumbs

Instructions:

1- In a stock pot, steam broccoli and cauliflower in water until cooked to tender. Once cooked, drain and set aside.

2- Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9in round casserole dish, or similar, with non stick cooking spray.

3- While broccoli and cauliflower are cooking, in a sauce pan, melt 1/2 Tbsp of butter. Once melted, add in the flour, and lightly brown. Add in milk and bring mixture to a light boil, whisking frequently, until sauce thickens.

4- Add in shredded cheese and Laughing Cow (or Cream Cheese) wedges. Stir to combine.

5- Once all cheeses are melted, cook cheese mixture for 2-3 minutes, then add in mayo, onion, garlic, and spices. Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes. Sauce will thicken, again.

6- When cheese sauce and vegetables are finished cooking, place vegetables in the bottom of the casserole dish. Spoon cheese sauce evenly over the vegetables.

7- In a small bowl, melt 1/2 Tbsp of butter, and mix with the Panko crumbs, and an additional 1/2 tsp Paprika. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over the top of the vegetables.

8- Bake, covered with foil, for 15 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for an additional 10- 15 minutes, or until bubbly, and crumbs are lightly browned on top. Serve immediately.

This recipe is delicious, yet still healthy! I hope you will enjoy it as much as my family does. Here is a link to a printable version of the recipe: Cheesy Baked Broccoli and Cauliflower

Try this recipe out, and let me know how you like it! I would love to hear how you enjoy making your Cauliflower! ENJOY!

I’m starting to believe I have an addiction to Cauliflower. As I have been trying to continue with lots of healthy recipes, I keep going back to using Cauliflower as or in my main dishes. I came across a recipe similar to this on Pinterest, so I had to try it out… but of course I added a few of my own touches. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, and it bakes in one dish, for less mess and clean up. Its hard to go wrong when combining cauliflower with cheese and chicken, and when you throw in a few other veggies, it makes a delightful casserole for everyone to enjoy.

So here you have it:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 breasts Chicken, cooked and diced

1 head Cauliflower, steamed and chopped

6 ounces Cheddar Cheese, shredded

6 ounces Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

1 Egg

1/2 Onion, diced ( You can also substitute Green Onions)

4 slices Turkey Bacon, crumbled

1 clove Garlic, minced

1/2 Jalapeño, diced (optional)

Salt & pepper

Instructions:

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2- Steam cauliflower until tender. In a separate sauce pan, place uncooked chicken breasts, 2 cups of water, and 1 cube of chicken bouillon. Bring to a boil, and simmer until cooked through.

3- Meanwhile, combine cheeses in a large bowl. Remove ¼ of cheese and set aside. (*I use a pre-packaged cheese blend to save time.)

4-Once chicken is cooked, remove from water, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Once cooled, dice chicken, then mix chicken, onion, bacon, garlic, and jalapeño together with remaining cheese.

5- Stir cauliflower into cheese mixture, and add the egg. Mix all ingredients well, and season with salt & pepper. Pour into a 8×8 or larger glass baking dish sprayed well with non stick cooking spray.

6- Bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is well melted and casserole starts to bubble. Remove from oven and top with additional cheese.

7- Return to oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Serve immediately!

Here is the link to your printable recipe card: Cheesy Cauliflower and Chicken Casserole

So this recipe is super simple to prepare, as you mix it all together and bake it. You can omit the 1 egg, but the casserole will not stay together as well. I prefer it with the egg, as it made the flavor better. I hope you enjoy this simple casserole with cauliflower and chicken… It really is YUMMY! In the next weeks, I am going to (well, try to) branch out and bring you some healthy recipes with Spinach, Broccoli, and much more! Stay Tuned, but for now, ENJOY! 🙂

Fitness With Kayla

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Cheesy Baked Broccoli and Cauliflower

Cheesy Cauliflower & Chicken Casserole