Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese W Smashed Cauliflower Medallions Recipe

Gluten Free
Lunch
Main Dishes
4.6/5
(2561 reviews)
Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese W Smashed Cauliflower Medallions
Zylo Recipes

Description

Imagine a creamy, comforting dish with a fiery kick: a spicy twist on classic macaroni and cheese, elevated with slices of tender buffalo chicken. This dish starts with a velvety, homemade cheese sauce, rich and decadent, blanketing a bed of shirataki noodles. The subtle flavor of the noodles allows the bold flavors of the sauce to truly shine.

The buffalo sauce, also crafted from scratch, clings beautifully to the sliced chicken, delivering a tangy and spicy punch that complements the creamy cheese sauce perfectly. You can either arrange the chicken slices artfully on top of the “mac” or incorporate them directly into the noodles for a more integrated flavor experience. Either way, each bite offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes.

To complete this satisfying meal, we have included smashed cauliflower medallions, a lighter take on smashed potatoes. These medallions boast a wonderfully tender interior with delightfully crisp, browned edges. A generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh green onion adds a savory and aromatic finish, creating a harmonious balance to the richness of the mac and cheese.

This recipe is not only delicious but also ideal for meal prepping. The components can be prepared in advance and assembled when you're ready to eat. Feel free to personalize the cauliflower medallions with your favorite seasonings.

Garlic powder, onion powder, or a touch of paprika can add depth and complexity. Fresh herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, would also be a fragrant and flavorful addition. Experiment with different cheeses or add crispy bacon bits for extra indulgence.

Get creative with toppings to customize this meal to your liking. The possibilities are endless!

Preparation Time

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
45 min
Total Time
1 h 0 min

Nutrition Information

Per 1 serving serving
C
Calories
450 Kcal

C
Carbs
15 g
Fi
Fiber
5 g
Sugar
5 g

P
Protein
45 g

C
Fats
30 g
Saturated Fats 10 g
Unsaturated Fats 15 g

Cholestrol 150 mg
Sodium 800 mg
Potassium 500 mg
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Ingredients

    1.
    Cauliflower
    Cauliflower
    10 oz
    2.
    Olive Or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    Olive Or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    0.5 tbsp
    3.
    Salt
    Salt
    0.13 tsp
    4.
    Black pepper
    Black pepper
    0.13 tsp
    5.
    Parmesan cheese, fresh (hard)
    Parmesan cheese, fresh (hard)
    1.5 tsp, grated
    6.
    Scallions
    Scallions
    0.5 tbsp, chopped
    7.
    Butter, unsalted
    Butter, unsalted
    2 tbsp
    8.
    Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
    Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
    2 tbsp
    9.
    Chicken Breast Boneless Skinless Raw
    Chicken Breast Boneless Skinless Raw
    10 oz
    10.
    Olive Or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    Olive Or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    0.5 tbsp
    11.
    Salt
    Salt
    0.13 tsp
    12.
    Black pepper
    Black pepper
    0.13 tsp
    13.
    Onion powder
    Onion powder
    0.13 tsp
    14.
    Garlic powder
    Garlic powder
    0.13 tsp
    15.
    Oregano, dried
    Oregano, dried
    0.25 tsp
    16.
    Butter, unsalted
    Butter, unsalted
    2 tbsp
    17.
    Cream cheese
    Cream cheese
    2 oz
    18.
    Almond milk
    Almond milk
    0.5 cup
    19.
    Cheddar cheese
    Cheddar cheese
    0.5 cup, shredded
    20.
    Colby Jack cheese
    Colby Jack cheese
    0.75 cup, shredded
    21.
    Shirataki Noodle
    Shirataki Noodle
    4 oz

Instructions

    1.
    Turn on an oven to preheat to 350 degrees. Cut the core off a head of cauliflower, and break the cauliflower into large florets. Add the listed amount of cauliflower florets to a mixing bowl, and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper until the florets are coated evenly. Arrange the cauliflower on a seasoned sheet tray sprayed lightly with pan spray, and place to tray in your oven. Cook the cauliflower for 35 minutes, rotating the florets halfway through, until the thickest parts of the cauliflower are tender.
    2.
    Use the back of a spoon, fork, or spatula to gently smash each cauliflower floret into a flat medallion. Don smash them to the point of mush! Sprinkle parmesan cheese and chopped green onion over each medallion. Return the smashed cauliflower to the oven, and bake for another 10 minutes. Look for golden brown edges on all the medallions and melted, lightly browned parmesan cheese.
    3.
    While the cauliflower is in the oven, start on the chicken. Melt the first amount of butter in a small pot over low heat on the stove. Pour your favorite brand of traditional hot sauce into the pot, and stir with the butter until combined. Let the sauce heat until bubbling as you stir the sauce for about an extra minute. Remove the pot from the heat at set the buffalo sauce aside to cool and thicken a little. If you dd like to make more buffalo sauce for the recipe, just make a 1:1 ratio of butter and hot sauce.
    4.
    Prepare 5-ounce chicken breasts by patting them dry with a paper towel and rubbing olive oil into the flesh. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. Heat a clean pan on high heat. Once the pan is hot, place the chicken in the pan seasoned side down. Use a marinade brush to brush some of the buffalo sauce onto the exposed side of the chicken in the pan.
    5.
    Cook the chicken undisturbed until it chars on one side. Then, flip the chicken over so the buffalo sauce you brushed on sears into the meat. Brush more buffalo sauce over the newly exposed side of the chicken breasts. Again, let the chicken cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes. Reduce the stove heat to a lower temperature, and pour all remaining buffalo sauce into the pan. Flip the chicken breast over in the sauce back and forth until sauce is coating the chicken as it thickens.
    6.
    Set the pan of buffalo chicken aside to rest. Make the mac and cheese by melting the second amount of butter in a pot over low heat on the stove. Stir cream cheese into the melted butter continually until the cream cheese and butter are melted and emulsified. Pour almond milk into the pot, and bring the pot to a simmer while you stir the butter and cream cheese into the almond milk. Once the liquid is hot, reduce the heat back down to a low setting, and stir cheddar and colby jack cheese into the sauce until it cs melted, thick, and creamy.
    7.
    Keep the cheese sauce warm as you prepare your shirataki macaroni noodles. Rinse the noodles in cold water and drain them before adding to your pot of cheese sauce. Fold the noodles gently into the cheese sauce as the steam cooks the noodles. Serve each portion of mac and cheese with smashed cauliflower medallions and a buffalo chicken breast. Serving suggestions are described in more detail in the recipe introduction.