Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (2024)

Modified: | Categories: Breakfast & Brunch

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

These cheesy cauliflower waffles are great for breakfast or dinner any day of the week.

They're low carb, easy to make, and the perfect base for nearly any topping.

They're also cheesy, fluffy, and absolutely kid friendly -- which is definitely an added bonus!

Plus, they're made with less than 10 ingredients, so you'll have a healthy and delicious meal on the table in no time!

Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (1)

About the Recipe

This lighter, healthier waffle recipe is a great way to enjoy all the treasures of your waffle iron with loads of nutrition (but you won't even know it).

Top them off with a fried egg, a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives, and dip into your favorite condiments, like salsa, guacamole, or ketchup.

Serve cauliflower waffles as a weekend brunch, quick breakfast, or breakfast for dinner.

Your kids will never know that they're packed full of nutritious cauliflower and will definitely beg you for more!

You can even use these unique waffles to hold together all your favorite breakfast foods, like bacon, eggs, avocado, and cheese, as part of a cauliflower waffle breakfast sandwich.

Their perfectly golden brown, crispy exterior is just like healthier hash browns, but with a bit more character and even more purpose.

You can basically pair cauliflower waffles with everything you'd pair with hash browns, so basically ANYTHING!

And even better, they'll fill you up, keep you satisfied, and make you feel good all at the same time.

Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (2)

Ingredients

  1. Cauliflower crumbles: the cauliflower will serve as the base of the waffle batter.
    • Once cooked, it is nearly flavorless and takes on the flavor of whatever seasonings and toppings you add to it.
    • You have a few different options here, as you can start from a whole head of cauliflower, cut off the leaves, cut it into florets, and then run them through a food processor to turn into rice-sized crumbles.
    • You can also use fresh florets from the bag and add those to a food processor.
    • Or lastly, you can use store-bought fresh or frozen riced cauliflower.
  2. Eggs, flour, baking powder: each one of these ingredients helps to bind the waffles, while keeping them light and fluffy.
    • Choose whichever flour you like best.
  3. Salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder: these seasonings help to flavor the waffles.
    • You can experiment with different seasonings and herbs, pairing the flavors with whatever you choose to top your waffles with.
  4. Sharp cheddar cheese: this adds a cheesy component to the waffles, adding additional flavor, while also helping all of the ingredients stick together.
  5. Toppings: feel free to top these savory cauliflower waffles any way you choose.
    • I love frying up eggs to add on top, along with a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
    • Then, I add some fresh herbs as a light garnish and flavor boost.

Instructions

  1. Place cauliflower crumbles, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder into a bowl and stir until combined. Fold in cheddar cheese.
  2. Heat a waffle maker to medium heat. Coat with cooking spray.
    • Scoop about a ½ cup batter and spread on the bottom of the waffle maker. Close lid and cook 4-6 minutes, until waffle is browned and cooked through.
    • Remove and repeat with remaining batter, coating with cooking spray between each waffle.
  3. In the meantime, coat a medium frying pan with cooking spray and heat to medium.
    • Crack 4 large eggs into the pan once it's hot and season with salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
    • Allow to cook for a few seconds, then turn heat down to medium-low.
    • Allow to cook until egg white is almost set, then put a lid on the pan and turn to low.
    • Cook just until top of the white is set, but yolk is completely uncooked.
  4. Top waffles with fried eggs and parsley, green onion or chives.

Substitutions and Alternatives

  • To help bind the waffles together, you can use almond, oat, or whole wheat flour, depending on your personal preferences.
  • Some great topping ideas include:
    • fried eggs
    • diced avocado or guacamole
    • salsa, fresh herbs
    • sour cream or Greek yogurt
    • breakfast meats like turkey bacon or chicken sausage
    • smoked salmon
    • hollandaise
Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (3)

Fun Facts

What can I use instead of cauliflower?

I highly recommend using cauliflower for this recipe, but there is some room for experimentation.
Broccoli would be the next best substitute as it has many similar qualities.
Some other vegetables that you could try include potatoes, sweet potatoes, and zucchini, all grated and extra moisture wrung out with a towel.

Can I make these sweet instead of savory?

These would be just as good made into sweet cauliflower waffles.
Just leave out the garlic, onion powder, salt, and peppers and add in a light sprinkle of sugar (or your preferred sweetener) instead.
You may want to skip the cheese if going sweet.
Then top with your favorite fruits or preserves and a light dusting of cinnamon or powdered sugar!

What can you put on cauliflower waffles?

Waffles are extremely versatile and can be topped with nearly anything you can think of!
From savory options, like eggs, bacon, cheese, and salsa, to sweet options, like melted chocolate, fruit preserves, caramel sauce, and whipped cream, there are so many great ways to enjoy them!
You can even use them as the "bread" of a breakfast sandwich or as the base of homemade chicken and waffles.

Chef’s Tips

  • Use any riced vegetables to make these cauliflower waffles! Try riced broccoli, sweet potato or white potato - or a mixture of any of these options!
  • You can purchase riced veggie mixtures in the freezer section at the supermarket.
  • Some supermarkets even have fresh riced cauliflower in the produce section, or you can make your own in the food processor.
Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (4)

More Delicious Recipes

Print

Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

No reviews

Savory waffles made from cauliflower crumbles, cheddar and spices, topped with fried eggs.

  • Author: Julie Andrews
  • Prep Time: 10-15 mins
  • Cook Time: 10-15 mins
  • Total Time: 20-30 mins
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch
  • Method: Waffle Maker, Stove-Top
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Cauliflower Waffles:

  • 2¼ cups cauliflower crumbles (10-ounce bag frozen riced cauliflower or 12-ounce bag frozen cauliflower florets, riced in the food processor)
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup all-purpose, whole wheat, oat or almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese

Fried Eggs + Garnish:

  • 4 large eggs
  • Pinch coarse salt, ground black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf Italian parsley, green onion or chives, chopped

Instructions

  1. Place cauliflower crumbles, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder into a bowl and whisk until combined. Fold in cheddar cheese.
  2. Heat a Belgian waffle maker to medium heat. Coat with cooking spray. Scoop ½ cup batter and spread on the bottom of the waffle maker. Close lid and cook 4-6 minutes, until waffle is browned and cooked through. Remove and repeat with remaining batter, coating with cooking spray between each waffle.
  3. In the meantime, coat a medium frying pan with cooking spray and heat to medium. Crack 4 large eggs into the pan once it's hot and season with salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Allow to cook for a few seconds, then turn heat down to medium-low. Allow to cook until egg white is almost set, then put a lid on the pan and turn to low. Cook just until top of the white is set, but yolk is completely uncooked.
  4. Top waffles with fried eggs and parsley, green onion or chives.

Notes

Cooking Tip: Be sure your waffle iron is in good condition. If any of the non-stick coating is worn off, the waffles will likely stick.

Flavor Tip: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you want them to be spicy.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ¼ of recipe
  • Calories: 216
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 524mg
  • Fat: 13g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 8g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 16g
  • Cholesterol: 378mg

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Teffy @ Sprinkle of Green says

    This looks aaah-mazing!
    I've been meaning to buy a waffle iron for ages, and this just makes me sure I want one. I'm a big fan of brinner (breakfast for dinner) so this appeals to me very much!

    Reply

    • Julie Andrews says

      Thank you, Teffy!! I highly recommend a waffle maker 🙂 You could also make these as pancakes... but there's just something about a good waffle. Plus, it collects all of the egg yolk! Yummmmm

      Reply

  2. Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says

    Breakfast for dinner is the best! While I normally go for a hash brown waffle, these cauliflower waffles need to take their place! I'm all about the cauliflower these days, so much you can do with them! Great tasty recipe!

    Reply

    • Julie Andrews says

      I LOVE breakfast for dinner! And I think you will definitely love these waffles. So. Good!

      Reply

  3. Vicky Cassidy says

    "Also, I said cheese." Mic drop.

    Reply

    • Julie Andrews says

      LOL! Yes, cheese.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles (2024)

FAQs

Can I put cheese in my waffle maker? ›

Spray both sides of waffle iron with nonstick spray, place as many cheese slices as will fit in waffle iron, and close lid. Cook until bread crumbs turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Repeat with any remaining cheese. Serve hot on its own or with salsa for dipping.

What goes well with cauliflower cheese? ›

Cauliflower is blanched for a few minutes, before being baked in the oven smothered in cheese sauce. So gooood. What is this? It pairs really well with salty meats, especially roast ham, gammon steaks and bacon.

Why are Belgian waffles so crispy? ›

Texture – In Belgian waffles, the eggs are separated. The yolks are whisked together with the other wet ingredients, while the whites are whipped to stiff peaks and then folded into the batter at the end. This creates a texture that is crisp on the outside and light and tender on the inside.

What kind of cheese do they use at Waffle House? ›

As a great philosopher once said “Everything tastes better with cheese.” Waffle House is proud to serve American cheese produced by one of the leading dairy providers in America – Schreiber Foods.

Can I use Pam on my waffle maker? ›

It worked. It didn't stick at all. I Here is the trick to do when you first get this waffle iron. Like another reviewer said, I used the Pam spray before pouring the waffle batter and I also added vegetable oil to the waffle mix.

Should you let waffle batter rest? ›

Recommended overnight or 2 hr resting – for the tastiest waffles, rest the batter overnight in the fridge or for at least 2 hours. This makes the flour grains absorb the liquid so it makes the inside of the waffles softer.

What is the secret of making crispy waffles? ›

You can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect the waffles to be more dense. Cornstarch: The secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.

Why won't my waffles get crispy? ›

Not waiting until the iron heats up properly means your waffles will cook, but never achieve that satisfyingly crisp exterior. Overworking the batter will leave your waffles dense and chewy instead of light and airy. And stacking even the most perfect waffles will cause them to become soggy and limp in minutes.

Why is my cauliflower cheese always watery? ›

She said: "Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if it's in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery."

Why can't you freeze cauliflower cheese? ›

It can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to cook. It is possible to freeze cauliflower cheese but unfortunately the sauce can sometimes turn thin and sligtly watery on defrosting, so we prefer not to freeze the dish if at all possible.

Why do restaurant waffles taste better? ›

An undeniable element of technique is involved in the flipping, timing, and surgical extraction of delicate waffles from the teeth of the iron. It also takes an experienced hand to not cram too much batter into the iron or underfill and end up with a thin, lackluster puck.

What are thin crispy waffles called? ›

A stroopwafel's wafer layers are made from a stiff dough of flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs that has been pressed in a hot waffle iron until crisp.

Why do Belgian waffles taste different than regular waffles? ›

The Difference Between Belgian Waffles and Regular Waffles

These Belgian beauties are made with a recipe that includes yeasted batter and crunchy pearl sugar. Belgian waffles have extra-deep pockets—the better for filling with butter, jam, maple syrup, or whipped cream.

What else can I put in a waffle maker? ›

9 Unexpected Foods You Can Cook on a Waffle Iron
  • Falafel. Typically deep-fried, this chickpea or fava bean–based Middle Eastern staple gets much crispier and with much less fat when cooked on a waffle iron. ...
  • Fried rice. ...
  • Pizza. ...
  • Crab cakes. ...
  • Omelets. ...
  • Zucchini fritters. ...
  • Grilled cheese sandwiches. ...
  • Tofu.
Dec 22, 2020

How do you use a waffle maker as a sandwich press? ›

Lightly coat both sides of sandwiches with cooking spray. Place 1 sandwich in each compartment of waffle iron; close waffle iron firmly on sandwiches. Place a heavy skillet on top of waffle iron to help flatten sandwiches evenly. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese melts.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aron Pacocha

Last Updated:

Views: 6282

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aron Pacocha

Birthday: 1999-08-12

Address: 3808 Moen Corner, Gorczanyport, FL 67364-2074

Phone: +393457723392

Job: Retail Consultant

Hobby: Jewelry making, Cooking, Gaming, Reading, Juggling, Cabaret, Origami

Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.