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!
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.
Ingredients
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: this adds a cheesy component to the waffles, adding additional flavor, while also helping all of the ingredients stick together.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Fun Facts
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.
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!
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.
More Delicious Recipes
- Hash Brown Waffles with Sausage Gravy
- Leftover Stuffing Waffles
- Lemon Meringue Waffles with Blackberry Syrup
- Pumpkin Spice Waffles
- Cauliflower Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
Cheesy Cauliflower Waffles
Savory waffles made from cauliflower crumbles, cheddar and spices, topped with fried eggs.
- 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
Cauliflower Waffles:
- 2 ¼ 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
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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!
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
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!
Julie Andrews says
I LOVE breakfast for dinner! And I think you will definitely love these waffles. So. Good!
Vicky Cassidy says
"Also, I said cheese." Mic drop.
Julie Andrews says
LOL! Yes, cheese.
Michelle says
Made these for lunch, absolutely great!! Great texture and flavor. Thanks for the recipe:)
Julie Andrews says
Awesome - I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Michelle!!