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01.30.19

How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

Posted on by Lexi , Views: 10030
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The infamous Trader Joe’s Gnocchi package directions results in soggy gnocchi that nobody wants, so we’re going step-by-step for you on How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi! It’s a quick weeknight meal on a budget and is a great gluten-free alternative to a classic gnocchi. What has become an almost cult classic, is so good, and we’ve cracked the code on our favorite way to prepare it.

Best way to cook Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

If you haven’t heard of the Trader Joe’s cult favorite Cauliflower Gnocchi, let us tell you a little bit about it! It’s inexpensive, sold for under $3, and made gluten-free with a hearty dose of veggie. Traditionally gnocchi is made with cooked potatoes that are bound together with egg and wheat flour. The TJ version is made with cauliflower and cassava flour, and a few other ingredients. To be clear, it’s not necessarily low-carb but it’s a healthier take with a classic flavor. The package directions produce a finished product that is a bit suspect so we’re going to go through step-by-step on How to Make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi into a quick weeknight Italian dinner!

How do you cook cauliflower gnocchi?

There are a few different ways to cook cauliflower gnocchi. But there is one way not to cook it, and that is do not cook it according to the package directions. We are looking for gnocchi that isn’t mushy and has a nice crispy coating so we’re using cooking methods that do just that!

  1. In the skillet: This is by far the easiest and simplest method (and our favorite)! The main directions in our recipe include the step-by-step for skillet cooking because it is our preferred method for the best tasting gnocchi. It also makes the meal a one-pan dinner which is always a plus.
  2. In the air fryer: This is a simple way to crispy up the gnocchi, but the downside is that this cooking gadget isn’t that common and it still means you have to use other pots and pans to make a complete meal.
  3. In the oven: We offer directions for cooking the gnocchi on a sheet pan, but in all honestly it is our least favorite method. In order to achieve crispy gnocchi it has to have a long cook time, and just isn’t very efficient. But will lend itself to crispy gnocchi if left in there long enough.

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi recipes

What do you serve with Cauliflower Gnocchi:

We serve this recipe with store-bought tomato sauce, spinach and cheese. It makes it a complete meal that is made in one pan and ready in under 30 minutes. Alternatively you could use a homemade tomato sauce, homemade meat sauce, a pesto, a pumpkin sauce or really any sauce that tastes good with gnocchi!

The TJ’s cauliflower gnocchi is also a hit when served alone as an appetizer with a dipping sauce!

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi cooking tips

Tips on getting your hands on Cauliflower Gnocchi

Admittedly there is a Cauliflower Gnocchi craze going on, coupled with a delay in getting shipments in to some stores. So we had trouble getting our hands on cauliflower gnocchi for a few weeks. Hopefully they’ll be producing more of this product now that they know it’s a hit. Follow these tips to get your hands on Cauliflower Gnocchi:

  • Call ahead and ask them to set some aside for you.
  • Find out when they get the shipments in, typically late at night before closing or first thing in the morning, so call ahead or plan to be at the store then.
  • Buy in bulk. They are stored in the freezer so if you buy a bunch at a time (who bought 10 bags at once? Ahem… not Lexi….) you won’t have to worry for a few weeks/months when they’ll be getting in another shipment.

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi how to cook

So jump on the Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi train and get to the store to get yours and make sure to post it to Instagram. Because with this one, if you didn’t post it to Instagram, did it even happen?

If you like this weeknight Italian dinner, check out these others:

How to Make Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi

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Prep Time 00:05 Cook Time 00:15 Serves 2-4

Ingredients

  • 2 - 12 ounce bags Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
  • 2 tablespoons oil or butter
  • 1 heaping cup baby spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup marinara sauce of choice
  • ⅓ cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Ignore the package instructions.
  2. Defrost the gnocchi: You can either let thaw out on the counter for an hour or you can microwave the gnocchi on a plate for 2-4 minutes. Once thawed you want to pat dry any condensation. 
  3. In a large non-stick or well-seasoned cast iron skillet heat 2 tablespoon oil until it’s hot add the gnocchi in an even layer. Let the gnocchi sit undisturbed for 3 minutes. Flip the gnocchi and repeat until they are a light brown and crispy.
  4. Add in spinach and stir until it is all wilted.
  5. Add in garlic powder, Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes and marinara sauce and toss until combined.
  6. Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 amount of minutes, or until the cheese and sauce is hot and bubbly.
  7. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

  1. Air-fryer instructions to cook the gnocchi:
    1. Pre-heat Air-fryer to 400ºF
    2. Partially defrost the gnocchi, about 2 minutes in the microwave, making sure to break apart any gnocchi stuck together.
    3. Spray the air-fryer basket with avocado spray.
    4. Lay 1/2 the gnocchi from one bag inside the basket and spray it once more.
    5. Cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
    6. Repeat with the remaining bag.
  2. Oven Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
    2. Place defrosted gnocchi on the baking sheet and spray with avocado oil spray or cooking spray of choice. Toss to coat.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes, flip, and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the gnocchi is golden brown and crispy on the outside.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!

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How to Make Trader Joe's Cauliflower GnocchiWhat is your favorite way to make Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi?

01.27.19

Jalapeño Popper Dip (Options for Dairy and Dairy-Free)

Posted on by Kelli Avila , Views: 4194
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This Jalapeño Popper Dip is the perfect appetizer to serve for Game Day and can conveniently be prepared ahead of time and baked up right before serving! It has all the classic flavor of Jalapeño Poppers without having to individually make them. This gluten-free and keto dip has two options to make: as a creamy dairy version or or you can substitute in cashew cream for a dairy-free and delicious alternative that’s also paleo friendly.

keto jalepeno popper dipJalapeño Popper Dip

With the BIG GAME coming up soon it’s the perfect time to discuss all the best game day eats! This Jalapeño Popper Dip is an obvious contender because it has all the elements of jalepeño poppers but made easier as convenient dip. It’s warm and comforting and a bit spicy! We’ve included both a dairy version with all the cheesy goodness as well as a dairy-free version which is remarkably similar, made using our new favorite ingredient: cashew cream! We liked them both the same, so don’t make us choose which one is better!

This dip can also be made almost entirely ahead of time and then baked right before serving so that you have more time to prepare for guests. All you have to do is prep the dip up until the baking step and right before serving pop it in the oven.

dairy free jalapeño popper dip

To get the cheese-y flavor in our dairy-free version we used cashew cream, mayo and some nutritional yeast! Nutritional yeast is inactive yeast, usually fortified with vitamin B12, that is a favorite amount vegans as it replicates the cheese flavor.

We opted to use pickled jalapeños in this dip because we love them and the acidity that it adds to the dish. We also added some salty bacon to the mix, but if you’d like to make this vegetarian or vegan (cashew cream version only) you can leave it out! We also added in a bit more nutrients in here with the addition of some baby kale. We love the color it lends to the dip and think it fits well, but you can also opt to leave this out if desired.

Serve this up with a spread of tortilla chips, or crackers (we love Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers) and cut up vegetables!

Jalapeno popper dip with bacon

If you like this game day recipe, check out these others:

Jalapeño Popper Dip

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Prep Time 00:15 Cook Time 00:20 Serves 6-8

Ingredients

Dairy Version:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
  • 1 cup chopped baby kale (optional)
  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos, drained and chopped (see note)
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin, divided

Dairy-Free Version:

  • 1-1/4 cups cashews (for cashew cream, see this post for directions)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup chopped baby kale (optional)
  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos, drained and chopped
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided (optional)
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin, divided

Directions

Dairy Version:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and grease a 3-cup oven-safe baking dish.
  2. In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in mayo and slowly mix together on low speed until fully combined (do not overmix or the mixture will separate).
  3. Add in garlic powder, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and kale. Set aside a few pieces of the jalapeno, bacon and green onion and place the remaining inside of the cream cheese mixture and mix on low until fully combined.
  4. Place mixture inside of prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle with remaining set aside bacon and jalapeno and cheese.
  5. Bake at 400 until the cheese is bubbly and melted, about 20 minutes.
  6. Top with remaining green onions and serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable crudite.

Dairy-Free Version:

  1. Make cashew cream (with increased amount of cashews).
  2. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and grease a 3-cup oven-safe baking dish.
  3. In a bowl whisk together cashew cream and mayo, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
  4. Add the kale to the bowl. Set aside a few pieces of the jalapeno, bacon and green onion and place the remaining and the inside of the cashew cream mixture, and combine.
  5. Place mixture inside of prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle with remaining jalapeno and bacon
  6. Bake until heated through (you can check by inserting a butter knife in the center and checking to see if the mixture is hot), about 18 minutes.
  7. Top with remaining green onions and serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable crudite.

Recipe Notes

  1. MAKE AHEAD: You can make this up to two days ahead without baking, and then bake when ready. You may need to add a couple of extra minutes cook time.
  2. If you like things spicy, you can up the jalepenos to ⅔ cups
  3. If you aren’t including the bacon increase the salt to ½ teaspoon in dairy version.
  4. For dairy-free version check out this post for more information to make cashew cream. You’ll need to increase the amount slightly to get the correct amount for this recipe with a ratio of 1-¼ cups cashews to ½ cup of water.
  5. To double either of these versions to feed a large crowd simply double all of the ingredients and cook for about 10 minutes longer.
  6. To make this vegetarian leave out the bacon.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!
12.14.18

Ham and Cheese Waffles (Gluten-Free)

Posted on by Kelli Avila , Views: 3613
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These gluten-free Ham and Cheese Waffles are going to be the star of the breakfast or brunch table! You wouldn’t know these waffles were gluten-free and they’re a cinch to put together using only one bowl. These fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside waffles are the perfect mix of sweet and savory and bound to be a new favorite!

Gluten free waffles with almond flourHam and Cheese Waffles (Gluten-Free)

These gluten-free Ham and Cheese Waffles came about as a need to use up our leftover Maple Glazed Ham and we are so glad it did because these waffles are SO GOOD! If you haven’t tried savory waffles before let us introduce you to the perfect mix of sweet and savory! Of course, you could keep this all savory and omit the drizzle of honey on the top, but we thought it really took it over the edge of deliciousness and really recommend serving it this way!

With the upcoming holidays you are going to want to keep this recipe at the ready! This is such a great breakfast or brunch idea to serve a crowd! Our recipe serves 4, but it can easily be doubled or tripled and the waffles can be kept warm in a low oven to keep hot before serving!

Ham and Cheddar Paleo Waffles

These gluten-free waffles use my trusty blend of almond and tapioca flour as the base! We use this blend for a lot of our recipes because it is simple, versatile and creates a product that is satisfying.

Want a FREE ham?

  • New customers who sign up for their first box will receive a free 4 lb. Spiral Ham in their first order!!
  • About the Ham: ButcherBox ham is a fully cooked, hickory smoked, uncured, bone-in spiral ham. It’s free of nitrates, casein, and gluten. It’s non-GMO verified, vegetarian fed, and no antibiotics and growth promotants ever!
  • P.S. If you would like to receive your box before the Christmas holiday, you need to order before 12/17!

Ham and Cheddar Paleo Waffles

In this recipe we used these tools:

  • Essentials: bowls, whisk, spatula, measuring spoons and cups
  • Waffle Iron

If you like this breakfast recipe, check out these others:

Watch the video:

Ham and Cheese Waffles (Gluten-Free)

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Prep Time 00:10 Cook Time 00:15 Serves 4

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat a waffle maker according to the appliance instructions.
  2. Whisk together the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until fully combined.
  3. Add in the eggs, applesauce and maple syrup and whisk to combine.
  4. Fold in the ¾ cup ham, 3 tablespoons scallions and cheese.
  5. Spray the heated waffle iron with a high heat cooking spray (we use avocado oil). Following the directions for your waffle maker regarding batter quantity and cook time, pour in the batter and cook the waffles until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove and if desired transfer to a low oven to keep warm. Spray the waffle iron with avocado oil and repeat with remaining batter.
  6. Serve the waffles hot and garnish with butter, remaining chopped ham and scallions and drizzled honey.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!
10.15.18

Pizza Meatloaf Muffins (Gluten-Free)

Posted on by Lexi , Views: 25284
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This Pizza Meatloaf Muffins recipe takes all the flavor of a slice of pizza and makes it in a convenient, hearty and delicious mini meatloaf baked in a muffin tin! They are the perfect make-ahead meal prep for lunch, or a great post work out or after school snack. They are gluten-free, low carb and just what you should be running to the kitchen to cook up right now. Made in partnership with my friends at Ello Products.

meatloaf muffins with cheese

Pizza Meatloaf Muffins

We love all things pizza here, so it’s no surprise that these Pizza Meatloaf Muffins are not the first time we’ve taken all the flavor of pizza and created something fun and unique like my Pizza Scramble and Pizza Stuffed Peppers, but this time we wanted to focus on making an amazing meal prep meal!

We love how much pizza flavor we were able to pack in to these meatloaf muffins. We use ground turkey as our base and then mix in pizza sauce, some spices, turkey pepperoni and cheese! A little egg and almond flour help hold it all together and it’s topped off with a bit more cheese and pepperoni and finished under a broiler to get a nice pizza like topping! While you are certainly welcome to make your own pizza sauce, we opted to purchase a good quality brand to make this a little simpler to prepare.

Easy mini meatloaf muffins

Honestly we loved these for meal prep, a kid-friendly snack or even if you’re feeling adventurous a quick breakfast! You can warm it in a toaster oven, your regular oven or in a microwave on the go. We also enjoyed them cold, but that’s totally up to you!

We of course packed these away in my favorite storage containers. I love love love my Ello DuraGlass Food Storage Containers. With other glass ware I have tried, sometimes the lids don’t pop on well, sometimes they don’t stack easily, and so on. These containers are so well-made and are my new go-to! I also love the silicone colors because they grip well too!

  • Perfect for stacking.
  • Mighty tough: Silicone sleeve protects glass from chips + scratches.
  • Everything tastes better in glass: Won’t stain or smell.
  • Nobody likes a lunch bag leak:  The clear air tight lids won’t leak.
  • Easy-to-pair color match lids: Because life’s already hard enough.
  • Wash away: All parts top rack dishwasher safe, sleeve and all. No need to remove sleeve for oven + cleaning!
  • Comes in all different sizes: For sides, mains, leftovers, and more!
  • Safe for cooking: Freezer safe, microwave safe without lid, and oven safe up to 450F without lid.
  • Free of: BPA, phthalates, PVC, lead and cadmium free.
  • Where I get mine: Available at Target and Amazon now!

healthy meatloaf muffins

If you like this meal prep recipe, check out these others:

how do you make meatloaf in a muffin tin

Watch the video:


Pizza Meatloaf Muffins

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Prep Time 00:15 Cook Time 00:18 Yields 9

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 400ºF.
  2. In a large bowl combine ground turkey, 2 beaten eggs, 1 cup turkey pepperoni, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, almond flour, 1/4 cup pizza sauce, italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix until fully combined.
  3. In a muffin tin, place 1/2 cup mixture in 9 tins and smooth the mound on the top. (See note)
  4. Brush remaining pizza sauce on top of each muffin.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until turkey is fully cooked to 165ºF.
  6. Remove from oven and turn broiler on to high.
  7. Divide remaining cheese and pepperoni on top of meat muffins and place under broiler until cheese has melted and begun to melt and bubble, about 3 minutes.
  8. Serve warm with salad, or fully cool and pack away for meal prep.

Recipe Notes

  1. To make smaller portions, divide roughly 1/3 cup batter to fill 12 muffin tins.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!

This post is sponsored by Ello Products. All thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own! I love the integrity of their products and think you’ll love them too. Thank you for continuing to support LCK and the brands I work with!

09.24.18

Low Carb Tuna Casserole (With Cauliflower)

Posted on by Kelli Avila , Views: 15425
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This Low Carb Tuna Casserole (With Cauliflower) is the perfect comfort food meal! It’s easy to prepare, comes together in one casserole dish, and is packed with protein, veggies and we’ve offered two versions to make it low-carb with or without gluten-free pasta. Made in partnership with my friends at Genova Seafood.

Low Carb Cauliflower Tuna Casserole (Keto)

Low Carb Tuna Casserole (With Cauliflower)

Tuna casserole is such a classic comfort food! It’s creamy, cheesy and delicious but typically loaded with pasta and processed condensed soup! No hate on that version, but we decided it was time to re-make this dish making it gluten-free and low-carb. We tested two versions, one with pasta and one without so you can choose what amount of carbs you’d like!

For the lower carb version, we use half cauliflower and half brown rice pasta. This version is a bit more kid-friendly and has more of a classic feel to it. For our low carb version we completely swapped out the pasta for cauliflower to keep all that decadent creaminess  without any of the guilt for all of those on a low carb diet (oh hey keto diet). Either way, with whatever version you choose, you’re going to be satisfied after eating this tuna noodle casserole!

GENOVA TUNA

Of course we made this in partnernship with my friends at Genova Seafood. They are my favorite, trusted tuna company. Genova sources 100% of their tuna from fisheries that are MSC certified, meaning their tuna is sustainably sourced! It honestly is the best premium tuna in the purest olive oil. It is my favorite tasting tuna out there! Always non-GMO, wild-caught, and has 14g of protein in every serving!

MSC certified products must meet rigorous standards for sustainable fishing practices, like limiting by-catch (unwanted fish), avoiding overfishing and protecting marine environments. Today, only 12% of global wild caught seafood is MSC certified, and Genova Seafood is one of the companies working hard to make a change!

keto tuna cauliflower casserole

How do you make homemade tuna noodle casserole?

It’s simple:

  1. If you’re making the pasta version you boil the pasta until al dente.
  2. Saute your aromatics. Here we are using onion, celery and garlic.
  3. Make your base cheese-y sauce (also called a béchamel), using gluten-free ingredients, of course.
  4. Add in the cauliflower and cooked pasta (if using) and bake! We love using an oven safe pan to both start the casserole on the stove and then finish in the oven.

Cooking tools we used with this recipe:

  • Heavy Bottom Pan (We use one that doubles as an oven safe dish to keep the clean-up minimal)
  • Whisk
  • Spatula

tuna cauliflower casserole recipes

Want other tuna recipes? Try these favorites:

Low Carb Tuna Casserole (With Cauliflower

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Prep Time 00:10 Cook Time 00:30 Serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 tablespoon arrowroot
  • 2-1/2 cups cashew milk (or milk of choice)
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • pinch cayenne (optional)
  • 1/2 cauliflower, about 1 lb., cut into florets (For Low Carb Version use 1 whole cauliflower, about 2-2-1/2 pounds and slice into pieces about 1/4" thick)
  • 2-4oz cans genova tuna, drained
  • 6 ounces brown rice pasta, cooked al dente (For Low Carb Version Omit This)
  • 1/3 cup frozen green peas (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided 
  • scallion, for garnish

Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 400ºF.
  2. Heat a large heavy bottom pan, over medium heat and melt butter. Add onion and celery cook until beginning to soften, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Sprinkle in arrowroot, and then slowly whisk in cashew milk (or milk of choice) a 1/2 cup at a time to avoid any lumps. (see note)
  5. Add dijon mustard, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne, if using, and whisk to combine.
  6. Add cauliflower and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  7. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup of cheese. Then add in Genova Seafood Tuna, al dente cooked pasta (Omit for Low Carb Version), frozen peas and mix to fully combine.
  8. Pour into an oven safe dish (if not using one already) and top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and bake until cauliflower is tender and cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes. If you want the cheese to be bubbly and slightly browned, place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes.
  9. Top with scallions and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

  1. The sauce may seem really thick before it goes in to the oven, but the cauliflower and the tuna exude a lot of liquid so the extra thick sauce stops it from becoming to0 watery after it is baked.
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There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use in my own home! Thank you for supporting Lexi's Clean Kitchen when you shop! See my privacy policy for more information about this, the information we save, and more!