Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (2024)

Net Carbs:5

15 minutes minutes

VeggiesCheesy

Karly Campbell

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"Unbelievable! Simply unbelievable!!! I’m going make more of this going forward. This is a perfect replacement for a pasta based macaroni and cheese!" – Yvette Kelly-Fields

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Our Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is simple to make, kid-approved, and sure to be a favorite way to serve up cauliflower! Tastes so much like the real deal, thanks to a couple of tricks.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (1)

Truth time: Cauliflower is not potatoes. It’s not rice. It’s not pasta. It’s not pizza.

I know that. I do.

Of course, that doesn’t stop me from turning it into a really good sub for those things!

Hello, cauliflower potato salad, cauliflower risotto, cauliflower mac and cheese, and keto cauliflower pizza crust!

When done right, cauliflower can be a great sub for many foods! It’s not going to be the exact same, and some people will always hate it. But, if you’re on the fence about cauliflower, I highly encourage you to keep trying new recipes! Because I am here to tell you that a really well done cauliflower recipe is gold.

This cauliflower mac and cheese recipe? It’s one of those really well done recipes and you are going. to. love. it.

This is NOT just your typical cauliflower drizzled with cheese sauce.

The first time I made this my 15 year old daughter was helping cook dinner and she got really huffy about the cauliflower for mac swap. She insisted that she wasn’t going to like it. She complained right up until I made her try a bite.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (2)

You guys, the kid RAVED about this cauliflower mac and cheese. She said that it’s the ‘perfect amount of cheese’ and the ‘perfect blend of cheese’ and that it ‘tastes like really good mac and cheese.’ <— Those are all her words! She’s turning into quite the little foodie. And I totally agree with her.

Let’s do this, shall we?

👩‍🍳 Ingredient Notes:

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (3)

Cauliflower – Use fresh cauliflower! Frozen just isn’t the same in this recipe. Chop the cauliflower florets into pieces that are about the size of macaroni noodles. I know it’s not quite the same as pasta but trust me, it works!

Creamy Cheese – There may not be any macaroni in this cauliflower mac and cheese recipe but there is lots of creamy cheese! You’ll use cream cheese, grated cheddar, and grated Monterey Jack that’ll get mixed and melted with heavy cream for a perfectly cheesy sauce. I definitely recommend freshly grated cheese for the best cheesy flavor.

Seasoning – Some salt, cracked pepper, and ground mustard will add just the right amount of extra flavor to the mix!

Why We Love This Recipe:

It’s not pasta, but gosh it does a good job of satisfying the craving!

Stirring the small pieces of macaroni into the cheese sauce (verses drizzling a little over the top) makes a world of difference.

This is very rich and creamy – super satisfying!

It’s kid-approved and that’s always half the battle!

u0026#x1f374; How To Make Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:

Boil – We’re going to keep it extra simple, because we’re all busy and no one has time to spend hours whipping up a single side dish for dinner on a busy weeknight. This is a stove top cauliflower mac and cheese, so it’s literally ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes and that includes the time it takes to bring a pot of water to a boil. So, bring some water to a boil over high heat.

Cauliflower – Chop up some cauliflower into macaroni sized pieces. The smaller size of the pieces is a big key to this recipe, so please don’t leave huge chunks. I usually start with a bag of fresh cauliflower florets instead of a whole head, just because it’s easier and I’m all about a short cut.

For the best taste and texture, I don’t recommend frozen cauliflower for this recipe. Toss your cauliflower pieces into the boiling water and boil for 5 minutes.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (4)

Creamy Cheese Sauce – Drain away the water and return the cauliflower to the hot pan over low heat. Add in some heavy cream, cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey jack, ground mustard, and salt and pepper. Stir this all together until the cheese has melted and everything is well combined, gooey, and irresistible.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (5)

Serve – The second key factor in this recipe that differentiates it from your usual steamed cauliflower with a drizzle of cheese sauce to cauliflower mac and cheese is the fact that every little bite is covered in the cheese sauce, just like it would be if this were actual mac and cheese. You can serve this up as a side for weeknight dinner or even for family gatherings. Everyone can enjoy this one!

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (6)

❔ FAQs:

Is cauliflower mac and cheese good?

If you like cauliflower even a little bit, I imagine you’ll LOVE this recipe. Some people really hate cauliflower and if that’s you, you might not like this recipe. The cheese really hides the cauliflower though and the texture is a bit softer since it’s boiled, so I would recommend trying this. It’s truly one of our favorites and we think it tastes amazing.

Is cauliflower mac and cheese keto?

Yes, it sure is! Check the recipe card below for the macros.

How to store cauliflower mac and cheese?

You can keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for about 2 to 3 days in an airtight container. They’ll reheat well in the microwave. This recipe will also freeze well for up to 3 months. It’s best frozen in individual portions.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (7)

🍽 More Low Carb Cauliflower Recipes!

  • Loaded Cauliflower Casserole: This one has all the good stuff from bacon to cheddar to green onions!
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Bake: It’s a simple low carb, air fried dish with lots of cheese and bacon!
  • Broccoli Cauliflower Soup: This one is a favorite for lunch!
  • Pickled Cauliflower: Makes a surprisingly tasty snack!
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice: No need for take out!
  • Keto Lettuce Wraps: They’re filled with seasoned cauliflower rice and chicken!
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (8)
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Recipe

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Extra creamy and cheesy cauliflower mac and cheese! This one is both kid friendly and keto friendly!

4.47 from 426 votes

Print Pin

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook10 minutes minutes

Total15 minutes minutes

Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces cauliflower chopped into macaroni sized pieces
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated Monterey jack cheese
  • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cracked pepper

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower pieces and boil for 5 minutes.

  • Drain the water and return the cauliflower to the pot over low heat.

  • Add the remaining ingredients and stir well until the cheese has melted fully, about 3 minutes.

  • Serve immediately.

Tips & Notes:

We did not measure the serving size by volume. We just divide this into 6 equal portions and dig in.

Use whatever blend of cheeses you prefer in your mac and cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1| Calories: 218kcal (11%)| Carbohydrates: 7g (2%)| Protein: 9g (18%)| Fat: 16g (25%)| Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g| Cholesterol: 45mg (15%)| Sodium: 384mg (17%)| Fiber: 2g (8%)| Sugar: 2g (2%)| Net Carbs: 5g (10%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Side Dishes

Cuisine:American

Keyword:cauliflower mac and cheese

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Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe | That Low Carb Life (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cauliflower cheese sauce separate? ›

Cook your cauliflower cheese at the right temperature, otherwise your cheese sauce can split. If your cheese sauce splits before that, it can be down to leaving it out too long, or you've boiled the sauce. If this happens, add a splash of milk or cream and whisk vigorously and it should come back to life.

How many calories in a cup of cauliflower mac and cheese? ›

Common serving sizes
Serving SizeCalories
1 oz44
100 g154
1 cup369
May 12, 2020

Why does cauliflower cheese upset my stomach? ›

The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust. Stomachaches join other side effects of overloading on fiber.

How do you get the liquid out of cauliflower? ›

The trick with cauliflower is: Don't cook it till is too soft. just 4 or 5 minutes but taste to be sure. then drain into a colander, (sieve with big holes) and leave to drain for a few minutes, asking every minute. tap dry with a little kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

How many net carbs are in cauliflower cheese? ›

Asda Cauliflower Cheese (1 serving) contains 5.8g total carbs, 3.9g net carbs, 5.4g fat, 3.4g protein, and 81 calories.

How many carbs are in cauliflower and cheese? ›

Cauliflower, with cheese sauce (0.5 cup) contains 6.1g total carbs, 4.2g net carbs, 7.6g fat, 5.3g protein, and 110 calories.

How do you fix separated cheese sauce? ›

Add a little fat back––a classic emulsified sauce is typically a 1:1 ratio of fat to liquid! If your sauce is breaking but is also very thin, vigorously whisking in a little fat (butter, egg yolk) can bring it around. Whisk whisk whisk––sometimes all a sauce needs is a little zhuzhing to come back together.

How do you keep cheese sauce from separating? ›

For a cheese dip or sauce, the addition of cornstarch serves a similar function: Starch molecules absorb water and expand, not only thickening the liquid phase of the sauce, but also physically preventing the proteins from binding into long, tangled strands and the fats from separating out and pooling.

How do you make cheese sauce not split? ›

You can avoid sauce separating by:
  1. Grating the cheese as finely as possible, so that it melts quickly.
  2. Add a starch such as flour or cornstarch to the cheese before melting.
  3. Use fresh dairy products as fats in older products tend to separate more easily.
  4. Add a little cream.
Jan 12, 2022

How do I make sure my cheese sauce doesn't split? ›

Low and slow is the key. To achieve a velvety, hom*ogenous cheese sauce, you must slowly heat our cheese. The curdles in a cheese sauce come as a result of overheating the proteins in the cheese, which causes them to separate from the fat and water content, per The Washington Post.

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