Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower is an easy low-carb side dish that will satisfy your mashed potato cravings. Make it using an Instant Pot or on the stove-top, then bake it with cheese in the oven for a hot, creamy, cheesy accompaniment to your roast beef, grilled chicken, pork chops, or even Thanksgiving dinner.
Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
When my husband is eating keto, it can be tough to come up with recipes we all like. One of our favorite meals is roast beef and I always make mashed potatoes. This became a challenge that ended up easily overcome with the unlikely hero ingredient: cauliflower. When cooked until soft and then blended smooth with butter, cream, and salt, it really does end up tasting like mashed potatoes!
This Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower takes it right over the top with layers of cheese that melt as you bake the cauliflower mash in the oven before serving. Absolutely delicious! I’ll also give you instructions below for lightening this dish up a but if you’re not keto and just want to use this as a sneaky way to get more veggies into your kids.
More keto recipes you’ll love: Keto Bagels | Keto Strawberry Fluff Dessert | The Best Keto Pizza | Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza | Keto Chicken Legs
Ingredients to Make Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
- 2 heads of fresh cauliflower
- Water for cooking
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, cubed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese (or cheddar cheese blend of choice)
- Fresh chives for garnish, chopped (optional)
How to Make Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
STEP 2: Cut the cauliflower away from the core and discard the core. Roughly chop the cauliflower florets into bite size chunks.
STEP 3:
If using an Instant Pot: Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot along with the chopped cauliflower. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Set to pressure cook for 3 minutes. When the 3-minute cook time is finished, turn the valve to quick release. Once all of the pressure is released, open the Instant Pot and pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain off any excess water.
If using the stove top to cook the cauliflower: Place the cauliflower in a large pot and cover with water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender. Pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain.
STEP 4: Pour the hot cauliflower into a large bowl and add the butter, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Use an immersion blender to puree the cauliflower until smooth, or transfer to a food processor to puree.
Tip: An immersion blender is really the way to go, but you could use a food processor or even a blender instead. Click here to see an immersion blender on Amazon–it’s a really great kitchen tool to have on hand! I use it when I make butternut squash soup.
STEP 5: Pour half of the cauliflower into a 9×12 glass casserole dish. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese. Top with the remaining cauliflower, then sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
STEP 6: Bake the mashed cauliflower for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and the cauliflower is bubbling around the edges.
Sneaky Veggies
If you’re not trying to follow a keto way of eating, mashed cauliflower is still a great way to swap out starchy potatoes for a vegetable. To lighten the recipe up a bit, try using whole milk instead of cream. You can also use half the amount of butter. In a keto diet, fat is very important, but for others it would probably be best to cut back on the fat a bit.
How to Store the Leftovers
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. This recipe does not freeze very well.
Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Description
Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower is an easy low-carb side dish that will satisfy your mashed potato cravings. Make it using an Instant Pot or on the stove-top, then bake it with cheese in the oven for a hot, creamy, cheesy accompaniment to your roast beef, grilled chicken, pork chops, or even Thanksgiving dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 heads of fresh cauliflower
- Water for cooking
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, cubed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese (or cheddar cheese blend of choice)
- Fresh chives for garnish, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the cauliflower away from the core and discard the core. Roughly chop the cauliflower florets into bite size chunks.
- If using an Instant Pot: Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot along with the chopped cauliflower. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Set to pressure cook for 3 minutes. When the 3-minute cook time is finished, turn the valve to quick release. Once all of the pressure is released, open the Instant Pot and pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain off any excess water.
- If using the stove top to cook the cauliflower: Place the cauliflower in a large pot and cover with water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender. Pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain.
- Pour the hot cauliflower into a large bowl and add the butter, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Use an immersion blender to puree the cauliflower until smooth, or transfer to a food processor to puree.
- Pour half of the cauliflower into a 9×12 glass casserole dish. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese. Top with the remaining cauliflower, then sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake the mashed cauliflower for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and the cauliflower is bubbling around the edges.
- Serve hot with fresh chives if desired.
Share the Keto Love!
After you make this Keto Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower, come back and tell me how you like it! You can leave a comment and recipe rating in the comments section below. You can also click here to see this on Pinterest and leave a comment there or even your own picture. Another option would be to tag me on Instagram @MomNeedsChocolate. Can’t wait to hear from you!
MORE GREAT RECIPES
If you like this recipe, here are some other top Mom Needs Chocolate favorites to check out:
- The Best Chicken Fried Rice
- Homemade Granola with Cranberries
- Carrot Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
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