Tender roasted cauliflower is the perfect stand-in for macaroni in this recipe for Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese. A family-friendly dish that everyone will love. You might consider making extra because there are rarely any leftovers!
Next, try our Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. It's also packed with cheese and cauliflower and is a fan favorite.
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Why you'll love this recipe
It's a savory comfort food dish with only 4 grams of net carbs per serving.
This dish makes cauliflower so delicious, that even your kids will love it.
Even those who do not eat low carb will love this dish! Serve at your next BBQ alongside our grilled sirloin tip steak and our easy keto coleslaw.
For a traditional meal, serve it with our low carb meatloaf.
Key ingredients
Cauliflower - You need a head of cauliflower, cut into small florets so that they cook evenly and are easy to eat. Overall you want 3 to 4 cups of florets.
Avocado Oil - This is our favorite oil to roast with as it has a high smoke point and is a bit healthier than some other oils.
Cream Cheese - This ingredient thickens the sauce without the need for flour or starch.
Pork Rinds - This is optional, but a sprinkle of crushed pork rinds on the top of this casserole adds a great texture. We also use them on our savory keto green bean casserole.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you.
Use your leftover cream cheese to make these delicious, pillow soft keto cream cheese cookies.
How to make keto cauliflower mac and cheese
Step 1: Toss the cauliflower florets with oil, salt, and pepper, then spread them on the prepared baking sheet. Roast the cauliflower in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned and crisp-tender. When it's done, remove the cauliflower and turn down the oven temperature to 375°F.
Step 2: As the cauliflower is roasting, make the cheese sauce. Add the heavy cream to a large saucepan over medium heat. Heat to a low simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
Step 3: Stir in the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and butter until the sauce is melted and smooth.
Step 4: Remove the pan from the heat, then fold in the roasted cauliflower. Taste and season as desired.
Step 5: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 6: Sprinkle the top of the casserole evenly with additional cheddar cheese and crushed pork rinds. Bake, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
For a southern-inspired meal, pair with our keto chicken fried steak or our keto fried chicken. Don't forget the biscuits, with the easiest almond flour biscuits recipe out there.
Expert tip
Ensure you cut the cauliflower florets into uniform bite size pieces. This promotes even cooking and makes the dish easier to serve and eat.
For Thanksgiving, we love serving this dish alongside our easy low carb stuffing, keto gravy and keto cranberry sauce. Don't forget our keto no bake cheesecake for dessert.
FAQs
If you'd rather not bake this as a casserole, it's just as delicious served right after mixing the roasted cauliflower into the cheese sauce.
You can skip the step of transferring the mixture into a baking dish to bake it, but we prefer the melted cheese topping achieved with step 6.
You can add different things to your keto cauliflower mac and cheese to add flavor and variety to this dish! Try some of these add-ins:
Chopped cooked bacon or sausage.
Diced or shredded cooked chicken.
Hot sauce, diced jalapeno peppers, or chili powder for some heat.
Replace some of the cauliflower with cooked broccoli, cabbage, or mushrooms.
Fresh herbs or sliced green onion to garnish.
You might be wondering if you can toss in a bit of Velveeta to this keto mac and cheese. We aren't using Velveeta here for a few different reasons.
First, Velveeta is a highly processed cheese food. It's not real cheese, and we prefer to eat foods that are real and fresh.
Also, Velveeta contains additives like sugar and starches that make it high in carbs. One small serving has 3 grams of carbs and 2 grams of sugar.
Storage instructions
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
This dish is best enjoyed fresh, as the texture of the cheese sauce will change once it is stored and reheated.
Freezing this prepared dish is not recommended.
Serving suggestions
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📖 Recipe
Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower cut into small florets
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup cheddar cheese blend shredded, plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 ounce crushed pork rinds about ⅓ cup, optional
Instructions
- Preheat and oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and set aside. Spray a 1-quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, until golden and crisp-tender. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and reduce the heat to 375 degrees F.
- In the last 5 minutes of the cauliflower cook time, set a large saucepan over medium heat. Heat the cream to a low simmer, then decrease heat to low.
- Stir in the cheeses and butter until melted.
- Remove the pan from the heat, then fold in the roasted cauliflower. Taste and season as desired.
- Serve as is, or transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with additional cheddar and crushed pork rinds and bake, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes, or until golden.
Notes
- Ensure you cut the cauliflower florets into uniform bite size pieces. This promotes even cooking and makes the dish easier to eat.
- You can skip the baking step and enjoy this as a stovetop keto cauliflower mac and cheese.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. This dish is best eaten right away though, as the texture of the sauce will change after refrigeration.
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