Easy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Healthy, delicious, and satisfying, this rich and creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a scrumptious, easy-to-make, low-carb substitute for traditional macaroni and cheese.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Healthy meets deliciousness in this low carb substitute for macaroni and cheese
- Quick and easy to make in less than 15 minutes
- Made with just 5 ingredients, plus salt and pepper
- Loved by kids and adults alike
Mac and cheese has to be at the top of the list of all-time favorite ultimate comfort foods. Unfortunately, it’s far from being low carb. But there’s great news! This Keto version of the classic dish is made with cauliflower instead of traditional pasta.
Tender, slightly cooked cauliflower is coated in a homemade, double cheese cream sauce that allows you to indulge in all that rich, flavorful, and decedent goodness without worrying about those pesky carbs. It tastes and has a texture so close to the real thing that even kids are going to love it!
Once you try using cauliflower instead of pasta in this dish, you’ll never go back to making it the old way again. And with the number of carbs you’re saving and the added nutrition, why would you ever want to?
If you love this recipe, you really should check out this Jalapeno Popper Cauliflower Mac and Cheese and this Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese.
🛒 What’s in Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Cauliflower
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Heavy cream
- Mascarpone cheese
- Butter
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
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🔪 How to Make Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Wash, dry and cut your cauliflower into bite size florets and add them to a microwave safe bowl.
Put a plate over the top and microwave 8-10 minutes or until tender. While the cauliflower is cooking, you can make the cheese sauce.
Tip: Alternatively you can roast it in the oven, but I prefer this quick and easy method for this particular recipe and I don’t have to turn the oven on.
Add the butter, heavy cream, mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper to a saucepan over medium low heat.
Once the butter and mascarpone has melted, add in the shredded cheddar cheese.
Tip: If you don’t have shredded cheddar on hand, you could use Monterey Jack, Colby or a combination of both instead.
Whisk until melted.
Once the cauliflower is cooked through, remove it from the microwave and pat it dry with paper towels.
Tip: It must be good and dry, to ensure the sauce sticks to each piece.
Pour the hot cheese sauce over the top.
Toss to combine, making sure all of the cauliflower is well coated.
Serve while warm and you can store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Can Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Be Make in Advance?
You can make this dish a few days in advance, or you can make it in stages ahead of time. Start by preparing the cheese sauce, let it cool, and pour it into an airtight container. It can keep for up to three days in the fridge.
Then, when you’re ready to finish preparing the dish, just place the sauce into a saucepan and reheat it over low heat, stirring often, until warm. If you need to loosen it up, add a spoonful of heavy cream to the mixture. Pour the sauce over the prepared cauliflower and serve.
Can You Eat Cauliflower on Keto? Is Cauliflower Low in Carbs?
Cauliflower is a perfect keto food. This vegetable is one of the healthiest low-carb options available. There are many tasty ways to prepare it, and it contains almost all the vitamins and minerals you require, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B6.
And talk about low carb! In one whole cup of raw cauliflower, there are only 5.3 total carbs with 2.5 grams of fiber leaving the net carbs around 3 grams!
Substitutes and Add-Ins for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- You can have a restaurant-quality Lobster “Mac” and Cheese entree by adding in chopped Broiled Lobster Tail.
- Kids will devour cheeseburger cauliflower and cheese with the addition of browned, ground beef.
- Put those summer herbs to good use by making an herbaceous mac and cheese. Oregano, basil, parsley, cilantro, or fresh chives are great choices.
- Dried seasoning blends are always a great way to jazz up the flavors of side dishes. This Ranch Seasoning, Taco Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning are wonderful in this dish.
- Smoky bacon or crispy pan-fried prosciutto adds incredible flavor to the cauliflower and cheese sauce.
What Cheeses Work Best in Mac and Cheese?
Though almost any type of melty cheese works well, some cheeses tend to separate when added to other ingredients. Monterey Jack, Colby, Havarti, and Provolone are safe choices for making mac and cheese.
What Can I Serve with Cauliflower Mac and Cheese?
This recipe for cauliflower mac and cheese can be served with any main course you prefer. In fact, add in some shredded chicken or leftover Turkey Breast and it can even be a complete meal.
When serving it as a Keto side dish, here are some low carb entrees to consider:
Why is My Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Watery?
Water hangs on to a lot of moisture when you boil it. With this recipe, you will not have to worry about watery mac and cheese because the cauliflower is cooked dry in the microwave.
More Keto Cauliflower Recipes
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
- Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower “Potato” Salad
- Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
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Easy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower
- 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash, dry and cut your cauliflower into bite size florets and add them to a microwave safe bowl.
- Put a plate over the top and microwave 8-10 minutes or until tender. Alternatively you can roast it in the oven, but I prefer this quick and easy method for this particular recipe and I don’t have to turn the oven on.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, you can make the cheese sauce. Add the butter, heavy cream, mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper to a saucepan over medium low heat.
- Once the butter and mascarpone has melted, add in the shredded cheddar cheese and whisk until melted.
- Once the cauliflower is cooked through, remove it from the microwave and pat it dry with paper towels. It must be good and dry, to ensure the sauce sticks to each piece.
- Pour the hot cheese sauce over the top and toss to combine, making sure all of the cauliflower is well coated.
- Serve while warm and you can store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.
*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.
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Rate this Recipe
Who doesn’t like Mac & cheese….and this seems so easy.
It really is and it’s the perfect dish to cure those mac and cheese cravings.