Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
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Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower is the perfect HEALTHY side dish that’s keto approved, gluten free & vegetarian! It’s SO easy to make & goes great with a ton of meals!
I love serving this Mashed Cauliflower with Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin, Sous Vide Steaks or Smoked Turkey Breast for a complete low carb dinner!
Today’s post is sponsored by my friends at Cabot Cheese.
Mashed cauliflower is basically mashed potatoes low carb sister. It’s still a creamy, delicious, easy to make side dish, but healthier!
And of course it’s made even better with lots of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese! The rich, creamy flavor of this cheese makes this the BEST mashed cauliflower recipe ever!
I’ve been obsessed with using cauliflower rice as a low carb alternative to traditional rice for the last year. Now I’m replacing mashed potatoes, pasta and polenta in all kinds of dishes with this creamy mashed cauliflower!
Mashed cauliflower can be served as a low carb side dish during the week, or at a holiday dinner. It’s easy to make in less than 30 minutes, which means you can really make it anytime! Simply boil the cauliflower, mash it, then add butter, cream and cheese. Just like you would make mashed potatoes!
I like to whip up this side dish while I’ve got a French Onion Pot Roast in the slow cooker or Chipotle Apple Pork Loin in the sous vide. It’s the perfect dish to accompany these tasty main courses!
How to make Mashed Cauliflower
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Boil the cauliflower.
- To do this, you’ll want to bring a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove, then add cauliflower to the water.
- You can purchase a bag of cauliflower florets at the store or a whole head of cauliflower. If purchasing a head of cauliflower, you’ll want to cut it down into large florets before adding it to the boiling water.
- The cauliflower should boil for about 15 minutes, or until fork tender. Depending on the size of the florets you may need to adjust the time up or down by 2-3 minutes.
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Mash the cauliflower.
- Once the cauliflower is fork tender, use a colander to drain out the water. I like to use a fine mesh colander so that none of the smaller pieces of cauliflower slip out while draining.
- Transfer the cauliflower back to the pot.
- Use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower.
- Add butter, cream, salt and black pepper, then mash again. This is where opinions differ. I like my mashed cauliflower with a little more texture, so I simply use the potato masher. If you want an extra smooth, creamy texture, you can transfer the cauliflower to a food processor or blender for the mashing, or use an immersion blender right in the pot.
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Add the cheese & chives!
- No matter which method you use to mash the cauliflower, after you have it to your desired consistency, stir in a cup of shredded Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese and chopped chives.
- Now dig in to your deliciously cheesy mashed cauliflower!
How many carbs are in Mashed Cauliflower?
This cheesy mashed cauliflower recipe is 10 carbs per serving. One serving is approximately 1 ½ cups. For comparison purposes, the same serving size of traditional mashed potatoes is 53 CARBS! That’s a 43 carb savings people!
How do you reheat Mashed Cauliflower?
You can reheat this mashed cauliflower in the microwave for 2 minutes. If it seems to be getting a little thick, simply add a tablespoon of liquid. This could be cream, milk, broth or simply water.
What do you serve with Mashed Cauliflower?
Cheesy mashed cauliflower is so versatile! You can serve it with a ton of dishes, but if you’re looking for somewhere to start, I highly recommend everything on this list!
- Beef Ragu – generally I serve this dish over creamy, cheesy polenta, but when I’m looking for a healthier option, cheesy mashed cauliflower is the perfect substitute!
- Italian Polenta Turkey Casserole – speaking of polenta, you can also substitute mashed cauliflower in for the polenta in this delicious casserole! (Seriously this is one of my all-time favorite recipes!)
- Blackened Beef Tenderloin – if you want to get a little fancy for a dinner party or holiday meal, I highly recommend trying out this beef tenderloin recipe! Mix a little of the blackening seasoning into the mashed cauliflower & you’ve got the perfect low carb combo!
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf – the ultimate comfort food meal awaits you when you pair this meatloaf recipe with this cheesy cauliflower!
- Cheesy Avocado & Corn Enchiladas – if you’re looking for a vegetarian main dish to serve with the cauliflower, you have to try the world’s best vegetarian enchiladas! I recommend mixing a little chili powder into the mashed cauliflower and cilantro, instead of chives for a fun spin on the side dish to pair with this Mexican meal.
- Grilled Tri Tip – steak + mashed cauliflower = the perfect keto combo!
- Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats – another great low carb combo that’s easy to make for a week night dinner and also great for meal prepping!
Be sure to pick up plenty of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese at your local grocery store to make this Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower at home! All Cabot Cheddars are 100% naturally lactose-free and gluten-free.
Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar is also a delicious addition to this Taco Croissant recipe and in this Buffalo Cheesy Meatloaf recipe!
Cabot is a co-operative owned by 1,000 family farms throughout New England and New York, with 100% of the profits going back to the farmers. Support a farmer & eat delicious cheese, sounds like a win-win to me!
Looking for more easy low carb recipes? Try these 5 favorites!
- Cauliflower Nachos (topped with Cabot Pepper Jack Cheese, of course!)
- Cheesy Buffalo Sausage Balls
- Avocado Egg Salad
- Buffalo Cheesesteak Foil Packs
- Low Carb Enchiladas with Zucchini
Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, app 1.5 lbs
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
Instructions
- Chop the head of cauliflower into large florets.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove over high heat.
- Add the cauliflower and boil for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is fork tender.
- Drain the cauliflower, then place it back in the pot.
- Use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower.
- Add the butter, heavy cream, salt and black pepper to the pot.
- For a more textured mashed cauliflower, mash the ingredients together with the potato masher. To make them extra smooth and creamy, transfer the ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
- Use a spoon to stir in the cheese and chives.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Reheating: Mashed cauliflower can be reheated in the microwave for 2 minutes. If it becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of liquid, either milk, cream, broth or water.
- Freezing: this mashed cauliflower can be frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend reheating frozen mashed cauliflower in a pot on the stove over medium heat and adding more liquid as needed.
Nutrition Facts
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