5 Ingredient Keto Cauliflower Cheese
Cauliflower Cheese or Keto Mac and Cheese?
I grew up eating mac and cheese (not cauliflower cheese), which is not the case with most Indian people. But then again I don’t think I’m like most Indian people. Either way it’s a dish that brings back memories and my mom made an incredible mac and cheese. So it wasn’t long before I whipped up a proper Keto mac and cheese on the channel. And like all things on the Keto diet, cauliflower found itself front and center. As you are all aware, cauliflower is pretty much a replacement for everything on Keto.
So it was only natural that pasta was replaced by the low-carb cauliflower in mac and cheese. The debate however is that isn’t that just cauliflower cheese? Well I’ll leave that up to you to decide. Meanwhile enjoy this stripped down 5 ingredient Keto mac and cheese recipe.
What if I don’t like cauliflower?
It’s funny how things change. When I started Keto there weren’t really any replacement products in the market. However today if you don’t like cauliflower, no problem. You can actually get konjac noodles or shiratake noodles which are the perfect pasta/noodle replacement. So if you don’t like zucchini noodles or don’t have time to make my meat noodles or maybe you just want something more like ‘the real deal’. Then these are great options.
I’m also going to throw it out there that you can use broccoli as well and turn it into a broccoli cheese if you don’t like cauliflower. At the end of the day 100g of cauliflower has a total of 5 grams of carbs from which 2 grams is fiber making it 3 grams of net carbs. Broccoli is not far behind being about 6 grams of total carbs from which almost 2.5 grams is fiber making it 3.5 grams net carbs. Use either, depending on which one tastes better to you.
You can also amp up this recipe by throwing in more ingredients. I mean simple things like garlic powder or some chili flakes or maybe even dried oregano will amp up the flavour. In fact let me know what is your best addition to this recipe. Maybe some bacon? pine nuts? Share your creative ideas in the comments.
Lets talk cheese!
What cheese should you use. Now if you’re not going to restrict yourself to 5 ingredients that opens up a whole new world. Let’s talk flavor, cheese affects the flavour. Now cheddar cheese would be my go to cheese but the world of cheddars is HUGE! I mean if you go for a more mature cheddar that flavor profile is totally different from say a younger or less aged cheese. Take blue cheese for example, that’s a world of funky flavor right there.
I’d say cream cheese is a good option because while it’s got a bit of tang to it the effect from it is fairly neutral to the flavour. It’s high-fat and Keto-friendly and best of all, it plays nice with the other cheeses. You could also use other soft cheese like feta cheese, goat cheese, ricotta cheese or even mascarpone. Parmesan cheese is great to finish the dish with right at the end. I’d personally put the cauliflower cheese in a baking dish, top with mozzarella and bake it in the oven.
Whether you use a hard cheese or a soft one or a mix of both. There is so much you can do with cheese. In fact I’d love to know your fav cheese. Do you prefer hard cheeses or softer ones?
If you are someone who is sadly lactose intolerant or can’t handle dairy products then I’m afraid this dish might be off the menu for you.
Nutrition Info (Per serving)
- Calories: 262
- Net Carbs: 5g
- Carbs: 8g
- Fat: 24g
- Protein: 7g
- Fiber: 3g
This recipe makes 3 servings. Get this recipe on myfitnesspal.
5 Ingredient Keto Cauliflower Cheese
Ingredients
- 300 grams Cauliflower Florets
- 15 grams Butter Order online
- 1/2 Tsp Nutmeg Powder
- 50 grams Cheese
- 100 grams Heavy Cream Order online
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Water if needed
- 1 Tsp Avocado Oil Order online
Instructions
- Break the cauliflower head into florets and make sure they are small pieces and not too big. Then add them to a large bowl and season with salt, add about a tablespoon of water and microwave for 6-8 minutes till the cauliflower is nice and tender. To test run your knife through a floret and it should cut through easily.
- Then heat the butter in a pan and add a teaspoon of avocado oil or olive oil to prevent the butter from burning. Add in the cauliflower and sautee on a high heat. Season with pepper and nutmeg.
- Cook the cauliflower till it starts to get some lovely golden brown colour on it. Then deglaze with a splash or two of water. Add in the cheese and mix well till a sauce starts to form. Finally add in the cream and then mix till you get a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Now cook the cauliflower cheese till the sauce is the consistency you like. Alternatively you can transfer to an oven proof dish, add more cheese on top and bake it till the cheese turns golden brown.
- Serve with some freshly cracked black pepper on top.
1tsp of nutmeg is probably too much. Normally, recipes that use nutmeg call for 1/8-1/4 tsp.
For this recipe I used about a 1/8 tsp since it had fewer servings. Please double check the amount.
Thanks, HeatherA
Thanks Heather. I’ve edited it. I guess it’s better to go with a smaller amount. I think the nutmeg powder I had perhaps lost most of it’s flavour since it’s been around for ages.
DeeeeeLicious! A firm lockdown favourite in our house.
Used frozen cauli today, maybe lost something of the fresh texture, but still lovely. Thank you!
Used equal parts cheddar and mozzarella cheese and added a bit of cream cheese. Have never had nutmeg in our Mac, but it was delicious. Many thanks for sharing your recipes.
Hello Shahil
Love your Keto recipes!!! You must be in the UK. Your measurements are in grams so for us American watchers, could you also put the measurements in US units? Thank you
Francine, I can’t do most of these measurements in cups because they are WIDELY inaccurate. Please I beg you to buy a kitchen scale, it’s cheap, efficient and a friend for life. It’s also the most accurate way to measure things. Measuring 1cup of cauliflower is madness!!!!
Honestly, not a helpful nor inclusive response. Some of us are unable to afford a kitchen scale.
Well sorry about that but then you will just have to google the conversion or use the one built into the website. I hope you buy a kitchen scale when you can afford one because it’s truly worth it. It’s barely 10$ in the US and even cheaper in other countries. Found one for 9.99$ https://www.amazon.com/MCIGICM-Multifunction-Measures-Batteries-Included/dp/B089VVMSFG/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=kitchen+scale&qid=1615865224&sr=8-8
Just found your site last night, saved and already used hard
2 meals in, 2 meals from your recipes. Made the Cauliflower and cheese for my wife, twas was magnificent. The Egg Bhurji was an amazingly spicy breakfast. Best eggs in a while. Thank you for sharing your mad culinary skills.
I’ve tried this recipe and everybody said it taste good!!
Surprisingly, the cauliflower almost taste like Mac and cheese… Nobody suspected it as cauliflower cheese!
I made this cauliflower cheese n it was very good. Enjoyed eating it as much I enjoyed making it too
Just made this with half a tub of full fat cream cheese added to the cream, some crushed garlic and some mixed herbs. Chilli flakes on top when out the oven. Lushhhh! Thanks for the recipe! 🤘🏻