Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Cauliflower mashed potatoes are the perfect plant-forward swap—creamy, buttery, and full of flavor, with a smooth texture that rivals the real thing. This simple side comes together in under 25 minutes using wholesome ingredients like fresh cauliflower, sour cream, and garlic, making it an easy, feel-good favorite for weeknights, holidays, or anytime you want a lighter take on traditional mashed potatoes.

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The must-make side dish.

• Creamy & satisfying – With real butter and sour cream, it’s smooth, garlicky, and oh-so-comforting.
• Quick & easy – Cooks fast in the microwave, freeing up your stovetop and saving time.
• Lower carb, still indulgent – All the cozy goodness of creamy mashed potatoes, but with fewer carbs.
• Customizable – Make it vegan, dairy-free, or add toppings like cheese, green onions, or bacon for a loaded version.
• Kid-approved – Even picky eaters will be fooled by this veggie-forward swap.

What you'll need.

Here’s what goes into making this simple, mashed cauliflower recipe:

• 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets (fresh is best for texture!)
• Unsalted butter (or substitute with vegan butter)
• Sour cream (regular, light, or dairy-free work here)
• Garlic powder (or try a little minced garlic for more kick)
• Kosher salt & black pepper
• Optional toppings: Shredded cheese, sliced green onions, chives, or crumbled bacon

Kitchen gear tip: A food processor gives you the creamiest mash, but a blender or potato masher can work too for a more rustic texture.

Make it yours.

Think of this mashed cauliflower recipe as your canvas:

• Add other seasonings if you'd like to! Make it spicier with some chipotle, chili powder, or crushed red pepper flakes.
• Mash with other very soft cooked vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, or sweet potato in with this cauliflower. This is a great way to hide vegetables!
• Add any favorite shredded cheddar cheese - either melt it inside or top your potatoes with it.
• Try mixing a little olive oil in and adding parmesan cheese with some Italian seasoning.
• If you want to lower the fat, use a favorite lower-fat butter alternative and fat-free sour cream.
• Substitute cream cheese for the sour cream.

Flexible dietary swaps.

This recipe is already packed with wholesome goodness—but it’s also easy to customize for your lifestyle. Here are a few simple swaps to make it work for you:

• Vegetarian: It’s already meat-free! Add richness with Parmesan cheese or swap sour cream for Greek yogurt if you prefer.
• Vegan: Use plant-based butter and replace sour cream with dairy-free yogurt (like almond milk or cashew), coconut cream, or even blended silken tofu for extra creaminess. Add a spoonful of nutritional yeast if you miss that cheesy flavor.
• Dairy-Free: Skip the dairy altogether and use your favorite vegan butter + unsweetened plant milk to blend. Almond milk, oat, or soy all work well.
• Lower Fat: Choose light sour cream or plain low-fat Greek yogurt. Or go dairy-free with unsweetened almond milk and skip the extra butter.
• More indulgent: Go all-in with cream cheese, extra butter, or a cheesy topping—cheddar, mozzarella, you name it.

How to make cauliflower mash.

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Steam

Microwave steam the cauliflower florets - the easiest fastest way!

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Blend

Blend steamed cauliflower and butter until smooth, working in batches if needed for a creamy texture.

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Finish

Stir sour cream, garlic, salt, and pepper into the puree. Adjust seasoning and reheat if needed before serving.

How to serve it.

Serve this mashed cauliflower hot, topped with:

• A pat of butter or a drizzle of olive oil.
• Chopped parsley or sliced green onions.
• Creamy gravy, especially if paired with something like Air Fryer Chicken Thighs or Pork Tenderloin.
• For holidays, try it alongside Shake and Bake Turkey and a scoop of low carb stuffing.

💡 Meal idea: Cauliflower mash + Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff + simple green salad = total cozy vibes.

📌 Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest for later!

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