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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Recipe backstory.
I love the cozy chaos of a big holiday meal—the stuffing, the rolls, the creamy everything. But after a few bites of all the carbs, I usually find myself wishing for something a little lighter to balance it out. That’s when I started making cauliflower mash. They still give you that rich, buttery comfort you want on your plate, but without weighing everything down. And honestly? No one at the table misses the original. Even the picky eaters go back for seconds.
xoxo Kori
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.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
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.
Steam
Microwave steam the cauliflower florets - the easiest fastest way!
Blend
Blend steamed cauliflower and butter until smooth, working in batches if needed for a creamy texture.
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.
Cauliflower mashed potatoes or riced cauliflower are terrific neutral side dish that pair with most main dishes. For more ideas, read How To Cook Cauliflower. If you want regular mashed potatoes, try this make ahead crock pot version.
Kori's tips.
- Remember to drain the cooked cauliflower, as this helps to keep the cauliflower from getting too watery.
- Use fresh cauliflower for best results. Frozen cauliflower is very watery and will make your mash watery too.
- Make sure not to overload your food processor, as mentioned below. This allows you to achieve a smoother, thicker mashed cauliflower without adding too much liquid in the process.
- If the cauliflower cools off too much while processing, reheat in your microwave before serving.
- Make ahead tip: this recipe can be made a couple of days ahead of time. Store it in an air-tight container. Reheat in the microwave, stirring frequently, or reheat slowly in a skillet over low heat.
- Cook the cauliflower until your can very easily mash it with a fork. Depending on the amount of cauliflower being microwaved, you may need to lengthen your time in the microwave.
FAQs
To help thicken watery mashed cauliflower, you can use a thickening agent such as cornstarch, a tiny amount of xanthan gum (low carb option), or add shredded or cream cheese. You could also slowly cook them in a pan to help evaporate any access water.
Ultimately, like smooth cauliflower puree. By adding butter, garlic, salt, and pepper, you can create a much healthier, lower-carb version of mashed potato that has a very similar flavor profile.
Yes, cauliflower is a great source of vitamins and nutrients. How healthy it is depends on what you add to the cauliflower (butter, cream, cheese, etc.). It is lower in calories than mashed potatoes and significantly lower in carbs which is perfect for those who are following a low carb or keto diet.
Cool your mashed in the refrigerator uncovered and transfer it to an air-tight container, and store for up to 4 days.
Place the mashed cauliflower mashed in a microwave-safe dish and heat on low until the desired temperature is reached. The leftovers can release extra moisture, so we find that reheating on medium-low in a small saute pan is the best way to keep your mashed thick and cook out any unwanted moisture.
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📖 The recipe.
Creamy Riced Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes - So Easy!
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- optional ingredients: grated cheese, chives
Instructions
- Cut cauliflower into 1" pieces. Place in a microwave-safe dish with ½ cup water. Microwave on high until the cauliflower is very soft - about 15 to 17 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked cauliflower to a colander and drain water.
- Place cauliflower and butter in a food processor and blend on high speed until smooth, scraping down the sides, and working in batches if needed. (Note: if the food processor is overloaded it won't blend as well.)
- Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining ingredients. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Kori's Tips
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS: Add shredded cheese, chopped chives, or other herbs. Use an herb butter instead of regular butter.
- TOP TIPS: 8 cups of cauliflower florets makes approximately 2 cups mashed. Use a food processor to mash the cauliflower. It can be done with a hand mixer, but they will have more chunks, like the consistency of rice. If needed, warm the cauliflower mash in the microwave before serving.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with butter or gravy and with any main dish that has sauce.
Nutrition
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