Cauliflower Cheese (Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese) is creamy and cheesy and super delicious! An easy side dish for your next weeknight meal, but it's special enough for your holiday table too!
This side dish pairs well with many dishes, but for the holiday you'll love it with turkey, ham, goose, and even roast beef. This recipe is low and keto-friendly and everyone will love, even if they're not following a ketogenic diet.
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❤️ Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
There are so many ways to cook cauliflower! One of my favorite ways is to use cauliflower to replace pasta. Be sure to try Zesty Italian Pasta Salad or this Seafood Pasta Salad - both recipes use cauliflower or pasta.
Perfect For Everyone
There are 2 ways of making this recipe the regular version (using flour as a thickener and breadcrumbs) and a low carb keto version (using xanthan gum as a thickener and pork panko for the topping).
This is not solely a keto dish - cauliflower cheese is a family-friendly recipe that EVERYONE loves.
Delicious
Every time I make this recipe my family gobbles it up! By the way, I think this tastes better than mac and cheese!
You can vary the kinds of cheese and the quantity of cheese, and even change up the herbs to customize this to your liking too.
Make it a main dish by adding 1 to 2 cups of diced ham or chicken! Yum.
Low Carb and Keto Cauliflower Cheese
This casserole was made low carb by using xanthan gum as a thickener and pork panko as the crunchy topping.
You can just as easily thicken with flour and use regular breadcrumbs for the topping if you are not watching your carbs.
fat 15.4 g | net carbs 4.6 g | protein 9 g
🥘 What You'll Need
Here are the ingredients and tools you'll need to make this cauliflower cheese recipe:
Ingredients
- Cauliflower
- Butter
- Xanthan Gum or Flour - use xanthan gum as a low carb thickener
- Whole Milk
- Cheddar Cheese
- Fresh Parsley
- Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
- Ground Pepper
- Pork Panko or Seasoned Breadcrumbs - pork panko is the low carb option.
Tools
- 1-1/2 to 2 qt Casserole Dish
- Medium-sized saucepan
- Cheese Grater
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Whisk
- Mixing Spoon
🔪 How To Make IT
Here's how to make Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish with butter.
Cook Cauliflower
Cook cauliflower florets in salted boiling water for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender.
You can also microwave cauliflower from fresh or frozen.
Strain cauliflower and place into a greased 2-quart casserole dish
Make The Cheese Sauce
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add xanthan gum (or flour) and whisk into butter.
Slowly whisk milk into the butter and flour mixture. Bring to a simmer and continue whisking until it thickens.
Add all but 2 oz of the cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper, stirring until melted.
Assemble Casserole
Pour over cauliflower and stir. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, top with pork panko or seasoned breadcrumbs.
Bake
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. The casserole will thicken as it cools. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Serve
Serve and enjoy this tasty cauliflower cheese casserole. It's a favorite side dish on our table! 🙂
❓ FAQs
Can cauliflower mac and cheese be made ahead of time?
Yes. This casserole can be made ahead of time. Assemble the casserole per the instructions, but do not bake until the day of.
How long will this casserole keep in the refrigerator?
This casserole will keep at least 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator
✔️ Side Dish Recipes
Here are some more delicious side dishes you might like:
- Buffalo Cauliflower
- Baked Zucchini Casserole With Cheese
- Layered Salad (Layered Overnight Salad)
- Red Cabbage Recipe (Roasted Red Cabbage)
- Low Carb Coleslaw (Dill Pickle Slaw)
- Italian Roasted Cabbage Slices (Low Carb & Keto Cabbage Recipe)
📋 Recipe
Easy Cauliflower Cheese (Keto Cauliflower Cheese)
Easy Cauliflower Cheese (Keto Cauliflower Cheese), is creamy and cheesy and super delicious! This side dish recipe is low and keto-friendly and everyone will love, even if they're not following a ketogenic diet.
Ingredients
- 4 cup cauliflower florets (2" pieces)
- 3 tbsp butter (plus extra to butter dish)
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (or 1/4 cup flour)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 12 oz cheddar cheese, grated (save 2 oz for the top)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp. pork panko (optional, or seasoned breadcrumbs)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter casserole dish.
- Cook cauliflower florets in salted boiling water for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Strain cauliflower and place into a greased 2-quart casserole dish.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add xantham gum (or flour) and whisk into butter. Slowly whisk milk into the butter and flour mixture. Bring to a simmer and continue whisking until it thickens.
- Add all but 2 oz of the cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper, stirring until melted. Pour over cauliflower and stir.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese, top with pork panko, or breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. The casserole will thicken as it cools. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Notes
- Add diced ham or chicken for a full meal!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
8 servingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 194Total Fat: 15.4gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 367mgCarbohydrates: 5.7gNet Carbohydrates: 4.6gFiber: 1.1gSugar: 3.5gProtein: 9g
Cauliflower mac and cheese is the perfect keto side dish! This baked cauliflower cheese recipe with keto cheese sauce is creamy and cheesy - and tastes so much better than mac and cheese! Keto cauliflower cheese casserole is the perfect side dish for weeknights, but also tasty enough to be a holiday side dish. #cauliflower #casserole #ketocasserole #sidedish #holidayside #seekinggoodeats #lowcarb #keto #glutenfree #ketogenic #cheese
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