This keto-friendly Low Carb Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese" recipe is perfect when you are craving the comfort of mac and cheese, minus the pasta. Healthy and full of great things like veggies and protein, you get that cheesy goodness minus all of those carbs!
If y'all are anything like me, the first thing I missed when I went low carb was pasta.
I was the admitted mac and cheese queen and would make just about anything into a mac and cheese. A quick search on the blog will prove that.
I.WAS.ADDICTED.
Fast forward a year and a half into this journey and I can honestly tell you that I don't miss pasta at all.
Dishes like this Beef Zoodle Stir Fry, Chicken Alfredo Zoodle Bake, Low Carb Chicken "Ramen", Herbed Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Parmesan, and Spaghetti Squash Lasagna keep me quite satisfied.
One of my go-to meals is this meat sauce on top of zoodles or spaghetti squash, with a Ceasar salad on the side.
I love to make a big batch of the meat sauce on meal prep days, freeze it in 2 serving portions in these containers, then pop the sauce into the microwave while I heat up some zoodles or spaghetti squash.
Top that with some Parmesan cheese and have it with some salad?
Oh ya, baby, who needs pasta?
Even the Mr. aka The Complainer, says he doesn't miss pasta one bit!
Now bread on the other hand?
Let's just say I am working on that.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE LOW CARB "MAC AND CHEESE"
- Large head of cauliflower
- Cream cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian Seasoning
- Redmond's real salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Parsley
No, cauliflower is not pasta, rice, or potatoes but, when done right, it is a fabulous substitute for them. Being someone that grew up loathing cauliflower, I can truly testify to that fact.
And I can happily attest to the fact that I have brought quite a few people along with me on the bandwagon!
The key to learning to love cauliflower is to keep trying new recipes until you find ones that are gold. This, my friends, is one of them. We have a variation of this recipe just about every week!
You can mix up the flavors any way you like.
Having Mexican? Use this Mexican seasoning blend in place of the Italian and top with some dried, or fresh chopped cilantro. Maybe even some salsa fresca.
You can do the same with Greek seasoning and this Greek Salsa
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAULIFLOWER "MAC AND CHEESE"
MORE GREAT LOW CARB "PASTA" RECIPES
Low Carb Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese"
Yield: 6 servings
prep time: 13 M cook time: 35 M total time: 48 M
This keto-friendly Low Carb Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese" recipe is perfect when you are craving the comfort of mac and cheese, minus the pasta. Healthy and full of great things like veggies and protein, you get that cheesy goodness minus all of those carbs!
Ingredients:
- 1 large head (or 16-ounce package of fresh florets) of cauliflower, chopped into macaroni-size florets
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temp
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Redmond's real salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook cauliflower until tender, 5 minutes.
- Drain well. Pour into the casserole dish.
- In a large saucepot, over medium heat, add the heavy whipping cream, cream cheese and stir with a whisk until thoroughly combined. Add 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste, and stir to combine.
- Remove from the heat and add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses stirring constantly reserving 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese for topping.
- Pour cheese mixture over the cauliflower and stir until thoroughly coated.
- Top with the 1/2 cup reserved cheese, teaspoon Italian seasoning, and parsley.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is nice and bubbly.
Calories
403.61
Fat (grams)
35.18
Sat. Fat (grams)
20.81
Carbs (grams)
9.77
Fiber (grams)
3.31
Net carbs
6.46
Sugar (grams)
4.98
Protein (grams)
14.71
Sodium (milligrams)
509.55
Cholesterol (grams)
104.79
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only.
We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Erythritol carbs will not be included as it has a glycemic index of 0 (meaning it does not spike blood sugar) and it's not metabolized.
Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
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This dish is THE BEST! It has become a staple in my kitchen. I have been doing low carb and am the only one in the friend group that cooks. While I usually get some backlash from friends when I am trying a new low carb dish, they LOVE this cauliflower mac more than regular mac n cheese! Bout to make it for my family's thanksgiving too :)
ReplyDeleteOh that is music to my ears! My goal is, of course, tasty recipes, but because I live with carb lovers I live to make dishes that everyone enjoys! Happy Thanksgiving!!
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