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    Home » Side Dishes » Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower

    Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower

    Published: Jun 9, 2020 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Aug 1, 2020 · 843 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Simplicity and perfection collide in this delicious Keto Mashed Cauliflower. With just six ingredients, this recipe is the best creamy cauliflower mash ever. This easy side dish deserves to become a habit!

    Overhead photo of a bowl of creamy mashed cauliflower drizzled with butter and garnished with crushed red pepper and rosemary.

    Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower is Pure Comfort Food!

    There are a whole lot of reasons to make cauliflower a regular part of your low carb diet.

    It is full of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, and this low carb veggie is one of the most versatile things around.

    Cauliflower is a low carb alternative for everything from rice to pizza crust. Or, in the case of this Keto Mashed Cauliflower, it makes a great alternative to potatoes.

    As someone who grew up in the South, I am pretty particular about mashed potatoes. The first several times I tried mashed cauliflower, I was underwhelmed.

    But this recipe - I couldn’t love it anymore. It is easy to make, but so unbelievably flavor-packed.

    Although not strictly necessary - you can roast or steam cauliflower too - cooking it in a good flavorful broth adds a dimension of flavor that you don’t get otherwise.

    Photo of a keto quickstart guide with the description of the guide on the right.

    Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower

    One of my favorite ways to make mashed cauliflower is to cook the cauliflower in the Instant Pot! It is super easy.

    Photo of an instant pot with broth in the bottom and a trivet on top.

    To make cauliflower in the Instant pot, place the broth in the bottom and put your steamer basket or trivet on top. Add the cauliflower and close the lid.

    Set your valved to seal and cook on manual high pressure for three minutes. Do a quick release.

    Open the lid, and let it cool for a couple of minutes. Place the cauliflower on paper towels to drain and proceed with the recipe as directed.

    Photo of an Instant Pot with raw cauliflower in it.

    Is Cauliflower Keto-Friendly?

    Absolutely! Cauliflower is one of the best vegetables around for a keto diet. An entire head of cauliflower has just 17 net carbs. It is also extremely versatile.

    Check out this Cauliflower Fried Rice, Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, and these Buffalo Cauliflower Wings for some more creative ways to use this vegetable.

    How many carbs are in mashed cauliflower?

    The number of carbohydrates will vary according to the recipe. This simple recipe has 3.7 net carbs per serving.

    Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

    Yes! This recipe can be made up to two days ahead of time.

    Storage

    This recipe should be stored in a tightly covered dish in the refrigerator. Resist the temptation of letting it hang around your refrigerator for too long - cauliflower gets pretty stinky after a few days.

    Buying Cauliflower

    Look for heads of cauliflower that are free from any discoloration and have tight firm florets.

    Storing Cauliflower

    Cauliflower should be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator. There is no need to keep it in the crisper drawer. It should keep for about a week.

    Variations

    • I am a big fan of the cream cheese in this recipe, but sour cream works too. Marscapone cheese also works beautifully.
    • For a richer dish, feel free to add in more butter.
    • For a kick of heat ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper is nice.
    White bowl of keto mashed cauliflower sitting on a white plate with a black and white napkin on it and a wooden spoon sitting behind it.

    Pro Tip

    Even after you drain and blot dry the cooked cauliflower, some of the liquid can remain.  Remedy this by returning the drained flared to the dry pan and cooking until you see all the residual water steam out.

    What Do You Serve With Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes?

    • Comfort food doesn't get any better than this Creamy Mashed Cauliflower with Keto Beef Stroganoff.
    • Keto Slow Cooker Beef is perfect for when you want an easy meal that is full of flavor.
    Photo of a keto quickstart guide with the description of the guide on the right.
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Square overhead photo of a bowl of creamy mashed cauliflower drizzled with butter and garnished with crushed red pepper and rosemary.
    Print Recipe

    Creamy Keto Mashed Cauliflower

    Move over potatoes - this is Cauliflower Mash Keto Style and it is so much like the "real thing" that you won't believe it.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: vegetables, vegetarian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 108.27kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 head cauliflower chopped
    • 3 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

    Instructions

    Stove Top

    • Bring the broth and salt to a boil in a large pot. Add the cauliflower. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.
    • Remove cauliflower with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels. Reserve the remaining cooking water.

    Instant Pot

    • To make cauliflower in the Instant pot, place the broth in the bottom and put your steamer basket or trivet on top. Add the cauliflower and close the lid.
    • Set your valved to seal and cook on manual high pressure for three minutes. Do a quick release.
    • Open the lid, and let it cool for a couple of minutes. Reserve the remaining liquid. Place the cauliflower on paper towels to drain and proceed with the recipe as directed.

    Both Methods

    • Transfer the cauliflower to a food processor and add cream cheese, butter, and black pepper.
      Photo of steamed cauliflower, cream cheese, and seasonings in a food processor.
    • Process for 3 minutes, until very smooth. Add remaining cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reach. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 108.27kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.62g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 8.99g | Saturated Fat: 5.21g | Cholesterol: 25.63mg | Sodium: 638.53mg | Potassium: 337.44mg | Fiber: 1.96g | Sugar: 2.29g | Vitamin A: 306.99IU | Vitamin C: 48.93mg | Calcium: 37.32mg | Iron: 0.53mg

    More Keto Sides to Try

    • Craving potatoes? Give this Zucchini Gratin a try.
    • Parmesan Tomatoes are an easy side that comes together in just 15 minutes.
    « Keto Buffalo Chicken Casserole
    Seasoned Keto Tortilla Chips Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jean Painter

      May 31, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      Can a hand mixer work to process the ingredients?

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        June 30, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        Yes - it may not be quite as smooth but it will work.

        Reply
    2. Deborah

      October 24, 2022 at 10:27 pm

      I always press the liquid out of the cauliflower with a tofu press and add beef gelatin to give the cauliflower mash a texture closer to mashed potatoes.

      Reply

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    Welcome

    I'm Wendy and I'm here to show you just how delicious a low carb, gluten free and keto diet can be! You are just as likely to find me obsessing over all things cheesy as you are getting excited by a full produce drawer. I'm a mom to three, obsessive planner and roller coasters are my happy place. Let's dig deeper →

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