My 4-ingredient baked cauliflower mac and cheese is better than the real thing. This easy recipe allows you to still enjoy classic comfort foods while following a low-carb diet!
With just 4 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and in less than 30 minutes you can easily adapt a traditional macaroni and cheese recipe to suit a keto diet.
Oven-baked keto cauliflower mac and cheese is an uper duper cheesy side to serve with a bun-less burger, pork chops or baked fish. It’s 100% kid-approved and will be great to share with the whole family!
Do you love baking? I highly recommend The Ultimate Guide to Low-Carb Baking for all you need to know about sugar-free, keto sweet and savory baked goods!
I grew up on boxed Kraft mac and cheese. We made the switch to the Annie’s “homemade” formula and I remember thinking I was getting such an improvement, never realizing the ingredients are essentially the same! My family would stock up on a giant package from Costco. You know the ones, something like 32 boxes in one huge brick. Many a high school evening was spent ripping open a box of “food” to make dinner. The whole scene is pretty cringe worthy now. I thought I was so mature, making my own food and felt a level of pride at being able to cook a meal.
If only I knew then what I know know.
This is especially true after learning how easy it is to make a grain-free/gluten-free KETO mac and cheese recipe!
No matter, that is all in the past now and we can all rejoice with mistakes behind us. I know that our children will grow up with a stronger grasp on real food nutrition and be educated to make better food choices. Instead of living off food-like substances, our kids can grow up on homemade meals of unprocessed, non-allergenic ingredients.
Hurray, Hurrah, Cauliflower is Here to Save the Day!
Many classically carb heavy foods like rice and potatoes are replaced with one of our favorite unassuming vegetables, cauliflower. In this baked keto mac and cheese, cauliflower mimics the pasta noodles with way less carbs and zero gluten.
Other keto cauliflower recipes include:
Add this recipe to your list of keto Christmas dinner recipes, it’s such a crowd-pleaser!
What Cheese is Best for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese?
This recipe is far from being dairy-free. As long as it is cheese, you can use pretty much whatever kind you like. I’ve replaced the cream cheese with various soft cheeses like sheep and quesillo. In my experience, it seems like any soft cheese can be used. You want something that will emulsify and thicken the cream.
If anyone uses Brie, invite me over!
Cheddar cheese can be replaced with any firm or semi-firm types. Asiago, Parmesan, Edam, Fontina, Gruyere, or Havarti would all be fine. You can even mix and match to make a 3 cheese blend.
This is just one of my delicious low carb vegetable recipes you don’t want to miss!
Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower (mine was 1.5 pounds)
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 ounces cream cheese or other soft cheese
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard optional
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F.
- Cut cauliflower into small pieces. Steam in a saucepan until soft. Strain out and discard the water.1 large cauliflower
- Whisk the cream and cream cheese in the saucepan over medium heat until smooth. Stir in 1½ cups shredded cheese (save the other ½ cup to sprinkle on top). Continue warming until sauce is smooth and thick. Season with salt, pepper, and optional mustard or garlic.⅓ cup heavy whipping cream, 2 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Arrange the cauliflower in an 8×8-inch or 2 quart oval baking dish. Pour the sauce over and mix to combine.
- Top with remaining ½ cup cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes, until brown and bubbly.
- Cool slightly and serve warm.
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
Loving the oven for your keto meals? Try this Baked Tomatoes With Parmesan And Mozzarella Cheese recipe from RealBalanced next.
Thanks to this simple and easy-to-follow cauliflower mac and cheese, I got to enjoy my comfort food! A big YES to homemade and healthy meals!
Yep, healthy and homemade are the best. Thanks, Karen!
As someone on a low-carb diet, this baked cauliflower mac and cheese recipe is a lifesaver. It’s so creamy and comforting without the guilt. I will definitely make this again next week! Thank you for this!
Thanks for the great review, Nancy. Those comfort food recipes can make all the difference.
My wife and I are currently on a low-carb diet, and this totally hit the spot.
Happy to hear it. Thank you for the review, James.
Just made this recipe, and it’s a low-carb dream come true! Cheesy, comforting, and surprisingly close to the real deal. A must-try for keto enthusiasts! Cant wait to recommend it to my friends.
Keto cravings solved 😉 Thanks, Katie.
My best friend was recently diagnosed with celiac disease and this was the perfect dinner for us! I didn’t even miss the noodles, the cauliflower was great.
Thanks, Tammy. So happy we could help with challenging diet needs.