This delicious keto alternative to macaroni and cheese will be in your menu rotations even when you're not on keto.

Keto Cauliflower Baked “Mac and Cheese”

Written by Chicken Soup with Dumplings

Giving up carbs can be hard to do, but our creamy, keto-friendly cauliflower “mac and cheese” makes it a little bit easier!

Fresh cauliflower replaces noodles in this low carb alternative, and the creamy cheddar cheese sauce that coats it is so delicious, you’ll want to lick the bowl!

Serve cauliflower mac and cheese as an impressive side dish, or enjoy a big bowl of it on its own. You’ll be dishing up seconds in no time at all!

This keto-friendly macaroni and cheese alternative is so delicious, you'll want it all the time!

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What is Keto Cauliflower “Mac and Cheese”?

For people following a ketogenic diet, or keto for short, cauliflower mac and cheese allows dieters to enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness of macaroni and cheese without consuming excessive carbs. Cauliflower is used in place of pasta for a veggie-heavy alternative that’s so good, I make it even when I’m not on keto!

A ketogenic diet can be a challenging thing. By eliminating sugars and reducing carbs to a mere 50 grams per day, weight can be lost fairly quickly. After 3 to 4 days of following keto, the body begins breaking down protein and fat for energy instead of relying on carbs as it normally does. This process is called ketosis, and it leads to rapid, short term weight loss.

The tricky part is staying in ketosis. As little as one “cheat” can disrupt ketosis, which means the dieter will need another 3 to 4 days to get reboot ketosis mode and begin to lose weight again. Thankfully, there are a lot of delicious keto friendly recipes that make this easier than it used to be!

Keto macaroni and cheese can be served as a side or a main dish.

Can I Vary This Recipe?

Of course!

Like Grandma always said, a recipe is just a guide. It’s up to you to adapt any recipe to suit your family’s tastes or dietary needs. Here are a few ideas on how I like to change up this keto mac and cheese recipe.

Use different types of cheeses. Pepper jack is fantastic if you like spicy foods. Colby jack creates a more mellow flavor.
Mix in 1/2 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon before baking. Bacon and mac and cheese goes together like ketchup and mustard.
If you typically like crumb topping on baked mac and cheese, crush some spicy pork rinds and sprinkle them on top before you bake it.
If you’re short on time or are just looking for a switch, skip baking the cauliflower. Just ensure that you cook the cauliflower to your preferred consistency during the precooking process!

Try varying the cheeses you use to create different tastes.

Why Is My Cauliflower So Watery?

The most common cause for watery cauliflower mac and cheese is overcooking the cauliflower. You can avoid this by following a few easy tips.

First, steam your cauliflower instead of boiling it. This will reduce the amount of water that the cauliflower will absorb during the cooking process.

Don’t cook the cauliflower as long as you normally would. Remember, this is a baked dish, so the vegetables will continue to cook in the oven. Cooking until the florets are fork-tender is perfect.

Finally, drain the cauliflower before placing it in the baking dish. I typically use a wire strainer and give the cauliflower a good shake to remove excess water.

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Place cooked cauliflower into baking dish.
In a small saucepan, heat heavy cream. Add 2 cups of the shredded cheddar, the cream cheese, and the garlic salt; whisk until cheeses are completely melted and sauce is smooth.
Pour cheese sauce over cauliflower. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Stir cauliflower to combine. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese over top of cauliflower.
Bake another 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Allow cauliflower to rest 5 minutes before serving for sauce to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Check Out More Keto Recipes

For another side dish, try 3 Cheese Keto Zucchini Bake
Keto Friendly Overnight Salad allows you to make it ahead of time
Check out our flavorful Slow Cooker Beef Carnitas next Taco Tuesday