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This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a healthy, low-carb, and keto-friendly recipe that satisfies all your cheese cravings. With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can enjoy a comforting dish that works as a quick meal or a delicious side dish.

Try this next: If you love cheesy low-carb recipes, try our Cheesy Broccoli Casserole or Homemade Cheddar Biscuits.

You know those signs that say, “In our family, we do fun, messy faces, and movie nights”? I want one that says, “In our family, we do CHEESE.” We put cheese on just about everything.

This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a must in our house. My kids love cheese, but vegetables? That’s another story. Thankfully, a generous amount of cheese makes anything more appealing. This dish will surely be a hit if your family is anything like mine.

Wait. This Isn’t Mac & Cheese?

Let me explain if the “Mac & Cheese” title threw you off. While there’s no pasta here, the cauliflower has a nutty flavor and a firm bite that mimics traditional macaroni. Paired with a rich, creamy cheese sauce, it delivers all the comfort of classic mac and cheese—without the carbs.

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Why We Love This Recipe

Quick and easy to make in just one pan.
Packed with cheesy goodness while staying low-carb.
A great way to get kids (or picky eaters) to eat their veggies.
Perfect as a side dish or a satisfying main course.

Recipe Walk-Through

Ingredients For Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Cauliflower – Provides a hearty texture that mimics al dente pasta.
Cheddar Cheese & Parmesan – Melts into a creamy, flavorful sauce.
Cream Cheese – Helps create a rich, smooth consistency.
Smoked Paprika – Adds a hint of smoky depth to the dish.

How To Make Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions

This simple side dish will be a huge hit at your next dinner! So easy to throw together, and hits all the right notes.

Prep Your Ingredients – Cut the cauliflower into small florets. Shred the cheese, if you are not using pre-shredded.
Cook Cauliflower – Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Drain well.
Season & Stir – Return the cauliflower to the pot over low heat. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, stirring to coat.
Mix In Cheeses – Add cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and grated Parmesan. Stir until everything is melted and combined into a creamy sauce.
Garnish & Enjoy – Remove from heat, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

This is the perfect side for Brown Sugar and Pineapple Glazed Ham!
Serve it alongside grilled chicken kabobs or steak for a complete meal.
Our Cajun Pork Tenderloin would make a perfect pairing with this, too!
Add more vegetables to your table with our Air Fryer Broccoli, Garlic Green Beans, or these Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Storage Tips

Storage and Reheating

This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers:

Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently in the microwave at 50% power to maintain the creamy texture.
Freezing is not recommended, as cheese sauces tend to separate when thawed.

Recipe Tips

Try swapping cheddar for Gruyère or Monterey Jack for a different twist.
Add crumbled bacon for extra savory flavor.
Spice it up with a pinch of red pepper flakes, cayenne, or a few tablespoons of Buffalo sauce.

More Easy Recipes

Recipe

One Pan Cauliflower “Mac” & Cheese

4.75 from 8 votes

Kristin Maxwell

This One Pan Cauliflower “Mac” & Cheese recipe is a healthy, low-carb recipe that will satisfy your cheesy cravings. Makes a delicious and quick meal or a perfect Thanksgiving side dish.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings servings

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Ingredients

4 cups Cauliflower florets approximate, depending on the size of the head of cauliflower
Kosher salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
2 ounces Cream cheese softened
2/3 cup Freshly shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Minced parsley

Instructions

Cut cauliflower into small florets.
In a large pot, boil 6 cups of salted water. Add cauliflower and boil for about 5 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Return cauliflower to the pot over low heat.
Add a pinch of salt and pepper, garlic powder, paprika and stir to coat. Stir in cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan until melted and combined.
Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Recipes with cheese sauce like this keto friendly cauliflower mac and cheese, don’t hold up well to freezing so that’s not recommended. To store, cover and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat carefully in the microwave at 50% power for best results.

Keyword cauliflower and cheese, gluten free macaroni and cheese, one pot meals

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 8gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 231mgPotassium: 337mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 524IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 199mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.