This cauliflower mash tastes so good, our family prefers it over mashed potatoes! Cheesy mashed cauliflower is the perfect side dish for your low carb meals.
We love mashed potatoes, but we also love mashed cauliflower. We took this favorite recipe and turned it low carb. A much lighter result, while tasting oh so delicious and leaving you feeling good!
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About this Recipe
Years ago, we published a cheesy mashed potatoes recipe. It's a family favorite served over the holidays. A couple of months ago, we had friends over for dinner who's son is diabetic. Keeping low-carb in mind for his specific diet, I altered the mashed potato recipe to create this cauliflower mash as a side dish with our Italian Meatloaf.
The cauliflower mash turned out SO GOOD that most people wanted seconds of it more than the actual potatoes! So I retested the recipe several times with cauliflower and every time it turned out fantastic.
Ingredients
(full printable recipe at end of this post)
Below are the ingredients you need to make this mashed cauliflower recipe.
Grocery List:
- Cauliflower - You need a large cauliflower that is about 3 lbs. If there is just a 2 lb medium head, it will work.
- Garlic - I boil the cauliflower with minced garlic for extra flavor. For this, I like the convenience of jarred minced garlic, but you can use fresh cloves.
- Half and half - We use half and half for our cream in this recipe to keep it low carb. You can use any standard milk or cream you prefer. (I do not recommend almond, oat or coconut milk.) Or even sour cream!
- Unsalted butter - You control the amount of salt in this recipe, so use unsalted butter. If you only have salted, just omit or reduce the amount of salt.
- Cream cheese - This is a big factor is making the cauliflower taste good, especially to those who may not necessarily like cauliflower. Try to remember to set this out ahead of time to come to room temperature.
- Egg - This only takes one large egg, just to get that souffle texture.
- Mozzarella - Half will be shredded, half will be diced into small cubes. So, grab a block, you'll use 4 ounces total.
How to Make Mashed Cauliflower
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the step-by-step instructions on how to make cauliflower mash. The general steps are as follows:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 8x8-inch casserole dish.
- Cut cauliflower into florets.
- Place florets and garlic into pot of water. Boil until tender.
- Drain cauliflower and transfer to blender. (Or you can transfer to a large bowl and use an immersion blender.)
- Blend with rest of ingredients, except mozzarella, until smooth.
- Pour half of mixture into prepared pan.
- Top evenly with diced mozzarella.
- Spread rest of cauliflower mixture over diced mozzarella.
- Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake an additional 15 minutes, until golden.
Top Tips and Tricks
Cheese: Keep the cheese cold in the fridge until its time to dice it or shred it. It is much easier to slice and shred cold cheese.
Double: You can easily double this recipe and bake in a 9x13-inch pan. Or, double it and bake in two 8x8-inch pans so you have one to share!
Make-ahead: This cauliflower mash can be assembled and baked the day before, then reheated in the oven the next day.
Variations
- Try adding cooked chopped bacon for extra loaded flavor.
- Don't like mozzarella? Switch it up with cheddar cheese or another of your favorites.
- Short on time? Stir in the cheese, let it melt in the hot cauliflower and serve without baking.
Your Questions Answered
Is mashed cauliflower bad for you?
Cauliflower is a great substitute for mashed potatoes and offers a lower calorie option. This mashed cauliflower recipe is loaded with cheese, so like any recipe I post, everything in moderation.
How do you keep mashed cauliflower from being watery?
This mashed cauliflower is not watery as long as you drain the cooked cauliflower before adding to the blender.
Does cauliflower really taste like potatoes?
Cauliflower alone does not taste like potatoes, but it has such a mild flavor and the consistency of it blended into the cheese creates the mashed potatoes texture and taste.
Storage and Leftovers
Store: Any leftovers of this cheesy mashed cauliflower dish should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: This reheats very easily in the microwave. I wouldn't even bother turning on the oven, although you can.
Freeze: I do not recommend freezing this dish. Too much water content.
More Cauliflower Recipes
Like this mashed cauliflower recipe? Try these other recipes that use cauliflower!
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Tabbouleh
- Pasta with Arugula, Prosciutto and Roasted Cauliflower
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Made this Recipe?
Leave a star rating and tag me on Instagram @seededtable so I can see. I love hearing from you!
Photography by Lindsay Evers.
Recipe Card
Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- Blender
- 8x8-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower washed and stemmed
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup half and half warmed
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 large egg
- 4 oz. block mozzarella divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish.
- While the oven is preheating, cut cauliflower into large florets. Place florets and garlic in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil on the stovetop; boil until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain.
- Transfer cauliflower and garlic to a blender with half and half, melted butter and salt. Blend until combined. Blend in the cream cheese, then the egg; process until smooth.
- Pour half the cauliflower batter into the prepared baking dish. Cut half of the cheese into small dices and spread evenly over the cauliflower in the pan. Pour the rest of the cauliflower over top the diced cheese.
- Bake 25 minutes. Meanwhile, shred the remaining half of the cheese. After 25 minutes, remove pan from the oven, sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over top and return to oven. Bake an additional 15 minutes, or until slightly golden.
Notes
- Cheese: Keep the cheese cold in the fridge until its time to dice it or shred it. It is much easier to slice and shred cold cheese.
- Double: You can easily double this recipe and bake in a 9x13-inch pan. Or, double it and bake in two 8x8-inch pans so you have one to share or one to freeze for later!
- Make-ahead: This cauliflower mash can be assembled and baked the day before, then reheated in the oven the next day.
- Nutrition Info: Estimate only.
