Description
A creamy, cheesy, and low-carb mac and cheese alternative using cauliflower instead of pasta, topped with crispy bacon for a smoky crunch. Perfect for keto diets and family-friendly meals.
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower florets (about 6 cups / 900g)
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (200g)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (115g)
- ½ cup heavy cream (120ml)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- Optional add-ins: chopped green onions, grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Wash and cut cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Steam until just tender but not mushy, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess water and set aside.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool, then crumble or chop into small pieces. Reserve 1 teaspoon of bacon fat in the pan.
- In the same skillet with reserved bacon fat, turn heat to low and add cream cheese. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Slowly whisk in heavy cream, garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika. Warm gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until sauce is creamy and slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine steamed cauliflower with cheese sauce and stir gently to coat.
- Transfer mixture to an 8×8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheddar evenly on top, then sprinkle crispy bacon pieces over the cheese layer.
- Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. For extra crispy topping, broil for 1-2 minutes watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Optionally, top with chopped green onions.
Notes
[‘Do not oversteam cauliflower to avoid mushy texture.’, ‘Reserve bacon fat to add smoky flavor to cheese sauce; substitute with butter if skipping bacon.’, ‘Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese to prevent grainy sauce.’, ‘Add cheese off the heat to avoid separation.’, ‘Make ahead by prepping cauliflower and cheese sauce separately and bake before serving.’, ‘For extra creaminess, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese or mascarpone before baking.’, ‘Reheat leftovers gently on stovetop with splash of cream or milk; microwave with frequent stirring to avoid drying out.’, ‘This dish does not freeze well due to cream-based sauce separation.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: keto, low-carb, cauliflower mac and cheese, bacon, cheesy, comfort food, keto recipe, gluten-free