We all grew up eating mac and cheese, but most of us never stopped eating it. How could you? It is delicious! Everybody loves pasta and everybody loves cheese, so it is pretty much a match made in heaven. Better yet, it is especially great when homemade with a nice crispy crust on top. It only gets better the older you get!

However, there’s no arguing that regular mac and cheese has one downfall — it’s high in carbs. So if you’re on the Ketogenic diet, do you have to give up eating this delicious meal? Not if you make our low-carb Keto mac and cheese recipe! The secret to our recipe is that it uses cauliflower instead of pasta. If you’re looking for a side for your delicious Keto lunch, this is it. Learn all the important details below.

Recipe for Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

This recipe creates 3 modest servings (of 11.79 net carbs each) and makes a perfect side dish!

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes| Serves: 3 | Calories per Serving: 518 kcal
Equipment: Knife, chopping board, skillet, bowl, and baking dish

Ingredients:

• 8 cups cauliflower
• 2 slices bacon
• ½ medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F and heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Dice the bacon and separate the cauliflower into small florets. Add the bacon and cauliflower to the skillet and sauté for 5 minutes.
3. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring once in a while.
4. Transfer the contents of the skillet into a baking dish.
5. Mix the butter with 1 cup of cheddar cheese and the heavy whipping cream in a bowl until a consistent cheese sauce is formed. Pour it over the cauliflower mixture in the baking dish.
6. Top the contents of the baking dish with the remaining cheddar cheese.
7. Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes and broil for 5 more to give it a crispy crust.

Why Cauliflower Works So Well in Keto Mac and Cheese

To people acquainted with low-carb diets such as the Ketogenic diet, it may not be surprising to hear about cauliflower as a substitute. It has become a popular replacement for all sorts of grains, in large part because it goes so well with so many dishes.

More importantly, there are only 3 grams of net carbs in a cup of cauliflower, which means that it can make up the bulk of your meal and still provide you with next to no carbs. If you are looking for one food in particular that could end up carrying a big load for your diet, cauliflower is a top contender.

It also happens to have plenty of merits regardless of its carbohydrate content. It is a big time contributor for many nutrients such as:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B6
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Fiber
• Choline
• Biotin
• Phosphorous
• Manganese
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Protein

Does that sound like a lot? That’s why cauliflower is an incredible ingredient to include in this and other Keto recipes!

Cauliflower gets the job done and then some, helping you kick carbs out of your diet while also giving you a ton of nutritional benefits. How could you ask for more?

Tips for Making Cauliflower Like a Pro

If you’re ready to start incorporating cauliflower into your meal plans, you’ll want to get things just right. Here are some pro cauliflower making tips to keep in mind:

1. Buy the best you can
   It all begins with buying the best quality cauliflower you can get. Look for cauliflower with a creamy white color and no discoloration. It should feel dense compared to other vegetables when you hold it. Don’t buy cauliflower with droopy leaves, as this probably means it is not at its best. When all else fails, just give it a sniff!
2. Storing the cauliflower correctly
   A good idea is to transfer the cauliflower to a plastic bag along with a paper towel. This will provide it with better conditions where it won’t rot as quickly and excess moisture will be soaked up instead of festering on the cauliflower. This will result in a better overall product.
3. Cutting the cauliflower
   When it is time to prep your cauliflower, first split it into quarters. Once you have done that, cut away the small piece of core from each quarter and chop the cauliflower into small florets. You will be shooting for macaroni-sized pieces.

Once you’ve followed these steps, you will be on your way to making an especially delicious meal full of healthy cauliflower!

If you are looking for a healthy new way to enjoy a classic dish, it is time to give Keto cauliflower mac and cheese a shot. It just might be what ends up carrying your low-carb diet!