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    Home » Recipes » Low-Carb Keto Dinner Recipes

    Easy Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese

    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK STARTER PACK JUMP TO RECIPE
    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese
    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese
    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese

    Nothing is as homely and comforting as Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese. It's your regular mac and cheese but it's been pimped with bacon and cauliflower.

    The easy healthy recipe is sugar-free, gluten-free, grain-free and low-carb. 

    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese collage of cooking photos and served in a white metal dish
    Cauliflower bacon mac and cheese

    This is the perfect side dish for chicken, beef, and pork recipes. It can also be served as a main dish by itself. It's low in carbs, high in protein, and is baked in a delicious healthy creamy sauce.

    Jump to:
    • What is cauliflower mac and cheese?
    • How many carbs are in regular pasta?
    • How many carbs are in traditional mac and cheese?
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • More keto comfort food
    • 💬 Comments

    What is cauliflower mac and cheese?

    Regular macaroni and cheese recipes are high carb, and low in flavor BUT they are comfort food that many readers have asked me to replicate in a healthy low-carb version.

    Mac and cheese generally contain macaroni, flour, butter, and cheese. And as for those pre-made dehydrated mac and cheese packets, promise me never to buy those ever again. They are filled with inflammatory seed oils, wheat, pasta, flour, preservatives, flavors, colors, additives, chemicals .... which is a recipe for disaster and certainly not fit for growing children.

    creamy Cauliflower Mac And Cheese 

    Macaroni is a high-carb pasta that makes up the bulk of the mac and cheese recipe, so what do you substitute macaroni with? The answer is always cauliflower of course.

    Further reading: Are you a cauliflower ninja?

    How many carbs are in regular pasta?

    If you are new here, you may not be aware of just how many carbs are in everyday foods such as pasta, rice, and bread.

    This is a great infographic to look at. There are 7 handy charts showing you how carbs affect your blood sugars. You will be amazed at cornflakes, apple juice and shredded wheat. Just to name a few.

    Table showing how carbs affect blood sugars from various foods and drinks

    How many carbs are in traditional mac and cheese?

    1 cup cooked macaroni = 31g total - 1.8g fibre = 29.2g net carbs

    1 cup cooked cauliflower = 4.1g total - 2.3g fibre = 1.8g net carbs

    Not only is cauliflower a lower carb option, but it is a healthier option because in just 1 cup cooked cauliflower it also contains Vit A 0.3%, Vit B6 10%, Vit c 77%, calcium 2.2%, iron 2.4%, magnesium 4%.

    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese served in a white and blue casserole dish
    Keto bacon mac and cheese

    Variations

    Now you know why we love cauliflower so much, how do you flavor it so the whole family can enjoy a healthy dinner together? Bacon is the answer (it's always the answer). 

    The creamy bacon mac and cheese has a cheats cheese sauce and cooked bacon to really give this healthy mac and cheese a flavor kick, But why not add a pinch of chili too?

    It's a very adaptable recipe.

    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese sitting served in a white dish on a wooden chopping board
    Bacon mac and cheese

    Storage

    How To Freeze Cauliflower Mac And Cheese 

    If you love batch cooking (and who doesn't love cooking once but serving 2 or 3 times?) then you will love cauliflower mac and cheese because it is a dream to freeze.

    Simply wait until the mac and cheese have cooled, then place the leftovers into airtight containers and freeze for up to 2 months. 

    How To Defrost Cauliflower Mac And Cheese 

    Place the airtight container on the countertop or in the refrigerator until the mac and cheese have defrosted in the center.

    For best results, the mac and cheese should be reheated in the oven, so any moisture can evaporate and the cheese can remain crispy.

    Alternatively, you may choose to reheat the creamy cauliflower bacon mac and cheese in the microwave.

    📖 Recipe

    Please rate this recipe.

    4.6 from 22 votes

    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese Recipe

    This is THE BEST recipe for easy Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese - print it off and keep this one!
    Servings: 4
    NET carbs: 7g
    Author: Libby Jenkinson
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Category: Dinner. Vegetables
    Diet: Diabetic. Gluten Free
    Gluten Free. Grain free. Keto. LCHF. Low Carb. No Sugars. Wheat Free
    Review Recipe Print Pin Email

    Calculate ingredients

    Adjust servings: 4
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    Ingredients

    • 500 g (1.1 lb) cauliflower cut into florets
    • 2 slices bacon diced
    • 2 spring onion/scallion sliced
    • 1 teaspoon garlic minced crushed
    • 180 g (6 oz) cream cheese full fat
    • 50 g (½ cups) pre-shredded/grated mozzarella
    • 60 ml (¼ cups) heavy whipping cream
    • +/- salt and pepper to taste

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowls
    • Casserole Dish
    • Saucepan

    Instructions

    • Steam the cauliflower until cooked but not too soft. Drain and let the steam escape.
    • In a saucepan, gently fry on LOW the garlic, bacon and spring onions in oil or butter.
    • Add the cream cheese and allow to soften and melt. Do not boil.
    • Add the mozzarella and cream. Heat on LOW and stir until it becomes and wonderful melted thickened sauce.
    • Add salt and pepper to taste.
    • Pour the drained cooked cauliflower into the baking dish. Pout the cheesy bacon sauce over the top. Sprinkle some additional cheese over the top if you like a crispy topping.
    • Bake at 180C/350F for 20 minutes until the sauce is cooked and golden.
    © Copyright Ditch The Carbs

    5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK

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    Nutrition Facts
    Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac And Cheese Recipe
    Serving Size
     
    1 serves 4
    Amount per Serving
    NET carbs
     
    7
    g
    Total Carbohydrates
     
    10
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    10
    g
    20
    %
    Fat
     
    28
    g
    43
    %
    Sodium
     
    340
    mg
    15
    %
    Potassium
     
    495
    mg
    14
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    969
    IU
    19
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    62
    mg
    75
    %
    Calcium
     
    149
    mg
    15
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    % Daily Value*
    -
    Calories
    323
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    YOUR HOLIDAY PANTRY & GIFT GUIDES

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    Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.

    More keto comfort food

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    • Low-carb family nachos
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    • pulled pork mac and cheese in a glass casserole dish and coloured table cloth
    • Nachos made with fat head dough on a white platter
    • taco salad served in a white bowl on a Mexican coloured table cloth

    More ... The Best Low-Carb Keto Dinner Recipes

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    • Quick Cheesy Keto Chicken Casserole (Pork Rind Crust)
    • The Best Cheesy Keto Taco Casserole (Without Taco Shells)
    • Easy Keto Salmon Recipe with Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce (One-Pan)
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    Libby Jenkinson in her garden

    I'm Libby Jenkinson MPS. A registered pharmacist, Health Coach, Cert.Adv Nutrition, mother of 3 and founder of Ditch The Carbs and Low-Carb Practitioners.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Melissa

      February 02, 2023 at 12:31 pm

      Is the whole dish 323 cal or each serving?

      Reply
      • Rachel Groff

        February 13, 2023 at 1:32 pm

        Hello, the nutritional information is per serving. Thanks!

        Reply
        • Melisa

          March 11, 2023 at 9:53 am

          Can you make this in a crock pot? I would be leaving the bacon out due to sodium diet.

          Reply
          • Rachel Groff

            March 14, 2023 at 1:11 pm

            Hi Melisa, what a great idea! I have not tried it, but I am sure you could. Let us know how it turns out. I'm sure others are also interested in learning how it turns out as well.

            Reply
    2. Jo

      July 27, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe. Easy weeknight meal. Tasty and satisfying. I added more bacon 🥓 than the recipe. A must try recipe. 👌

      Reply
      • Libby Jenkinson

        July 27, 2022 at 7:55 pm

        5 stars
        Awesome!

        Reply
    3. Jennifer

      May 09, 2022 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      The flavors are fantastic! I just have a question about the texture of the cheese, mine came out more thick almost doughy when cooking is that normal or do I need to change something in the process?

      Reply
      • Libby Jenkinson

        May 10, 2022 at 12:22 pm

        5 stars
        I'm, so glad to hear you like this creamy cauliflower mac and cheese. If the cheese sauce was a bit dough-like, I would suggest looking at the ingredients in case you use pre-shredded cheese that sometimes contains sneaky hidden potato starch (to prevent the cheese from clumping). This can add to the dry matter and make the sauce appear like dough.

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      May 25, 2020 at 12:15 pm

      That looks delicious! Thanks!

      Reply

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