These cauliflower mashed potatoes are mixed with butter, cream and seasonings to make a super delicious side dish that’s low in carbohydrates. This mashed cauliflower is so good that you won’t even miss the potatoes!
When I’m looking for easy side dish recipes, I turn to classics such as roasted green beans, sauteed brussels sprouts and low carb cauliflower mashed potatoes. Pair your cauliflower with baked chicken breast, slow cooker short ribs or surf and turf for an easy meal option.
While I love mashed potatoes, I’m not a fan of all the carbs that they bring to the table. These cauliflower mashed potatoes have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture without the high carb count.
Table of Contents
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need cauliflower, heavy cream, butter, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and fresh parsley.
How Do You Make Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes?
Start by boiling or steaming cauliflower florets until they’re fork tender. Place the cooked cauliflower in a food processor along with cream, butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Puree the mixture until smooth. Place the cauliflower mash in a bowl, then top with additional butter and parsley and serve.
How To Cook Cauliflower
You’ll need to cook your cauliflower for this recipe, and there are a few different techniques you can use. I typically just boil my cauliflower, but either of these methods will work just fine.
- Boil: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for 5-7 minutes or until tender. Drain, then proceed with the recipe.
- Steam: Heat 1 inch of water to boiling salted water in a shallow pan. Add the cauliflower in a single layer. Cover the pan and cook for 7-8 minutes until cauliflower is tender. Remove the cauliflower from the pan.
Tips For The Perfect Cauliflower Puree
- Cut your cauliflower into similar sized pieces so that it will all cook at the same rate.
- This recipe will work with either fresh or frozen cauliflower. Frozen cauliflower is pre-cooked, so all you’ll need to do is thaw it and warm it through before use.
- Cauliflower mashed potatoes stay fresh in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Leftover mash can be reheated on the stove top over low heat, or in the microwave.
- Use this recipe as a side dish, or substitute it in recipes where you’d normally use mashed potatoes, such as loaded mashed potato casserole or colcannon.
Quick Tip
I prefer to use a food processor for this recipe for the creamiest result, but you can also make a chunky mixture by using a potato masher.
Recipe FAQs
Mashed cauliflower is smooth and creamy just like mashed potatoes, but it contains less calories and less carbs. This dish has a lot of the same great flavor as mashed potatoes, but with a better dietary profile. Cauliflower also contains more nutrients than potatoes, including fiber, Vitamin B and antioxidants.
Mashed cauliflower is a keto friendly dish as it contains very few carbs.
If you find that your mashed cauliflower is not as thick as you like, you can cook it on the stove over medium heat to simmer off any excess water. You can also add ingredients like shredded cheese or cream cheese that will help to thicken and bind the cauliflower.
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Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Herbs: Stir in a handful of chopped herbs such as green onions, chives or parsley, or try a spoonful of basil pesto.
- Cheese: You can’t go wrong with cheese! Add up to 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese, or 1/4 cup of a soft cheese such as cream cheese or boursin style cheese.
- Toppings: Finish your cauliflower mashed potatoes with a sprinkling of bacon, jalapenos, olives or crispy onions.
- Veggies: Want to mix up the flavor a bit? Try using half cauliflower, and half root vegetable such as celeriac or rutabaga.
Once you try this mashed cauliflower recipe, you’ll never want to go back to the potato version again! This is a great way to get the whole family to enjoy their veggies.
More Side Dishes To Try
Green Bean Salad
18 mins
Roasted Acorn Squash
35 mins
Green Beans with Bacon
25 mins
Tomato Salad Recipe
11 mins
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 heads cauliflower approximately 4 cups, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons butter melted, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper plus more for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Boil or steam the cauliflower until tender. Boiling and steaming directions are both provided in the post.
- Drain the cauliflower, and place it into the bowl of a food processor along with the cream, butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Puree until the cauliflower mixture is smooth.
- Place the mixture in a bowl. Drizzle with additional melted butter if desired. Add a sprinkle of salt, pepper and parsley, then serve.
Notes
- Cut your cauliflower into similar sized pieces so that it will all cook at the same rate.
- I prefer to use a food processor for this recipe for the creamiest result, but you can also make a chunky mixture by using a potato masher.
- This recipe will work with either fresh or frozen cauliflower. Frozen cauliflower is pre-cooked, so all you’ll need to do is thaw it and warm it through before use.
I really enjoyed this recipe. I used the food processor as you suggested because I like them creamy too, and it turned out perfectly smooth. Thank you!
They are the perfect healthy alternative to regular mashed potatoes. The cauliflower blends seamlessly with butter and cream, creating a creamy and flavorful side dish.
I am enjoying exploring new cauliflower recipes. This one hit the spot and got the kiddos even loved it. thanks!
I couldn’t believe how creamy and rich these “mashed potatoes” were – without needing any potatoes!! This lower carb option was absolutely delicious!
I love this healthier alternative to mashed potatoes. It turned out so delicious. I served it to my family the other night and they couldn’t even tell the difference!
I used your suggestion of more cheese and the family thought it was potatoes!
Can you use a hand mixer to mix it.
You can it just might be a little chunkier which is not a bad thing!
These cauliflower mashed potatoes are mouth watering!
Try pan frying the garlic and adding it to the cauliflower. Also – nutritional yeast is another thing to add if you want to avoid the extra fat that comes with the cream. Adding some shredded cheese can also help thicken it.
Love a tasty and low -carb side dish that is comforting! I can’t wait to start whipping this together.
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this with my family. I know they’d go crazy!
So cool! Perfect for a keto diet. Easy to make as well.
Such an easy and delicious side dish!! I loved it!
Loved all that smooth flavor without all the starch! Enjoyed this with your barbecue chicken and it didn’t disappoint! Easily, a new favorite recipe in our home!
I love how creamy and delicious this is!! I am so excited to try it!
It’s a side dish that I would like to try for dinner this week. Sounds easy!
My husband loves mashed cauliflower. He’s going to be so excited to try this! Can’t wait to make it!
These cauliflower mashed potatoes would disappear in our house!
I love how easy and tasty this is!! So amazing!
This looks wonderful, love the melted butter in the middle!