Mashed Cauliflower with Cream Cheese

You won’t believe how good this Mashed Cauliflower with Cream Cheese is! Creamy, smooth and addictive!

Mashed Cauliflower with cream cheese is a delicious and versatile side dish. You can simply eat it as an appetizer or use for making other recipes like mashed potato imitation! This dish also takes about 30 minutes to make- it’s almost too easy. It’s packed with nutrition and a great way to enjoy your favorite comfort food without all the carbs and fat.

This recipe for mashed cauliflower with cream cheese will leave you feeling full and satisfied, not guilty! Try it once and you’ll be hooked! This dish can be served as a side dish at any meal time, but it’s especially delicious alongside Thanksgiving turkey, roasted chicken or steak. You won’t even miss the real thing!

Benefits of Mashed Cauliflower 

• Low in carbohydrates – Contains much less carbs than potatoes. One cup of mashed cauliflower has 6 net grams of carbohydrates, while a medium potato has 26! This makes it perfect for people who want to eat healthier and manage their carbohydrate intake.
• Gluten-free – Some people cannot digest gluten, so for them cauliflower is a great ingredient.
• Pre-biotic – Can help boost the levels of good bacteria in our digestive system. It helps with constipation, diarrhea and even cancer prevention!
• Anti-inflammatory – Contains anti-inflammatory properties which are great for arthritis, heart problems and autoimmune diseases.
• Cholesterol-free – You can reduce your risk of high cholesterol simply by substituting potatoes with cauliflower in your favorite recipes.
• Low calorie – One cup has 25 calories, so if you’re big on counting calories this might be a great option for you!

What is Mashed Cauliflower?

Mashed cauliflower is a low-carb substitution for mashed potatoes. It’s made by combining steamed, boiled or roasted cauliflower with butter, cream cheese or sour cream. You can also use vegetable broth instead of dairy products to make vegan mashed cauliflower. Once you learn how to make this versatile dish, you’ll be able to serve it as a side or main dish.

It tastes, looks and feels like mashed potatoes but without the carbs. If you leave out the dairy products, it’s also vegan-friendly. It’s an easy recipe to make in large quantities so you can feed your family or friends with this healthy side dish that tastes like comfort food.

Is Cauliflower Keto?

Yes, cauliflower is keto friendly. There are many delicious keto recipes using cauliflower such as Bang Bang Cauliflower, Loaded Cauliflower Casserole and Cauliflower Stuffing. Mashed cauliflower with cream cheese is a low-carb substitute for potatoes.

Tips for the Creamiest Cauliflower Mash

• If your creamy mashed cauliflower with cream cheese is too watery, you can use a fork to gently press the florets against the side of the bowl and drain some of the liquid that way. Don’t press it into a fine mesh strainer as this will break up your cauliflower too much.
• If your cauliflower is quite large you can cut it into smaller pieces before steaming. I usually steam for about 15 minutes until it softens enough to mash with a fork. Careful not to burn yourself on the hot steam!
• Use regular cream cheese, not the light stuff. If you use light cream cheese your dish will have a soupy consistency instead of being thick and pasty.
• I like to add butter for richness and some freshly cracked pepper as a finishing touch.
• Chop up some chives to sprinkle on top for garnish. A little parsley or thyme is also fine.

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower or 5 cups frozen cauliflower, microwaved and steamed
1 tsp garlic powder
2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter
12 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded asiago cheese

How to Make Mashed Cauliflower

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

If using a head of cauliflower, wash and cut florets off. Place florets into a microwave safe bowl. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water, cover with a paper towel and microwave for 4-5 minutes and allow to steam for 2 minutes.

Remove from microwave and drain in a colander placed over a large pot or in the sink. (be careful, steam will be hot.)

Transfer cooked cauliflower back into a large bowl. Add garlic powder, salt, softened cream cheese and butter. Stir to combine.

Using a food processor with the standard blade attachment OR an immersion blender, puree mixture until smooth.

Spoon half of the cauliflower mixture into a baking dish. Top with half the asiago cheese. Add the remaining cauliflower mixture and top with the remaining asiago cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden, bubbly, and hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but will need to be reheated in the microwave on 50% power until hot throughout.

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Mashed Cauliflower with Cream Cheese

Yield: Serves 16

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

You won't believe how good this Mashed Cauliflower with Cream Cheese is! Creamy, smooth and addictive!

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Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower or 5 cups frozen cauliflower, microwaved and steamed
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 12 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup shredded asiago cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. If using a head of cauliflower, wash and cut florets off. Place florets into a microwave safe bowl. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water, cover with a paper towel and microwave for 4-5 minutes and allow to steam for 2 minutes.
3. Remove from microwave and drain in a colander placed over a large pot or in the sink. (be careful, steam will be hot.)
4. Transfer cooked cauliflower back into a large bowl. Add garlic powder, salt, softened cream cheese and butter. Stir to combine.
5. Using a food processor with the standard blade attachment OR an immersion blender, puree mixture until smooth.
6. Spoon half of the cauliflower mixture into a baking dish. Top with half the asiago cheese. Add the remaining cauliflower mixture and top with the remaining asiago cheese.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden, bubbly, and hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.
8. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but will need to be reheated in the microwave on 50% power until hot throughout.

Notes

Tips for the Creamiest Cauliflower Mash

If your creamy mashed cauliflower with cream cheese is too watery, you can use a fork to gently press the florets against the side of the bowl and drain some of the liquid that way. Don't press it into a fine mesh strainer as this will break up your cauliflower too much.

If your cauliflower is quite large you can cut it into smaller pieces before steaming. I usually steam for about 15 minutes until it softens enough to mash with a fork. Careful not to burn yourself on the hot steam!

Use regular cream cheese, not the light stuff. If you use light cream cheese your dish will have a soupy consistency instead of being thick and pasty.

I like to add butter for richness and some freshly cracked pepper as a finishing touch.

Chop up some chives to sprinkle on top for garnish. A little parsley or thyme is also fine.