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    Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes (With Video)

    Published: Nov 10, 2023 · By: Joe Duff

    Jump to Recipe

    These keto cauliflower mashed potatoes taste almost identical to regular mashed potatoes but only have 3 NET CARBS per serving! And they are so creamy, buttery, and fluffy that you'd never guess these cauliflower mashed potatoes are low carb.

    A white bowl filled with cauliflower mashed potatoes with two squares of butter and some melted butter on top. The balls on a white tablecloth on a gray counter and there is part of a wooden cutting board behind it.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How To Make Mashed Potatoes Keto Friendly
      • STEP 1: STEAMING THE CAULIFLOWER
      • STEP 2: MASHING THE CAULIFLOWER
    • How To Serve This Keto Cauliflower Mash
    • How To Store Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • What are good low carb substitutes for potatoes?
      • Is cauliflower keto friendly? 
      • How many nets carbs are in cauliflower?
      • What are the benefits of cooked cauliflower?
    • Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes | Easy Keto Mashed Potatoes
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

    With all the comfort foods out there, I don't think there is anything better than mashed potatoes. They go so well with pretty much everything and are guaranteed to please. 

    Of course, mashed potatoes use real potatoes and are super high in carbs, so it's a good thing these low carb cauliflower mashed "potatoes" can take their place.

    I mean, they're all sorts of warm, fluffy, and flavorful. What's more, they have such a buttery and savory flavor that you can't even taste the cauliflower.

    Honestly, this recipe makes one of the best keto side dishes - especially for Thanksgiving or a large family get-together - and since you only need a few ingredients and about 15 minutes to make it, you can whip it up anytime!

    A white bowl filled with cauliflower mashed potatoes. There are two slices of butter with melted butter on the top. The warzone a white tablecloth on a gray counter.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    • Cauliflower Florets- about 1 large head of cauliflower.
    • Cream Cheese- softened to room temperature. You can use sour cream instead.
    • Butter- I used salted butter.
    • Salt- just a pinch.
    • Black Pepper- to taste.
    • Fresh Chives- chopped for that classic flavor.

    Pretty simple ingredients, right? And make sure to pick up some extra cauliflower because you can use it to make this cauliflower rice next! It is another great side that goes perfectly with literally every meal you're eating. 

    Hawaii bowl filled with cauliflower mashed potatoes. The ball is on a white tablecloth on a gray counter and there is part of a wooden cutting board behind it.

    How To Make Mashed Potatoes Keto Friendly

    Another plus of this recipe is how simple it is to make! It is way easier than mashing actual potatoes, and way quicker too. 

    Also, before we dive into the recipe, don't forget to take out your cream cheese so it can soften a little ahead of time. And if you love gravy on your mashed potatoes, definitely give my keto gravy recipe a shot next.

    Now, let's make some low carb mashed potatoes! 

    STEP 1: STEAMING THE CAULIFLOWER

    First, fill a medium stockpot with 1-2 inches of water, add a little salt to it, and bring it to a boil.

    While you're waiting for your water to boil, you can cut your cauliflower into florets, and any sized florets will do. Then, once your water is boiling, place the cauliflower florets in it and cover your pot with a lid. 

    Next, turn the heat down to medium-high and boil for about 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender when pierced with a fork. Do not overcook the cauliflower; you just want to cook it until it is slightly tender. When the cauliflower is done, you can drain the water in a colander and return it to the pot. 

    STEP 2: MASHING THE CAULIFLOWER

    So, after your cauliflower is back in the pot, you can add in your softened cream cheese and butter. Then using a hand masher or immersion blender, mash or blend until everything is smooth. 

    Once it is smooth, you can stop mashing or blending - you do not want to overdo it because it will make everything too runny. Lastly, add in your salt and pepper and give it a good stir to mix well. 

    Then serve with a slab of butter and some chives on top. Enjoy!

    A white bowl filled with cauliflower mashed potatoes. The balls on a white tablecloth on a gray counter.

    How To Serve This Keto Cauliflower Mash

    These cauliflower mashed potatoes are incredible with a variety of dishes. Here are some of my favorite ones to pair with this recipe:

    • Keto Meatloaf
    • Keto Chicken Marsala
    • Keto Pot Roast 
    • Keto Chicken Pot Pie 
    • Keto Instant Pot Chicken Stew
    • Oven Baked Turkey Legs
    • Keto Salmon

    Now, my ultimate favorite meal is to have the cauliflower mashed potatoes with my instant pot carne asada, keto bbq sauce, and keto biscuits. 

    I know I'm biased, but it might be the best complete keto meal you can eat! 

    How To Store Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

    This recipe will make about 6 cups of mashed cauliflower, so you'll have enough for a family dinner and hopefully some leftovers for the next day. 

    If you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days! Since they last for a while and are so delicious leftover, I recommend doubling or tripling this recipe - then you'll be all set for the week! 

    And if you have leftovers after 5 days, you can transfer them to the freezer, where they'll last up to 3 months. To reheat, just pop in the microwave for a few minutes or defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in a saucepan. 

    Cauliflower mashed potatoes in a white bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are good low carb substitutes for potatoes?

    Cauliflower is the easiest and most commonly found low carb substitute for potatoes. But a few other low carb substitutes for potatoes are daikon (type of radish), celeriac (celery root), and kohlrabi (type of turnip). Give it a try with my roasted kohlrabi recipe.

    Is cauliflower keto friendly? 

    Yes! The great thing about cauliflower is that it is keto-friendly and versatile when it comes to food replacements.  For example, cauliflower is a substitute for potatoes in my keto zuppa toscana, and rice for my keto stuffed peppers.  

    How many nets carbs are in cauliflower?

    Depending on how much cauliflower you're talking about depends on how many net carbs there are. 

    Here is a general breakdown:

    • 1 Cauliflower Floret: 0.39 Net Carbs
    • 1 Small Head of Cauliflower: 7.44 Net Carbs
    • 1 Medium Head of Cauliflower: 16.08 Net Carbs
    • 1 Large Head of Cauliflower: 33.52 Net Carbs

    What are the benefits of cooked cauliflower?

    Cooked cauliflower provides many nutrients and minerals without many calories. It is also high in fiber and a great source of antioxidants. Plus, replacing starches with cauliflower in recipes reduces the number of carbs and increases your intake of vegetables. 

    Print

    Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes | Easy Keto Mashed Potatoes

    A white bowl filled with cauliflower mashed potatoes with two squares of butter and some melted butter on top. The balls on a white tablecloth on a gray counter and there is part of a wooden cutting board behind it.
    Print Recipe

    5 from 6 reviews

    These keto cauliflower mashed potatoes taste identical to regular mashed potatoes but only have 3 NET CARBS per serving! And they are so creamy, buttery, and fluffy that you'd never guess these are keto mashed potatoes. 

    • Author: The Diet Chef
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings
    • Category: Side
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Keto Low Carb

    Ingredients

    1 to 1 ½ lbs Cauliflower Florets (around 1 large head or 2 medium heads)

    4 Oz (112g) Cream Cheese, Softened

    2 Tbsps (28g) Salted Butter

    Salt, To Taste

    Black Pepper, To Taste

    Fresh Chives, Chopped, As Garnish

    Instructions

    1. Fill a medium stockpot with 1-2 inches of water. Add salt to the
      water and bring to a boil.
    2. Add in the cauliflower florets. Cover and boil/steam the
      cauliflower on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes or
      until tender. Do NOT overcook.
    3. Drain well in a colander and then return the cauliflower to the pot. Add in the cream cheese and butter.
    4. Blend or mash using an immersion blender or a hand
      masher until smooth. Do NOT over blend/mash. Season to taste
      and stir.
    5. Serve with a slab of butter and chives on top.

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 91.7
    • Fat: 6.5
    • Carbohydrates: 6
    • Fiber: 2.6
    • Protein: 3.1

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    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thejoeduff — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    About Joe Duff

    Comments

    1. Marissa says

      November 19, 2021 at 10:11 am

      The mash was delicious! I'll be making this recipe next week for Thanksgiving!






      Reply
    2. Amanda says

      November 20, 2021 at 2:58 pm

      Theses were excellent tastes very much like real potatoes!






      Reply
    3. Daniel says

      March 21, 2022 at 12:06 am

      I don't usually leave comments but this was absolutely fantastic. Definitely the best recipe I've tried. I did add some garlic to it and sautéd it in the butter for a couple. Made for a friend who is doing keto with me and they said they can't go back to mashed potatoes. Thanks again. Your sight now has my interest!






      Reply
    4. Tamara says

      October 14, 2022 at 11:56 am

      OMG....... so delicious! I've just discoverd your website and I'm hooked! Great recipes and video's. Yesterday I made the cloud bread, really really good. All the way from Holland..... thank you very much! I love to cook and bake, so I will be trying out many more recipes.






      Reply
    5. Dion says

      October 24, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      Terrific mashed potatoes substitute.






      Reply
    6. Carmella Goodman says

      January 11, 2024 at 10:38 pm

      Made this tonight. OMG it was amazing. At first I used a masher and I thought it had too much water still so I turned the burner on med and just keep stirring to cook out the water, then I threw it into my food processor for about 30 seconds until all blended. Perfection!






      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    Hey there! I'm Joe Duff - The Diet Chef, and I've been creating low carb keto recipes for over 15 years. Initally, I started making these recipes to help myself lose weight - I lost over 75 pounds doing so - but now I make recipes for the entire low carb keto community!
    About The Diet Chef →

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