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The Best Low-Carb Cauliflower Cheese

Jo HardingUpdated 9 October 2023★★★★★4.7 (329 ratings)

Ready in 1h
7.2 g net carbs
475 kcal
Serves 6

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The Best Low-Carb Cauliflower Cheese (gluten-free, keto, primal)

Cauliflower Cheese is comfort food at its best and this keto version is one of the tastiest I’ve ever had. Topped with a speedy low carb crumb and fresh thyme gives it a special extra twist that’s sure to please. This is my healthier take on a traditional macaroni cheese!

Serve with your favourite side of protein or as an accompaniment with Sunday lunch. Roasting the cauliflower first makes it extra tasty. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Step-by-step

Preheat the oven to 180 °C/ 355 °F (fan assisted). Chop the cauliflower florets into chunks.
Place on a baking tray with 2 tbsp of olive oil, paprika and salt. Roast for 35 - 40 minutes until golden.
Meanwhile, make the Keto Cheese Sauce by following instructions here. (it's a double batch). Prepare the topping by mixing the flax meal, ground almonds, walnuts, thyme and ³/₄ of the cheddar (keep a little back to sprinkle on top) together in a bowl. Rub with the butter to form a crumb.
Place the cauliflower in an oven proof dish. Top with the prepared Keto Cheese Sauce, then flax topping mix, remaining cheddar and drizzle over 1 tbsp of olive oil.
Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until the topping is golden.
Top with a little fresh thyme to serve. For best results, eat on the day or store in fridge for up to 3 days.

The Best Low-Carb Cauliflower Cheese

Recipe

The Best Low-Carb Cauliflower Cheese

★★★★★4.7 (329 ratings)

This low-carb cauliflower cheese is a delicious and easy comfort-food dish. A healthier take on a traditional ...

Hands on: 20m
Overall: 1h
Servings: 6

7.2 g
Net carbs: 13.1 g
Protein: 43.9 g
Fat: 475
kcal

Ingredients makes 6 servings

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 °C/ 355 °F (fan assisted). Chop the cauliflower florets into chunks.
Place on a baking tray with 2 tbsp of olive oil, paprika and salt. Roast for 35 - 40 minutes until golden.
Meanwhile, make the Keto Cheese Sauce by following instructions here. (it's a double batch). Prepare the topping by mixing the flax meal, ground almonds, walnuts, thyme and ³/₄ of the cheddar (keep a little back to sprinkle on top) together in a bowl. Rub with the butter to form a crumb.
Place the cauliflower in an oven proof dish. Top with the prepared Keto Cheese Sauce, then flax topping mix, remaining cheddar and drizzle over 1 tbsp of olive oil.
Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until the topping is golden.
Top with a little fresh thyme to serve. For best results, eat on the day or store in fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition per serving

Carbs 6%Protein 11%Fat 83% of calories

Net carbs: 7.2 g
Total carbs: 13 g
Fiber: 5.8 g
Sugars: 4.5 g
Protein: 13.1 g
Fat: 43.9 g
Saturated fat: 18.5 g
Calories: 475 kcal
Sodium: 281 mg · 12.2% RDA
Magnesium: 82 mg · 20.4% RDA
Potassium: 623 mg · 31.2% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per serving	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Cauliflower, fresh	4.5 g	2.9 g	0.4 g	38
Paprika, spices	0 g	0 g	0 g	1
Olive oil, extra virgin	0 g	0 g	4.5 g	40
Salt, pink Himalayan rock salt	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Keto Cheese Sauce, homemade, basic (KetoDiet blog)	1.5 g	5.4 g	22.9 g	226
Flax meal (flaxmeal), ground flaxseed	0.1 g	1.1 g	2.6 g	33
Almond flour (blanched ground almonds, almond meal)	0.5 g	1.2 g	2.9 g	33
Walnuts, nuts	0.5 g	1 g	4.2 g	43
Thyme, fresh	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Cheddar cheese	0.2 g	1.4 g	2.1 g	25
Butter, unsalted, grass-fed	0 g	0 g	1.9 g	17
Olive oil, extra virgin	0 g	0 g	2.3 g	20
Total	7.2 g	13.1 g	43.9 g	475

Gluten free
Egg free
Pork free
Avocado free
Coconut free
Fish free
Shellfish free
Beef free
Pescatarian
Vegetarian

Serve it with

Dishes that go well with a gratin.

Comments & ratings (13)

4.7329 ratings

5 ★264
4 ★49
3 ★9
2 ★3
1 ★4

Virgil Hollis4 April 2020
Hi there, could this be frozen?
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor22 April 2020
  Yes, you could freeze this for a few weeks.
Kristina N7 September 2018
I wonder if you could use Bacons Heir bacon breadcrumbs to make the topping. I can’t do the almond flour. The bacons heir breadcrumbs are a great binder in meatloaf. Looks dlelicious. Ant wait to try it.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor11 September 2018
  I'm not familiar with those but based on what I found on Google they look like pork rinds and should be ok for keto.
Debbie V18 January 2018
Just making sure I understand—you use the double batch of cheese sauce in this recipe? Or just half the prepared cheese sauce? Thanks!
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor22 January 2018
  Hi Debbie, you should use the amount listed in this recipe above - that is equal to a double batch of my cheese sauce: The Best Keto Cheese Sauce
Stine3 January 2018
This looks good. Hearty and healthy at the same time.
Cathy2 January 2018
Do you use almond flour or pieces? In one place you have one and in the instructions you have the other.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor2 January 2018
  Hi Cathy, almond flour is the same as "ground almonds". There are, however "defatted" types of almond flour in which case I would specifically mention that in the ingredients. I hope this helps!
Vince2 January 2018
I'll admit to not being a huge fan of cauliflower. Even so, this dish looks really good. That says a lot about the recipe and your photography is great as well.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor2 January 2018
  I think you'll like it. I made a version of this meal (with bacon topping instead of the flax-nut topping) for my mum last time and she is not keen on cauliflower either. But she loved it! 😊
  1. Diane7 January 2018
    Did you just crumble bacon on top or did you add it to other ingredients. I think with the bacon topping I could get my husband to try this.
    1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor8 January 2018
      I added crisped up bacon bits in the cauliflower & cheese before baking it but I think that raw bacon slices on top would work too 😊