Lara Clevenger

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Home » Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

February 6, 2023 by Lara February 6, 2023

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This Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower is incredibly delicious! It is a great low carb substitute for mashed potatoes. You’ll love the smooth texture and the buttery garlic flavors of this cheesy cauliflower mash.

Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes in a white bowl with parsley on the side.
Table of Contents
  • Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
  • Why you’ll love this Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
  • Ingredients
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Tools to make this easy recipe
  • How to make Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
  • Stovetop Directions
  • Substitutions
  • What to serve with Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
  • How to store
  • How to reheat
  • Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash with Cheese Nutrition
  • PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

Making Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower in the Instant Pot is incredibly easy! It comes out so creamy and delicious every single time!

This mashed cauliflower recipe is one of my favorite low carb side dishes. It’s not only great for meal prep, but it’s so versatile as a side with dinner.

The cheesy cauliflower mash is adapted from my Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower. The addition of cheese makes the texture and flavor even more delicious!

If you miss mashed potatoes on your keto diet, then you’re gonna love this mashed cauliflower recipe! It’s honestly the easiest cauliflower mash recipe you’ll ever make! You may also like this Instant Pot Cauliflower recipe.

Instant pot Cheesy mashed cauliflower blended smoothly

Why you’ll love this Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

  • Low Carb Recipe – per serving there is 9g total carbs, 3g fiber and 6g net carbs
  • Quick Recipe – this is ready in under 30 minutes with barely any hands on time
  • Simple Recipe – this recipe is made with 7 simple ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store

Ingredients

  • Head of cauliflower cut into florets
  • Water
  • Butter: I used Nellies salted butter but you can use unsalted as well
  • Seasonings: fresh garlic cloves, kosher salt, black pepper
  • White cheddar cheese
ingredients of cauliflower, unsalted butter, garlic, salt, pepper, water and white cheddar cheese

Tips & Tricks

I tend to use a wooden spoon to stir in the cheese because it can get really stuck to the metal from the electric hand mixers.

Tools to make this easy recipe

For this recipe, I used my 6 QT Instant Pot. If you have a 5 or 8qt Instant Pot, you can use that as well. You will also need an electric hand mixer or potato masher.

Using an electric hand mixer to whip the cauliflower creates the best texture, but once I add in the cheese I’ll use a wooden spoon to mix that in. Cheese tends to stick to the inserts and is a pain to clean.

Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes in a white bowl with a white napkin on the side

How to make Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

  1. First wash cauliflower and then cut it into florets. Place a trivet (this silicone steamer trivet works best!) into the bottom of the instant pot. Add 1 cup of water.
  2. Next add florets on top of the trivet. Place top on the Instant Pot and make sure knob is set to sealed. Then hit “Manual” “High Pressure” and then set time for 2 minute.
  3. Once cauliflower has been cooked for 2 minute on high pressure perform a “manual pressure release.” Once all of the pressure has been release carefully remove the Instant Pot lid. Remove the cauliflower and the trivet, and drain out the water.
  4. Next turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add the butter and melt it. Once melted add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. 
  5. Then add in the cauliflower, salt and pepper. With an electric hand mixer, blend until smooth. Then add in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir with a wooden until cheese is fully melted.
instant pot with a a green trivet.
Place a trivet into the bottom of the Instant Pot
cauliflower in the instant pot with a trivet
Add 1 cup of water and the florets. Then hit “Manual” “High Pressure” and then set time for 2 minute.
cooked cauliflower in the instant pot with a trivet
perform a “manual pressure release.” Once all of the pressure has been release carefully remove the Instant Pot lid. Remove the cauliflower and the trivet, and drain out the water.
butter in the instant pot
Next turn the Instant Pot to saute mode. Add the butter.
melted butter in the instant pot
Melt the butter. Once melted add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
crumbled cauliflower in the instant pot with salt and pepper on top
Then add in the cauliflower, salt and pepper.
Instant pot Cheesy mashed cauliflower blended smoothly
With an electric hand mixer, blend until smooth.
blended cauliflower in the instant pot
Then add in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir with a wooden until cheese is fully melted.

Stovetop Directions

First wash the cauliflower and cut it into florets. Steam the cauliflower in a covered pan until tender.

Next, drain the water and remove the cauliflower. Add the butter and melt it. Once melted add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Then add in the cauliflower, salt and pepper. With an electric hand mixer, blend until smooth. Then add in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir with a wooden until cheese is fully melted.

Substitutions

  • If you do not have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead.
  • You can use unsalted butter instead of salted butter and add more salt to taste.
  • If you want a little heat, you can use pepper jack cheese instead of white cheddar cheese.
Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes in a white bowl with parsley on the side.

What to serve with Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

I love to serving this recipe with steak! Try my Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chuck Tender Filets, Air Fryer Ribeye Steak or this Air Fryer New York Strip Steaks.

If you’re looking to add a green veggie to your meal, try this Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus or this Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts.

If you are looking to try some other Instant Pot recipes try this Instant Pot Brisket or Instant Pot Beef Ribs recipe.

air fryer chuck filets with butter on top with cauliflower mashed on the side with a piece on a fork

How to store

Store any leftover cauliflower mash in a glass air tight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

How to reheat

Remove the lid from the container and place container in the microwave and heat for 1-2 minutes until warm. You can also warm it up on the stove top as well.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Mash with Cheese Nutrition

This recipe serves 4. Personally I like larger servings, but if you wanted smaller servings it could definitely serve 6.

Per serving there is 307 calories, 9g total carbs, 3g fiber, 6g net carbs, 10g protein and 27g fat.

If you look at the fat and start to freak out, don’t worry – you can reduce the fat if you want. Personally I eat a high fat, moderate protein low carb diet so I need the healthy fats in my diet.

The fat is coming from grass-fed cheddar cheese (Trader Joe’s has an amazing selection) and Nellies Grass-fed Butter.

If you’re looking to reduce the fat intake, reduce the amount of butter in this recipe. And you could also reduce the amount of cheese.

PHOTO COLLAGE OF RECIPE WITH THE WORDS "VIEW MEAL PLANS"
instant pot cheesy mashed cauliflower topped with butter and parsley
Print Pin
5 from 33 votes

Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

This Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower is incredibly delicious! It is a great low carb substitute for mashed potatoes. You'll love the smooth texture and the buttery garlic flavors of this cheesy cauliflower mash.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 9 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 307kcal
Author Lara

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
  • 1 cup water
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 oz white cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

  • First wash cauliflower and then cut it into florets. Place a trivet (this silicone steamer trivet works best!) into the bottom of the instant pot. Add 1 cup of water.
  • Next add florets on top of the trivet. Place top on the Instant Pot and make sure knob is set to sealed. Then hit “Manual” “High Pressure” and then set time for 2 minute.
  • Once cauliflower has been cooked for 2 minute on high pressure perform a “manual pressure release.” Once all of the pressure has been release carefully remove the Instant Pot lid. Remove the cauliflower and the trivet, and drain out the water.
  • Next turn the Instant Pot to saute mode. Add the butter and melt it. Once melted add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Then add in the cauliflower, salt and pepper. With an electric hand mixer, blend until smooth. Then add in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir with a wooden until cheese is fully melted.

Notes

I tend to use a wooden spoon to stir in the cheese because it can get really stuck to the metal from the electric hand mixers.

Nutrition

Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 816mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 70mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 1mg

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pin of Instant Pot Cheesy Mashed Potatoes in a white bowl with a white napkin.

Filed Under: Camping Recipes, Instant Pot, keto, Keto, Recipes, Side, Sides, Vegetables, vegetarian

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About Me

image of a girl in a pink jacket with fury hood smiling

Hi, I’m Lara! I’m a dietitian and I love to travel the US in my fifth wheel RV with my pups Stella & Loki. I share healthy, low carb and camping recipes along with my travel and bowling stories.

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