• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks

All Day I Dream About Food

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • FAQ
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Gluten Free » Cauliflower Mac ‘N Cheese with English Cheddar and Bacon

    Published: Jan 3, 2015 · Modified: Jun 29, 2022 by Carolyn

    Cauliflower Mac ‘N Cheese with English Cheddar and Bacon

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    21.8K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Creamy organic English cheddar and crispy bacon come together in a delicious low carb faux mac and cheese dish. Who needs noodles when you’ve got cauliflower? This post is sponsored by Kingdom Cheddar.

    Low Carb Mac and Cheese with English Cheddar and Bacon

    Pin It Button

    I have come to the realization that I have been sadly underestimating cheddar cheese for most of my life. Growing up, cheddar was the “basic” cheese, the cheese that we always had a big block of in the fridge but that didn’t really grab my attention in any big way. It was the cheese we put in and on everything. Cheddar was just there and I didn’t think much of it one way or another, although I liked it well enough. I thought cheddar was just cheddar, that it didn’t really have much variety apart from different brand names, but I was sorely mistaken. Over the past few years, I’ve learned a great deal about cheddar and how it varies place to place, region to region. And how the flavour profile changes with age and with the circumstances in which it was aged. It really is a remarkable cheese, with a long history and an amazing array of varieties. There’s nothing basic about cheddar.

    If you’ve ever had English Cheddar, you’ll know what I mean. England is, of course, the birthplace of cheddar, and English cheddar is very distinct from the American varieties. It can be quite sharp, which I love, with a nutty finish. I am probably doing English cheddar a great disservice by lumping it all in together under one name. I am sure it has as many distinct varieties and tastes as American cheddar, but I haven’t yet had the chance to sample English cheddar to that extent.

    Low Carb Grain-Free Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe

    I did, however, get the opportunity to sample Kingdom Cheddar recently, a British import that is the first and only European cheese to be certified organic by the USDA. This award-winning cheese is true cheddar, in that it actually comes from the Cheddar region of England. But it can be found on this side of the pond now and if you’re a cheese fanatic, it’s a must try. My little tasting tip: try it at room temperature. Cheddar really is best when it’s not straight of the fridge. The flavours mellow and mature and it becomes a little less sharp on the tongue. Check out where to find Kingdom Cheddar here.

    Healthy Grain-Free Cauliflower Mac and Cheese with Bacon

    I wanted to create a recipe with this lovely cheddar that really played up the English cheddar flavour, without overpowering it. I wanted something simple and healthy and easy to make. The Kingdom cheddar is very smooth and buttery, so I knew it would melt well and be perfect in a low carb cauliflower mac and cheese. I added a little bacon for a heartier dish, and in the hopes that it would entice my kids to eat some. My middle child loved it and has already asked me to make some again, which I will happily do. This was a wonderfully satisfying veggie dish full of great English Cheddar flavour. Noodles and mild cheese need not apply.

    PS – the leftovers make a great breakfast!

    Cauliflower Mac ‘N Cheese with English Cheddar and Bacon

    Creamy organic English cheddar and crispy bacon come together in a delicious low carb faux mac and cheese dish. Who needs noodles when you've got cauliflower? This post is sponsored by Kingdom Cheddar.
    4.64 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 304kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium head cauliflower
    • 6 slices bacon chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 cup whipping cream
    • 5 ounces good English Cheddar such as Kingdom, grated
    • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ cup sliced green onion

    Instructions

    • Cut cauliflower into florets and place into a large pot with about 1 inch of water in the bottom. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and steam until it can be pierced with a fork but isn't mushy, 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Drain well, then return to the warm pot for a few minutes to draw out more moisture. Drain again.
    • Meanwhile, add bacon to the pot and cook over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but 2 tablespoon of bacon grease from the pot and return to heat.
    • Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then add whipping cream and bring to just a simmer. Add the cheddar and stir until melted.
    • Remove from heat and quickly whisk in xanthan gum to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Preheat oven to 350F.
    • Using your fingers, shred cauliflower into small macaroni-sized pieces and place in the bottom of a casserole dish or a cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with bacon. Pour cheese sauce evenly over the cauliflower and top with additional grated cheese, if desired.
    • Bake until bubbly and browned on top, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions and serve.

    Notes

    Serves 6. Each serving has 7.77 g of carbs and 2.17 g of fiber. Total NET CARBS = 5.6 g.
    Food energy: 304kcal
    Saturated fatty acids: 15.31g
    Total fat: 24.54g
    Calories from fat: 220
    Cholesterol: 87mg
    Carbohydrate: 7.77g
    Total dietary fiber: 2.17g
    Protein: 11.41g
    Sodium: 456mg
    Nutrition Facts
    Cauliflower Mac ‘N Cheese with English Cheddar and Bacon
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 304 Calories from Fat 221
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 24.54g38%
    Saturated Fat 15.31g77%
    Cholesterol 87mg29%
    Sodium 456mg19%
    Carbohydrates 7.77g3%
    Fiber 2.17g9%
    Protein 11.41g23%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Low Carb Cauli Mac with English Cheddar and Bacon

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kingdom Cheddar. As always, all thoughts, opinions, recipes, photography, random tangents and incoherent ramblings are my own.

    21.8K shares

    free email series

    Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!


    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

    Reader Interactions

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Lori says

      January 23, 2023 at 6:25 pm

      Hi Carolyn,
      Discovered your channel on YouTube and love it. I try to follow a low carb diet, but not a fan of high fat. I eat a fair amount of protein. Wanted to know if I could substitute avocado oil for the butter in your Mug brownie for one recipe? Same for the Chocolate chip cookie for one recipe.
      Lori

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 23, 2023 at 9:59 pm

        Sure, that works in the brownies and cookies.

        Reply
    2. Christi says

      December 28, 2022 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this. Such wonderful comfort food.

      Reply
    3. Debbie Sue says

      October 22, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy!!!

      Reply
    4. Gretchen says

      February 01, 2022 at 8:34 am

      5 stars
      Oh my word this was amazing! Even my teen daughter that despises just about everything keto I make really liked this! The cheese sauce is soooo good!

      Reply
    5. Edith says

      September 08, 2019 at 7:50 pm

      5 stars
      Made this dish with regular cheddar! It was awesome! Kids loved it. Will keep an eye out for Kingdom cheese. I’m hooked on your delicious food and the family…all happy Keto campers.

      Reply
    6. Jane says

      September 10, 2018 at 6:50 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was comparable to a gourmet restaurant Mac n cheese I had on holiday in New Brunswick. Your version was fabulous! There is no way I could eat more than one portion though, as it is very rich. Thanks very much Carolyn for making low carb eating so damn exciting!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 10, 2018 at 7:42 pm

        I am so glad to hear that!

        Reply
    7. Pam says

      June 08, 2018 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      Prepared this dish to take to a picnic. Picnic got rained out so our kids were forced to eat grilled chicken and Cauliflower Mac’ n Cheese. By kids, I mean our adult children, who happen to be some very picky eaters. They loved this cauliflower dish! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
    8. Lisa Lilly says

      March 24, 2018 at 10:49 pm

      I served this tonight, paired with your BBQ Meat Balls, for an extended family dinner, and everyone LOVED it! They’re not even keto eaters. 🙂 And BTW, I found Kingdom cheese at Costco. Thank you for your lovely recipes. Just got your Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen cookbook and look forward to getting the next one soon!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 25, 2018 at 6:41 am

        Thanks, Lisa!

        Reply
    9. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

      March 24, 2018 at 6:08 am

      5 stars
      I love the idea of using cauliflower in place of noodles and the English cheddar! Delish!

      Reply
    10. Gerry Speirs says

      March 23, 2018 at 12:00 am

      5 stars
      Perfectly healthy 🙂

      Reply
    11. Cookin Canuck says

      March 22, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      LOVE that you use English Cheddar – the sharper, the better in my opinion!

      Reply
    12. Lindsay Cotter says

      March 22, 2018 at 6:33 pm

      5 stars
      Simple, healthy, and delicious! I love everything about this cauliflower mac ‘n cheese!

      Reply
    13. Liz says

      March 22, 2018 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      Ooooh, I keep away from pasta dishes, but do have a love of mac and cheese! I can’t wait to try this yummy, low carb version!!!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    FREE Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!

    NEW E-COOKBOOK!
    The cover of Easy Dairy-Free Keto Desserts ebook.

    Carolyn Portrait

    Looking for the best low carb recipes? You’ve come to the right place! I’m Carolyn, a major carnivore and an unrepentant sweet tooth. Here you will find all you need to enjoy the low carb keto lifestyle to the fullest! Read more

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 · ALL DAY I DREAM ABOUT FOOD · DISCLOSURE POLICY · PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright© 2023