This slow cooker cauliflower recipe is rich, creamy, and oh-so-cheesy. With a sprinkle of crispy chopped bacon, it’s the ultimate keto side dish!
Okay, all of you cauliflower naysayers! I dare you NOT to fall in love with this easy Slow Cooker Cauliflower. You won’t believe how creamy and flavorful it is. Warning, you may like it so much, you will want to make it every day.
I kid you not. I created this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese in 2017 and it has been one of my most popular keto side dish recipes ever since. Sixty 5-star reviews can’t be wrong!
Just like cauliflower risotto and cauliflower potato salad, this recipe proves to the world how versatile and delicious this low carb vegetable can be.
Why this recipe is so awesome
The best slow cooker recipes are the ones where you just dump the ingredients in and walk away. I like to call them “dump and run” recipes. And that’s exactly how you make this cheesy slow cooker cauliflower. You do need to add in the grated cheese toward the end, but that’s it. There’s so little work involved and you end up with a super creamy, super flavorful low carb side dish.
It goes perfectly with all of your favorite mains like Air Fryer Pork Chops and Spinach Stuffed Chicken. And I can tell you from experience that the leftovers make a great breakfast, too.
And with only 4.7g net carbs per serving, you can dig in with gusto!
Ingredients you need
- Cauliflower florets: You can cut the florets from a head of cauliflower or get them pre-cut. I don’t suggest using frozen cauliflower as they will become mushy.
- Cream cheese: Cream cheese helps make the cheese sauce rich and thick.
- Whipping cream: You need a little liquid to help the cauliflower cook and become tender.
- Butter: Butter adds additional fat and flavor.
- Pepper Jack cheese: If you aren’t a fan of Pepper Jack, you can use Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese.
- Bacon: Because everything tastes better with bacon! You will need to have it already cooked up nice and crispy.
- Salt and pepper
Reader Reviews
“I made this and it is superb!!! Sometimes cauliflower recipes are not easy to pull off and make ‘tasty’”’. Carolyn has done it with this recipe! My daughter and grands (5,6,7yrs) LOVE IT!!! This is now added to MY go to side dish library. Thank you Carolyn for all you do! Makes living a healthy, keto friendly, lifestyle so much easier and FUN.” — Sandra
“This is perhaps our favorite side dish recipe. As a matter of fact, I’ve been known to have some of the leftovers for breakfast the next day! This is my idea of a “Breakfast of Champions”! Your talent, imagination and creativity in the kitchen never fails to amaze.” — Diane
“Girrrrrllll! I love this recipe!!! This recipe is my replacement for mac & cheese. Love that it is a crock pot meal. My family members loved it. I am looking forward to making this dish for Thanksgiving as a side side whichThank you for sharing and demonstrating one of many of your delicious recipes.” — Pamela
Step by Step Directions
1. Dump in the ingredients: Add the cauliflower, cream cheese, whipping cream, butter, salt, and pepper into a greased slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours.
2. Add the cheese: Add the Pepper Jack and stir to combine. Continue to cook another 30 minutes to an hour, until cauliflower is fork tender.
3. Top with bacon: Add the bacon crumbles and serve.
Tips for Success
Choose a cheese that melts well. I prefer grating my own, as it has no fillers and will melt more smoothly. But you can use pre-shredded if that’s all you have.
In a rush? You can also cook this on high for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
I do not recommend cooking this in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. The pressure tends to force too much liquid out of the vegetables, making the sauce too soupy and thin.
Frequently Asked Questions
For those of us following a low-carb diet, cauliflower is an excellent vegetable choice. It has a mild flavor so it takes on the flavors of the other ingredients. It is also low in carbohydrates and can be steamed, roasted, boiled, fried and grilled.
This easy keto “Mac and Cheese” is best the first day you make it, but the leftovers are good for several days. Keep leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This keto slow cooker pepper jack cauliflower recipe has 6.3g of carbs and 1.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.7g net carbs per slice.
More delicious slow cooker recipes
Slow Cooker Pepper Jack Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound (453.59 g) cauliflower, cut into 1 inch florets
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (59.5 g) whipping cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Instructions
- Grease the inside of a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker.
- Add the cauliflower, cream cheese, whipping cream, butter, salt, and pepper. Cook on low for 3 hours.
- Add the Pepper Jack and stir to combine. Continue to cook another 30 minutes to an hour, until cauliflower is fork tender.
- Add bacon crumbles and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Free Bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Sign up for your favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox plus get our FREE bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
What are the nutritional values?. Please
Please click through to the full recipe, they are all right there.
I can’t seem to view the nutritonal list either
If you click through to the Sweet Life website, it’s right under the recipe.
Carolyn, looks like you didn’t get a response for the link to the slow cooker liners. Here’s one: https://www.amazon.com/PanSaver-Cooker-Cooking-Perfect-Cholent/dp/B06Y25854T?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B06Y25854T. This one is for 100 which equals to $.33 each.
You can find them in most stores, Reynolds is the notable brand, they come 4-6 to a box and for different size slow cookers.
Thank you for all your hard work. I’m going to make this recipe tomorrow!
Slow cooker liner question!
There seem to be metal ones and plastic ones?
Any suggestions?
The plastic ones concern me a little, leaching chemicals?
LOVE this recipe! Had some left over and I keep sneaking a few bites as I pass the fridge 🙂
I also love rice pudding and was hoping for a “sister” recipe (slow cooker, cauliflower, cream cheese, etc) but ending up as rice pudding!! Anything like that in the works Carolyn??
Well there is an interesting idea!
I’ve ben terrified to try any cauliflour recipes bc I just don’t care for califlour. However, this one caught my eye and I think I’m going to go for it.
I didn’t have this cheese, so substituted sharp cheddar, but it was still very delicious. Great recipe!…and so easy…. My only problem was thinking ahead 3 1/2 hours before dinner to get it started.
Haha, I know. I have trouble thinking that far ahead too!
Love this, have made it several times. Great sub for macaroni and cheese or scalloped potatoes. Definitely should be in contention for best of 2017.
It’s a popular one so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on the list!
How much cheese did you use for this recipe?
If you click through to the recipe, it tells you. 4 ounces of Pepper Jack.
Have you ever tried it with something other than whipping cream. Low fat milk or fat free milk? fat free cheese?
The recipe sounds wonderful
I have not because I believe in a low carb high fat diet. But you can certainly try. 🙂
I know what I’m gonna cook this weekend ! Thanks for the share, looks delicious
Tried this recipe out and while we both have very different ideas of comfort food this has us BOTH hooked! Very very delicious!
Yum indeed! Doubled this for a potluck…people were scraping the sides of the crockpot. Fantastic!
Hi Carolyn, quick question…. would you ever consider creating meal plans like “Peace love and low carb”???
I just can’t get enough of your food!! It’s so simple and such a variety. I know there are thousands of people that would pay same if not more that the other website…. just a thought….
Kindest Regards
Rhiannon
It’s definitely something I am thinking about!
This looks sooo good! Checking out the recipe now!
I really want to make this but only have frozen cauliflower at the moment. Do you think that will work or will it get too mushy in the crock pot?
I think if you were careful to watch it and cook it less, it would probably be okay.
I REALLY want to make this, but the link will not work for me.
It works for me. Try a different browser?
https://asweetlife.org/slow-cooker-pepper-jack-cauliflower/
Just made it for the first time tonight — YUMMY! Thanks, Carolyn! Mine ended up being more liquidy than yours, probably because I used a 500g bag of frozen cauliflower instead of fresh. Next time I think I will use 750g. In any case, it was delish!
This recipe is un-be-liev-able. I tried it on the weekend and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I have two more cauliflower cut up in the fridge ready for another go.
I used to miss mac & cheese. I would take the pepper jack cauliflower over mac & cheese any day.
I think the EXACT same thing. WAY better than mac and cheese! YUMMYLICIOUS!!!
Thanks for another outstanding recipe. We needed a new slow cooker, after 15 years it up and quite, purchased an Instant Pot it’s a slow cooker, rice cooker, pressure cooker, yogurt maker all I can say is Best purchase we have made other than Wolf oven. Have used all of the functions mentioned, yogurt is great never buying it again. Pot is traveling as we head out in the travel trailer.
How much cauliflower did you use in this…roughly? Size of heads vary too much – sm, md, lg, or est of oz or cups would be cool.
Thx
Medium.
I am using my slow cooker a lot lately. I cook up enough meat to last us the week. I made your ginger bread cake recipe and it was fantastic. Beyond moist. I did have a hard time getting it out so next time I will line with parchment. Just bought a head of cauliflower so this will be on the menu this week. Thanks so much for the wonderful recipes.
Have you ever tried the slow cooker liners? They are wonderful! I use them all the time when cooking with my slowcooker. They are a plastic liner, so they probably wouldn’t stick. I love them because they save on clean up and you don’t have to use cooking sprays. You can find them in grocery stores usually beside the tinfoil, wax paper, cling wrap, ziploc bags, etc.
Oh my gosh, can you link me to those?
I use dollar store cooking bags cut to size
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=reynolds+slow+cooker+liner&crid=1T6JGLPB4ETA0&sprefix=Reynolds+%2Caps%2C228&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_9
I never thought of using nonstick spray in a crock pot. Do you think this would be ok instead of a plastic liner she for the cake? I try to avoid cooking with plastic….thanks!
The cake will still stick but that’s okay. I use it like snack cake where I simply cut it out of the slow cooker in pieces.
When I make it I just use parchment. Fold iy so it fits. Comes out & the parchment acts as a plate to catch crumbs…before they sneak into my mouth!
Can always put water in and put it on warm. Leave it on for a half hour to an hour. Right after that pour out the water it will take a lot of whats left on out and make it easier to clean afterwards. I use liners from time to time but there are mornings I forget or run out of them and someone sent me the trick awhile back. My husband and I split cleaning and cooking duties. If I cook he cleans and if he cooks vice versa. He had the same problem when we found the trick from a friend.