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
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.
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This side dish was very good, mine didn’t take as long to slow cook, 2 1/2 hours it was done for us. Thank you Carole😘
Excellent recipe and taste! Made just as written.
I was able to use riced cauliflower and created a delicious side dish. Unfortunately I was out of bacon but that leaves me something to look forward to the next time
CathieD
Easy and delicious!
It’s so hard to choose because you have so many good recipes, but I think this might be my favorite of all! Creamy cheesy goodness when you want comfort food – you can’t beat this recipe!
Goodbye cheesy potatoes, HELLO Cheesy Slow Cooker Cauliflower! Just printed and will likely make if for dinner tonight! Thanks Carolyn!
Enjoy!
I love your recipes!! Take care of yourself!
This is fantastic. Even my non keto family and friends request it!
Sounds delicious. Have you tried making this in an Instant Pot? I live in a motorcoach and don’t like the idea of cooking for over 3 hours. I’d appreciate your suggestions and I always love your recipes!
This is one of my savory faves from Carolyn. It is also a family favorite and the only way some of my crew will eat cauliflower. Always turns out perfectly!
I’ve tried making cauliflower cheese “moch & cheese” several times. If I eat it within a minute or two it’s okay but if it sits it all it gets so watery. I’ve even tried pre-roasting the cauliflower. I’m wondering does this recipe turn out watery?
I think about you and your family everyday Carolyn. Just sending you a lot of love and emotional support from a distance!
I make this all the time. If I don’t have bacon I sub in diced ham. Great side dish
Hi I love this cauliflower casserole with cheese. Two questions:
1) will it taste as good without bacon?
2) I’m planning to cook it and bring it to a party for 12 in my slow cooker.
Any problem re-heating it when I get there? Or should I partially cook it and
then finish the cooking at the party? I’ll have about 45min or so when I get there.
Thank you! All my friends love your desserts too!
1. Yes, it will still taste good without the bacon. 2. I like the second option, partially cooked. The cauliflower will get less soggy and soft.
I ran out of time so cooked it on high for 2 hours, added the cheese, then another half hour on high. It was absolutely delicious! Thanks for all the great recipes, Carolyn!
Thank you for this! This recipe sounds amazing and a good way to get my kids to try new veggies! I do have a question, would broccoli work just as good too as the cauliflower? Thanks!
I followed to the letter and this was just a no go for us. Not sure what I expected but 3-1/2 hours later the cauliflower was not tender enough for us. It ended up zapped in the microwave and turned into masked cauliflower. Never have I had one of your recipes not be excellent.
Sounds like an issue with your slow cooker… you can see from the reviews that this normally turns out well. I wonder if your’s isn’t hot enough?