I’m guessing that if your kids are back to school and you’ve been as busy as I have these past couple of weeks, then you probably need something easy to make for dinner! Since I also needed something easy to post today, hopefully this low carb recipe will benefit both of us!
Honestly, this isn’t even something I was planning to share! I was starving and super busy, so I threw the cauliflower into the microwave, intending to make the jalapeno popper cauliflower casserole. The thing is, when the cauliflower was cooked I didn’t even want to bother pureeing it.
I also didn’t feel like making the cream cheese mixture and slicing the jalapenos!
So I simply attacked the cooked cauliflower (which already had the butter and cream in it) with a fork, and laid some pre-sliced pepper jack cheese over the top. Back in the microwave for 2 more minutes and it was done!
I took a hurried bite because we were on our way out, and instantly was like “holy moly this is DELICIOUS!” and stopped to take a few quick photos so I could share it with you!
[pinterest text=”Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin (low carb and gluten free) from ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cauligratin2small-700×879.jpg”]
This is some no frills food photography if I ever saw it though! It was getting dark, and I had no time to set up to make it pretty either!
I promise, it tastes waaaayyyyyy better than it looks, and was so easy to make that it’s almost embarrassing!
[pinterest text=”Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin (low carb and gluten free) from ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cauligratin3small-700×420.jpg”]
Sometimes when life gets ridiculously busy though, you just need a simple, yet delicious low carb recipe that you can get on the table STAT! This is that recipe! Pair it with the protein of your choice and a side salad, and you’ve got dinner on the table in half an hour or less! Enjoy!
PrintEasy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin Recipe (Low Carb and Gluten Free)
A simple, yet delicious, low carb side dish recipe.
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 cups raw cauliflower florets
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6 deli slices pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- In a microwave safe dish, combine the cauliflower, butter, cream, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Microwave on high for about 25 minutes, or until tender. (Edit: There seems to be some confusion about this amount of time. Cook it til it’s soft. It takes me 25 minutes for this much cauliflower in my microwave, yours might be less. You can always start with 10 minutes, then 10 more, then 5 more if necessary. The key is to get it soft enough to mash with a fork. This amount of time also sweetens the cauliflower and reduces the cream and butter, making it like a thick sauce.) Remove from the microwave and mash with a fork or potato masher. Taste and season with more salt or pepper if necessary. Lay the slices of cheese across the top of the cauliflower. Microwave for another 2- 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve hot!
Notes
Approximate nutrition info per serving: 215 calories, 19g fat, 2g net carbs, 6g protein
Nutrition
- Serving Size: approximately 3/4 cup
[pinterest text=”Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin (low carb and gluten free) from ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cauligratinsmall-700×827.jpg”]
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Very delicious, rich and filling. Like others said I did not get 6 servings of appropriately 3/4 cup. I got 3 scant 3/4 cups. I used fresh in the microwave…..so easy. Next time I will double the cauliflower, half the cheese and adjust the nutrition. It was so rich I think I will be able to keep the cream and butter the same and not mash so much! I added a little garlic and next time I will try it without because the delicate sweetness was a little obscured.
★★★
This was soooo good! I only microwaved it for like 15-20 minutes because I didn’t want all of it to be mashed. I left a few chunky pieces that way it had texture. Very yummy.
★★★★★
This one was not my favorite. I loved the addition of the spicy cheese. It does give it a real kick and takes away some of the cauliflower flavor. But it was a bit too runny and wet and the consistency was off for me. This was the first time I’ve made this, though, and I’m truly OBSESSED with some of your other recipes – like your “Better Than Potatoes” creamy cauliflower puree. I’ve tasted so many fake mashed potato recipes that are super gross!! But that one nails it. It’s perfect! And I love your cauliflower risotto. So maybe this one just wasn’t as good COMPARED to the others. :)
★★★
So easy and my husband actually ate it and liked it!!
★★★★★
Made this using the instructions that someone provided for the oven. It was delicious! Will make again. Only minor issue I had was the the slices of pepper jack cheese kind of glued to the cauli in their shape. This made getting 6 portions out of the dish clean and perfect, but it was hard to cut the cheese when eating so I didn’t end up taking the whole slice in 1 bite. It might have been the brand or thickness I used (or choosing the oven), so I might just tear them up and toss on top next time.
★★★★★
Where are the oven instructions?! I would love to try it that way instead!
So coming from years of low fat dieting, it does kind of freak me out to see this much fat in a side dish. I am ok with eating more fat and know it is good for you, but fear I may go in the opposite direction and go towards too much fat a day which will stall weight loss. Let’s say I use this as a side dish, should I pick a main dish that is lower in fat?
Also I was thinking of adding rotisserie chicken and baking in the oven as you instructed previously and making it a one pot meal. Have you done this before.?
Loved this recipe!! I haven’t really been a fan of cauliflower but I enjoyed every bite if this dish!!
★★★★★
So glad! Thanks for letting me know!
Delicious! My 15 year old son said “That was cauliflower?!” It’s a hit!
★★★★★
Making this right now with chipotle cheddar. Made it the original way before with pepper jack. Yum OH!
Fantastic recipe, however I need some help. I made this but it did not make nearly the servings it said it would. I double checked to make sure I used 4 cups of cauliflower florets, butter, heavy cream but it only made about a cup of gratin.
Me too!! Wondering if I messed up somehow
Were we supposed to used two 10 oz bags of frozen cauliflower???
I made it twice now and only get 2 servings! No way it yields 6!
My entire family devours this every time I make it! Great recipe with dairy that doesn’t actually leave me with a tummy ache!
Thank you so much for this amazing recipe, even my picky 3 year old loved it!
★★★★★
I am in love with this! LOL I used about 5 cups cauliflower but left everything else the same. I don’t use the microwave much so I steamed the cauliflower until they were tender. Then I put them in a casserole dish and chop it with a fork. Added the butter, cream salt and pepper and gave it a good stir. I left some of the cauliflower a little chunky. I then laid the six slices of cheese on top and baked at 350 for about 20 minutes or until my cheese was bubbly and just browning a little. It is Delicious!
★★★★★
Thanks for your oven instructions. I prefer to bake my stuff in the oven too over the microwave. Gonna give this a go this coming weekend! And thanks to the author for the lovely recipe!
This is absolutely sensational! And something to always have on hand. The only ingredient I added was crumbled and ground bacon bits. The saltiness of the bacon popped it right up to amazing. Melissa, thank you so much for this site… I hate finding keto recipes but yours are so lovely to look at, it is a pleasure!
I tried this receipe for the first time tonight. I was short some of the original ingredients so I improvised. I had a bag of pre crumbled cauliflower that needed to be used soon. It eliminated much of the mashing required. I didn’t have pepper jack cheese so I substituted Asiago and provolone. The only cream I had was whipping cream so I used that instead. I also added bacon pieces and minced onion. Overall, it tasted yummy. I look forward to trying the receipe when I have the original ingredients. I think I need to reduce the microwave times. It may be altitude related. That you for the receipe!
Hubby does most of the cooking in the house. Ok. Fine. He does ALL of the cooking. I really s@ck at cooking. No kidding. Well, I made this and the ONLY mistake I made was in NOT closely following the recipe portions. Who knew that HUGE head of cauliflower would cook down to nothing?? Not this girl! it was delicious if a bit cheesey (see aforementioned comment re that not following the recipe). Planning to make this again this week! Thank you for helping this non-cooker feed her family of one teenage girl vegetarian, two ketoers (one is prediabetic), and two growing teenage boys! EVERYONE ate well that day…cheese and all! ;-)
★★★★★
Oh, yes yes, please…. I dont do microwave, I had this same thought….. Maybe 350 for half hour? Maybe 400 for 20 minutes? I dont really KNOW, but I THINK this will work…. I will try it and then (chemobrain permitting) I will try to remember to come back here and reply…. Ill try to remember, lol :(
ANy suggestions for making this with fresh cauliflower and NO microwave! Help please!!
Thanks so much! Making this tonight!!!