This Instant Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Soup is keto friendly, but also delightfully lush and creamy, with a rich flavor that will keep you coming back for more. Make this low carb cauliflower soup in just minutes in your Instant Pot, but it also works on the stovetop or in a slow cooker! Vegetarian too!
This incredibly easy Instant Pot Keto Cheesy Cauliflower Soup was well received even by the sworn cauliflower haters! If you already love cauliflower, then you’re never going to want to stop eating this rich, yet mellow Keto cauliflower soup.
I ate it for lunch three days straight and was still sad when it was gone. True story.
Rich and satisfying on its own, this Instant Pot Keto Cauliflower Soup makes a fantastic first course when you’re entertaining. Because it’s so flavorful and luxe, a little goes a long way – so a 1 cup serving would be just right. It reheats beautifully, so you can make it a day or two before your event and then just heat right before serving to your guests.
To make this very white keto cauliflower soup more attractive and add a little texture, I fried up some thin slices of garlic to garnish it with in these pictures. It not only made it look prettier, but the fried garlic was really tasty in the soup as well.
A nice touch especially when you are serving this Instant Pot keto cauliflower soup to guests – just be careful not to overcook the garlic, or it will be very bitter and not at all appetizing.
I used horseradish cheddar for the cheese in this Instant Pot Keto Cauliflower Soup, and while the horseradish flavor wasn’t overly forward I loved the slight tang that it delivered. That being said, you could absolutely use another type of cheese to flavor your version of this keto cauliflower soup!
I recommend a strongly flavored cheese for best results – a good quality sharp cheddar, smoked cheddar or smoked gouda, or even a nice Asiago would be lovely.
This Cheesy Instant Pot Keto Cauliflower Soup recipe is vegetarian as written – but you could absolutely punch up the flavor even more by replacing the water with chicken stock (the final soup color will be more golden) and throwing some crumbled cooked bacon on top to garnish.
Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup – Keto, Low Carb
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
Description
This Instant Pot Keto Cauliflower Soup is delightfully lush and creamy, with a rich flavor that will keep you coming back for more! Stovetop and slow cooker instructions also included below. Low carb & vegetarian.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 6 cups raw cauliflower florets
- 2 1/2 cups water (use 3 cups for slow cooker or stove top instructions)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (horseradish cheddar)
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 1 clove garlic sliced thin and fried in oil (optional garnish)
Instructions
To make in the Instant Pot:
- Combine the raw garlic, cauliflower, water, salt, pepper, and mustard powder in the Instant Pot.
- Set to Manual / high / 10 minutes.
- When finished, vent using the quick release.
- After all steam has been released, remove cover.
- Stir in mascarpone and shredded cheese.
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. (alternatively, transfer to a traditional blender and blend until smooth.)
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Serve hot.
- Optional – Garnish with fried garlic immediately before serving if desired.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To make in a slow cooker:
- Combine the raw garlic, cauliflower, 3 cups of water, salt, pepper, and mustard powder in your slow cooker.
- Set to low and cook for 4 – 6 hours.
- Stir in the mascarpone and shredded cheese.
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. (alternatively, transfer to a traditional blender and blend until smooth.)
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Serve hot.
To make on the stovetop:
- Combine the raw garlic, cauliflower, 3 cups of water, salt, pepper, and mustard powder in a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.
- Stir in the mascarpone and shredded cheese.
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. (alternatively, transfer to a traditional blender and blend until smooth.)
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Net carbs per 1.5 cup serving = 5g
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Keto Soup Recipes
- Method: Instant Pot
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups (or 1 cup for starter)
- Calories: 275
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
Keywords: Instant Pot, soup, cauliflower, easy, low carb, keto, vegetarian
Trish W says
This soup was the best cauliflower soup by far. Wow is all I can say! I could have eaten a lot more, but leftovers for tomorrow! Way to go Mellissa!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Trish, glad you loved it!
Marjorie E Minear says
Thank you for another wonderful recipe. Amazingly simple and delicious.
You can’t buy mascarpone here so i used some ricotta and a bit of cream. Also couldn’t find the cheese with the horseradish so i added just a little creamy horseradish.
Valerie says
I make a very similar soup and top it with toasted sliced almonds and baby cauliflower florets that I’ve crisped in brown butter. YUM!
Laurel says
I made this using the slow cooker method. Although I love horseradish, I was hesitant to use it here, so I used xxx sharp white cheddar and just a touch of smoked gouda instead. I subbed half the water for chicken broth, doubled the garlic (always), and topped it with cilantro and green onion. SO GOOD!! And so simple and easy to adapt. I will definitely make this again. Thanks!
★★★★★
Tiffany says
First of all, let me say I’ve made several of your recipes and I’m officially OBSESSED. I haven’t met a bad recipe yet, so I graciously thank you for your knowledge, time and tastebuds! This particular recipe I made, adding fresh cilantro and a touch of nutmeg. Omg! I could DRINK this soup! Fyi I made it stovetop w frozen, microwave-in-bag cauliflower. And threw it in the food processor to blend. Just great! Like every other recipe I’ve tried! Thanks so much!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I love the idea of cilantro and nutmeg in this – sounds divine!
Inge says
I’d love to make this soup, it looks delicious and I’ve made your butternut soup last week, which was a winner. I’m struggling to figure out approx how many grams of cauliflower florets are needed? I’ve tried converting the 6 cups to grams on a few websites, but the answers vary so much. It would be amazing if you could let me know how much is needed.
Nicole says
Wow!! This was easy and wonderful!
Turned out very velvety and creamy?!! Made on the stove top , double batch with 3 bags frozen cauliflower rice and cream cheese instead of mascarpone ( I can only imagine how good that would be!! Elegant!) as I was out of it. I added the boullion cubes and some onion powder to the garlic and mustard powder. Just perfect! Again thank you so much! You’re the best!!
★★★★★
MZK says
This is delicious with cauliflower! Will it work with broccoli?
Vivien De La Paz says
The horseradish cheddar was a bit strong to my taste. I’d love to make this with a different cheddar. Otherwise, really good and really easy to make! I topped it off with bacon crumbles & more cheese : )
★★★★
Estelle says
Even better than I hoped.
★★★★★
Marilyn Nawara says
This soup would be good for a cold winter day = https://www.pinterest.com/pin/425308758557334619/
Kimberly Samoyedny says
This sounds so good! Can’t wait to make it.
sarah alexis says
I just love when a recipe is incredibly easy and tastes amazing too! Win win!!!!
Chylene Chartier says
Amazing tastey soup!
Anne says
This looks amazing! I look forward to trying it!
Starla says
Oh man this looks and sounds so delicious! I love the added garlic.. I can’t wait to get my hands on the instant pot! I would definitely be trying out some soups first from your collection!
★★★★★
Mel says
In the IP directions don’t you need water added at first to pressure cook it?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes. And the directions call for the water to be added along with the cauliflower and other ingredients listed.