Cheesy Instant Pot Cauliflower

Easy cheesy Instant Pot cauliflower recipe can be made in Ninja Foodi too. Like macaroni and cheese keto style side dish everyone in your family will love. You can make something similar to this with our slow cooker cheesy cauliflower recipe.

If you’re looking for a great low carb pressure cooker recipe this cheesy Instant Pot mac and cheese cauliflower is a real winner! It’s now one of our favorite easy vegetable Instant Pot recipes on The Typical Mom blog. (participant in the amazon program, affiliate links present)

Cheesy Ninja Foodi Cauliflower Recipe

You can make it in any pressure cooker brand you have. I have made this as one of our Ninja foodi recipes too. You just need the high pressure function with the lid that is not attached for this and the pressure cook button. Served as a side dish at dinner time or a complete meal, I can never make enough of it!

If you have ever made whole cauliflower in Instant Pot you know just how quickly it works. You will want to cut this one into large bite size florets instead so the sauce can coat each piece well. You want an ooey gooey feel and look to it.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese Cauliflower

After it was made whole we also then made this Instant Pot mashed cauliflower with cooked cauliflower that’s been pureed. It’s not only yummy but fun too since it was purple! Then I thought about this macaroni and cheese cauliflower idea and had to try it as a pressure cooker recipe.

I don’t have vegetable haters in my house, but if your kids aren’t super excited about them I would encourage you to try fun new ways like this.   If you’re looking for comfort food in a bowl I’d give this cauliflower Instant Pot macaroni and cheese style dinner. It can be a lower carb option to those who are trying to eat more vegetables but still want to feel like they are cheating but you really aren’t. 😉

How long to steam cauliflower in pressure cooker

Following our vegetable cook time chart we ended up setting our pressure cooker to high pressure for 1 – 2 minutes. This is subjective according to how soft you like the florets. If you want still a bit of “bite” to them and not on the verge of falling apart then use one minute with a quick release.

Remember that there is a second cooking step to this as you saute the cream cheese sauce together and fold it in with your white veggie pieces. If you make them super soft to begin with they will continue to soften in the last few minutes and then won’t be the texture you want. Personally I feel one minute is best!

When it comes to Instant Pot steamed vegetables it doesn’t take long at all. You don’t want them to get mushy. I prefer to cook it a little less because when it sits, or if you add hot sauces like this one, it tends to soften even more when it sits but it is just a preference really.

Also, remember to quick release when the beeper goes off IMMEDIATELY! One minute means just that, no longer. Perfect Instant Pot broccoli is the same way. Walk away and let it sit for 60 more seconds and you’re likely to say “ewwwww” when you lift the lid.

Ingredient Notes

You want to start off with a Head of cauliflower with the stem & leaves removed, broken up into medium size pieces so they steam evenly.

Heavy whipping cream will make the sauce thick. You do not want to use low fat versions if you want that rich and creamy sauce. Same thing goes for the Cream cheese. You want “regular” that has been softened so it melts well.

Dijon mustard gives the sauce a bit of zing to the sauce. I am not a huge fan of this normally but gives it a swedish meatball sauce type of flavor that is out of this world delicious.

Cheese, cheddar sharp we love and it is great with a mix of pepper jack and white cheddar is fabulous too.

Garlic salt and pepper to taste is really all that I add after it’s done to avoid over seasoning. You will want a steamer basket for the bottom so the veggies don’t sit in the liquid and get mushy.

Variations

For a dairy free option you can find lactose free cream cheese at the store which is quite good. As a milk substitute I would use cashew milk or plain almond. There are a lot of cheeses to choose but cheddar is our favorite.

Can you make this with frozen cauliflower?

You totally could and the cook time wouldn’t change. Actually it would make this dish even faster since there wouldn’t be any cutting necessary. The head is already cut into bite size florets in this case. Just pour in the bag and continue with the recipe below.

Tips

Make sure you immediately quick release the steam after you cook on high or it will overcook quickly and get too soft. Add the creamy sauce with some salt and pepper and enjoy!

Of course you could make this without a pressure cooker. Just steam your cauliflower in a basket on the stove. Then gently boil the sauce in the recipe card below. Remove from heat, add your cauliflower, gently stir together and serve. Either way you’ve gotta’ make this!

Can you make macaroni and cheese with cauliflower?

Yes!! I mean kinda’, without the noodles. Mac and cheese is the bomb right? This is a way to make it a little less guilty but with the same flavors. You can use any type of shredded cheese on the top when done. Cheddar is a given but if you want to add some spicy use pepper Jack instead. Just steam the veggies, fold in with the sauce and enjoy.

Is cauliflower keto?

We don’t follow this diet, but many do so I wanted to add this bit of info. in case it is important to you. Yes, is likely the greatest low carb vegetable ever. I say it is one of the most versatile vegetables too with only 4% carbs it.

What’s probably the best quality about it is it has a very similar texture to potatoes, but without all the carbs. Believe it or not though, it also contains almost as much vitamin C as oranges! I know, hard to believe.

Other easy side dish recipes you’ll love

Instant Pot cheesy bacon ranch potatoes have a great sauce too or slow cooker cheesy potatoes with frozen hashbrowns. Our Roasted Cauliflower at 400 is great in the oven to make crispy. Instant Pot cauliflower soup is the perfect side dish to any meal really.