Loaded Cauliflower Mash (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

Loaded Cauliflower Mash is a delicious low-carb side dish that’s easy to make in the Instant Pot or on the stove! This recipe is inspired by loaded baked potatoes, and you can adjust the toppings any way you prefer for this tasty cauliflower mash!

PIN Loaded Cauliflower Mash to try it later!

Loaded Cauliflower Mash is one of my favorite low-carb side dishes to make with cauliflower. And I’ve updated the recipe so you can make it in the Instant Pot or on the stove. This cauliflower mash that’s a take on loaded baked potatoes is completely delicious and perfect any time of year.

I love the loaded cauliflower made with plenty of bacon, but you could make a tasty vegetarian version by replacing the chicken stock with vegetable stock and skipping the bacon. And if you’re not a fan of sharp cheddar, experiment with different types of cheese for the cauliflower mash!

The mashed cauliflower reheats beautifully too, so it’s perfect for making ahead and enjoying leftovers! If you’re a fan of loaded baked potatoes I hope you try this tasty loaded cauliflower mash recipe soon!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)

• chopped cauliflower
• chicken stock or canned chicken broth (affiliate link)
• butter (optional, but good)
• cream cheese, cut into cubes
• sharp cheddar cheese
• bacon
• green onions
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste

What is Loaded Cauliflower Mash?

The title of this recipe is a play on loaded baked potatoes, where baked potatoes are topped with butter, cheese, sour cream, and bacon. Those same flavors make mashed cauliflower such a treat.

You can make Cauliflower Mash on the stove!

I want to make it clear that you can make this delicious Loaded Cauliflower Mash in a pan on the stove. Just scroll down (or use the JUMP TO RECIPE link) to get to the complete recipe and you’ll see those instructions right after the Instant Pot ones.

Is Cauliflower Mash really low in carbs?

This recipe is a perfect low-carb or Keto side dish, with only 5 net carbs per serving and 7 grams of protein.

What Size Instant Pot did I use?

I use a 6 Quart Instant Pot (affiliate link) for all my Instant Pot Recipes. Check out my growing collection of Instant Pot Recipes!

How to make Loaded Cauliflower Mash (Instant Pot or Stovetop):

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. You need 2 pounds of chopped cauliflower and this is the perfect time to use one of those 2 lb. bags from Costco!
2. Use a steamer basket (affiliate link) with 1 cup of chicken stock or water in the Instant Pot and the chopped cauliflower on top of the basket.
3. Cook on MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE, 2 minutes, let it natural release for 1 minute, and then quick release. Keep the Instant Pot on KEEP WARM setting.
4. While the cauliflower cooks, cook the bacon, slice green onions, and prepare the cubed cream cheese and grated cheese.
5. Drain the cauliflower into a colander placed in the sink and let it drain well. Then put back into the Instant Pot with the butter and use an Immersion Blender (affiliate link) to puree to your desired consistency. (Be careful not to scratch the Instant Pot inner pot.)
6. When the cauliflower is as mashed or pureed as you prefer, add the cream cheese and 1 cup grated sharp cheddar and stir into the cauliflower until it’s mostly melted.
7. Then add the 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled) and 1/4 cup green onions, and stir into the cauliflower.
8. Season cauliflower mash to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper, top with a little more cheese, bacon, and green onions, and serve hot.
9. Scroll down to the complete recipe to see instructions to make Loaded Cauliflower Mash on the stove.

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

Loaded Cauliflower Mash would be a great meal served with one of these side dishes:

• Spicy Roasted Shrimp
• Skillet Chicken with Lemon, Green Olives, and Capers
• Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms
• Sauteed Scallops with Garlic
• Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce

Weekend Food Prep:

This recipe for Loaded Cauliflower Mash has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

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Yield: 6 servings

Loaded Cauliflower Mash (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes

Total Time 12 minutes

Loaded Cauliflower Mash is a quick and delicious low-carb side dish made in the Instant Pot that everyone will love. You can also make this on the stove if you prefer; see those instructions after the Instant Pot ones!

Ingredients

• 2 lb. chopped cauliflower (see notes)
• 1 cup chicken stock or water
• 2 T butter (optional, but good)
• 1/4 cup cream cheese, cut into cubes
• 1 cup + 3 T grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 6 slices + 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 cup + 1 T diagonally sliced green onions
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS:
2. Chop the cauliflower into largish pieces that are all close to the same size. (You can use them stem and core for this too.)
3. Put steamer basket (affiliate link) or other insert that will hold the cauliflower into the Instant Pot with 1 cup chicken stock or water. Put cauliflower on top of the basket.
4. Cook on MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE, 2 minutes, let it natural release for 1 minute, and then quick release. Keep the Instant Pot on KEEP WARM setting.
5. While the cauliflower cooks, cut the bacon into small pieces and cook until crisp, draining well and blotting off the fat as much as you prefer when it’s done. (I used pre-cooked bacon from Costco and cooked it for a little over a minute in the microwave, then blotted off most of the fat.)
6. Measure out the butter, cubed cream cheese, and grated cheese, and thinly slice the green onion.
7. Set aside some of the grated cheese, bacon, and green onions to garnish the finished dish.
8. Drain the cooked cauliflower into a colander placed in the sink and put the stainless steel inner pot back into the Instant pot. Let the cauliflower drain well, then put it back into the inner pot with the butter.
9. Use an Immersion Blender (affiliate link) to puree cauliflower to your desired consistency. (You can probably do this with a hand mixer (affiliate link), or even mash with a potato masher (affiliate link), but I have only tried it with the Immersion Blender.)
10. When the cauliflower is as mashed as you prefer, add the cream cheese and 1 cup of grated sharp cheddar and stir them into the cauliflower until cream cheese and cheese is mostly melted. Season to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper.
11. Then add most of the crumbled bacon and the 1/4 cup green onions and stir into the cauliflower. Check to see if the cauliflower is as hot as you’d like it, and if not cook for a minute or two on SAUTE/LOW to heat the cauliflower. (Be careful; if you heat too long or use too high of heat it will scorch on the bottom of the stainless steel pot.)
12. Serve hot, with the rest of the grated cheese, bacon, and green onion sprinkled over the top
13. STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS:
14. Put chopped cauliflower in a pan with enough chicken broth (or water) to cover.
15. Let cauliflower come to a boil, then lower heat and cook 20 minutes (or until cauliflower is as sort as you prefer.)
16. Remove pan from the heat and drain cauliflower well in a colander placed in the sink. (I let it drain 5 minutes, don't rush this or the finished dish will be watery.)
17. While cauliflower drains, cook bacon, slice green onions, and measure butter, cream cheese, and cheese as above.
18. When cauliflower is well drain, put back into pan and mash with potato masher (for a more chunky texture) or use a hand mixer or an Immersion blender for a smoother texture.
19. When cauliflower is as mashed as you prefer, add cream cheese and 1 cup grated cheese and stir to combine. Season with salt and fresh-ground pepper.
20. Then add most of the bacon and green onion and combine.
21. Check to see if the cauliflower mash is still as hot as you want it, if not heat it for a few minutes on low heat.
22. Serve hot, with the rest of the grated cheese, bacon, and green onion sprinkled over the top

Notes

Two pounds is about 9 cups chopped cauliflower.

This recipe created by Kalyn and inspired by loaded baked potatoes and Instant Pot Low-Carb Loaded Cauliflower Soup.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 156Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 30mgSodium 317mgCarbohydrates 9gFiber 4gSugar 4gProtein 7g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Everything used to make Loaded Cauliflower Mash is a low-carb ingredient and this recipe would be great for low-carb or Keto eating plans. If you’re strictly following the original South Beach Diet, this would be high in fat, although you could use low-fat cheese and cream cheese and go easy on the butter and bacon (or use turkey bacon) to make a version that could be an occasional treat on South Beach.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Check out Instant Pot Recipes for more ideas like this one! Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for Cauliflower Mash made in the Instant Pot was posted in 2017. It was updated with stovetop instructions in 2024 and was last updated with more information in 2025.

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