Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Cauliflower Mash Recipe | Wicked Spatula (2024)

An EASY Crock Pot slow cooker cauliflower recipe - just 5 ingredients + 10 minutes prep! Paleo cauliflower mash (mashed cauliflower) is flavorful, low carb and healthy.

by Maya Last Updated on 42 Comments

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Skip the carbs and enjoy this slow cooker cauliflower mash instead of white potatoes! I know, I know… major skeptic over here. But when you taste how flavorful and creamy Crock Pot cauliflower is, you’ll want to make it all the time. Plus, making an easy paleo cauliflower mash recipe in the slow cooker is a major win to save hands-on time and avoid heating up the house.

When I serve slow cooker cauliflower mash to my family and friends, many of them don’t even realize that they aren’t regular mashed potatoes. My favorite thing about this paleo mashed cauliflower recipe is how rich and creamy it is. The slow cooker makes the cauliflower super soft, which is just perfect for mashing!

Is Mashed Cauliflower Paleo and Keto?

Yes. Whether you make regular or garlic mashed cauliflower, chances are it will be paleo and keto friendly. Cauliflower is naturally both.

However, keep in mind that many of the best cauliflower mash recipes also include dairy, such as butter, heavy cream or cream cheese. You’ll want to avoid them for a paleo version. Fortunately, I have you covered with this easy paleo cauliflower mash recipe – and I promise it’s just as delicious!

How To Make Cauliflower Mash In A Slow Cooker

When you cook garlic mashed cauliflower in the slow cooker, the result is extra smooth and practically effortless. In our busy household, the easier, the better!

Here how to make cauliflower mash the easy (and creamy!) way, with just 3 easy steps:

  • Place cauliflower florets into the slow cooker with vegetable broth, garlic, and enough water to cover the florets.
  • Let the Crock Pot cook the cauliflower.
  • Drain the liquid, add ghee, and mash with an immersion blender.

TIP: You can also mash the cauliflower with a regular blender or food processor if you don’t have an immersion blender. Just mash it extra well, so you get a smooth and creamy texture.

  • Season your easy mashed cauliflower with fresh herbs and sea salt.

How Long To Cook Crock Pot Cauliflower Mash?

It takes 6 hours on Low or 3 hours on High to get the cauliflower perfectly soft. After that, just drain, add ghee and blend.

Season the easy mashed cauliflower with fresh herbs and sea salt. Serve immediately or leave in the slow cooker on warm until you are ready.

Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower To Make Slow Cooker Cauliflower?

Yes, you can use frozen cauliflower to make this slow cooker cauliflower recipe. This will still be the best mashed cauliflower recipe ever!

And unlike other cauliflower recipes, you won’t even notice a difference here if you use frozen florets.

How To Thicken Paleo Cauliflower Mash

If you run into an issue with your paleo cauliflower mash being too runny, you can thicken it.

The best way to make sure it isn’t too thin is by prevention. It’s essential to drain the water and broth off the cauliflower very well, or you’ll end up with a thinner cauliflower mash.

If you do run into the situation where your slow cooker cauliflower mash is too thin, here are two ways to thicken it:

  1. Add more soft veggies. You can add cooked carrots, parsnips, or simply more cooked cauliflower and blend again.
  2. Simmer it. If your paleo cauliflower mash is super thin, place it in a saucepan and simmer on the stove. This will evaporate off the liquid and should thicken it right up.

Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Cauliflower Mash Recipe | Wicked Spatula (1)

Crock Pot Cauliflower Variations

It’s not going to be a surprise to anyone that I like to change up my paleo recipes from time to time, so we never get bored.

I love this paleo mashed cauliflower recipe just the way it is, but sometimes I like to add some variety. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

  • Green Onions – Adding green onions add an entirely different flavor to the slow cooker cauliflower.
  • Bacon – Doesn’t everything taste better when you add crumbled bacon to it? So good!
  • Horseradish – Add a kick of flavor with a touch of horseradish. A little bit goes a long way.
  • Spinach – I love to add in as many nutrients as I can, and spinach is the perfect ingredient to do that. Cook it first so that you don’t end up with watery cauliflower mash.
  • Butternut Squash – This is especially good during the fall and winter months.

Can You Make This Paleo Mashed Cauliflower Recipe Ahead?

Yes, this makes a great make ahead mashed cauliflower recipe. Crock Pot cauliflower mash will last in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you like to meal plan or are expecting to have a large event, you can make up several batches and place in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

Allow the creamy cauliflower mash to cool to close to room temperature, then refrigerate or freeze.

TIP: For meal planning, I use glass containers with lids because they stack nicely and are easy to clean.

Can You Freeze Cauliflower Mash?

Yes, you can freeze this paleo mashed cauliflower recipe. It will last for 3-6 months in the freezer.

To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. To heat it up, put it in a saucepan, cover, and simmer until it is heated through.

What To Serve With Crock Pot Cauliflower

Take a look at these delicious recipes to serve with Crock Pot cauliflower:

  • Beef Chuck Eye Steak
  • Easy Authentic Greek Lemon Chicken
  • Dairy Free Creamy Mushroom Chicken Skillet

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4.94 from 15 votes

Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Cauliflower Mash Recipe

An EASY Crock Pot slow cooker cauliflower recipe - just 5 ingredients + 10 minutes prep! Paleo cauliflower mash (mashed cauliflower) is flavorful, low carb and healthy.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword crock pot cauliflower, paleo cauliflower mash recipe, slow cooker cauliflower

Calories 108 kcal

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com

Servings 6 servings

Recipe Video

Click or tap on the image below to play the video and learn how to make this recipe!


★ Review Print

Ingredients

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  • 1 large head Cauliflower (cut into medium florets)
  • 6 cloves Garlic (peeled)
  • 4 tablespoons Fresh herbs (minced; I used rosemary, sage, thyme, and parsley)
  • 1 cup Vegetable broth
  • 4-6 cups Water
  • 3 tablespoons Ghee (or grass-fed butter if not strict paleo)
  • Sea salt (to taste)

Click to convert between US & metric measurements:

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. Place the cauliflower into the slow cooker and top with garlic cloves, vegetable broth, and enough water to cover the cauliflower.

  2. Cook on Low heat for 6 hours or High heat for 3 hours. Drain the water and broth, and add the cauliflower back to the slow cooker.

  3. Toss in the ghee and use an immersion blender to mash.

  4. Season with salt to taste and mix in fresh herbs. Set on keep warm until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

Serving Size:1/2 cup

Video Showing How To Make Mashed Cauliflower:

Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Mashed Cauliflower!

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 108

Fat 7g

Protein 2g

Total Carbs 8g

Net Carbs 6g

Fiber 2g

Sugar 3g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

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FAQs

How do you keep mashed cauliflower from being watery? ›

If you find that that the cauliflower you make is watery it's because you are not drying it out properly on the stove after it's boiled. The trick to the perfect cauliflower mash is to drain it really well and let that water evaporate in a pan on medium heat for 5-6 minutes before it's mashed.

How do you thicken cauliflower mash? ›

Using a blender or immersion blender, blend cauliflower and liquid to form a very smooth purée. Season with salt. (You can adjust purée consistency as needed: Thicken by cooking down further while stirring often over low heat in a wide nonstick skillet, or thin by whisking in liquid, such as stock, cream, or water.)

Why is mashed cauliflower better than potatoes? ›

Nutritionally, cauliflower is lighter in calories and carbs than potatoes and is more nutrient-dense. That's why it's popular among the low carb and weight loss communities.

Why do you soak cauliflower in salt water? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

What can I use to squeeze water out of cauliflower? ›

Transfer the riced cauliflower to the center of a clean dish towel. Arrange the towel filled with cauliflower over a small bowl, then squeeze as much liquid as you can out of the cooked cauliflower. It might not feel like there's excess moisture at first, but you may be surprised by how much liquid is released!

How do you thicken Paleo sauce? ›

Instead of cornstarch, use arrowroot flour or tapioca flour. We found that arrowroot flour works well to thicken sauces and gravies and helps to lighten the texture of baked goods.

Why is my cauliflower mash grainy? ›

If the head is loose and there is a lot of visible stem, you will likely end up with a grainy cauliflower mash from the thick membrane on the outer stem. If using stems and they seem thick, peel them with a paring knife to get that membrane off and you will be rewarded with the creamiest cauliflower puree of your life.

Is cauliflower healthier than potato? ›

Cauliflower is lower in carbohydrates, offer more nutrients and has lower calories than potatoes. But if you don't have dietary restrictions, adding both cauliflower and potatoes to your regular diet can be beneficial.

Is cauliflower a carb or protein? ›

In 1 cup of chopped cauliflower, you'll get 5.3 g of total carbs, 3.2 g of net carbs, 0.3 g of fat, and 2.1 g of protein, per the USDA. Not to mention, you get 320 mg of potassium, making this vegetable a good source of the nutrient.

Is Bob Evans mashed cauliflower healthy? ›

Made with wholesome, quality ingredients and flavors, Bob Evans Mashed Cauliflower is designed to support your lifestyle, without compromising the delicious taste you'd expect from a homemade dish.

Which is healthier cauliflower or rice? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

Why is my cauliflower cheese always watery? ›

She said: "Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if it's in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery."

How do you squeeze water out of riced cauliflower? ›

Wrap the cauliflower rice in a clean tea towel or paper towels, twist, and squeeze as much water as possible from the rice—you might be surprised by how much water you can wring out, or you might not be. Cauliflower varies quite a bit in its moisture level, and this step ensures that it cooks well.

How do you make runny mashed thicker? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

Why do you add milk to boiled cauliflower? ›

You can keep cauliflower's white color and enhance its sweetness by adding 1 cup of milk when cooking it. Add a cup of milk to the cooking water and bring it to a boil. Add the cauliflower pieces and allow the water to return to a boil; gently boil for 3 to 5 minutes.

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