Spicy Crock Pot Cauliflower Mac & Cheese is an easy to prepare gluten free option for Mac & Cheese. Creamy, delicious and loaded with all the cheesy flavors. Low Carb, Gluten Free & Vegetarian.
*This post has been UPDATED with new pictures and a VIDEO but the text & recipe remains the same!*
With the cooler weather coming I’ve been pulling out my crock pot trying to come up with some savory new recipes. So this Spicy Crock Pot Cauliflower Mac & Cheese was created.
Now I know you can use the slow cooker anytime but for some reason I go through periods that I want to create everything in a crock pot.
I think it’s just the ease of throwing everything together and then forgetting about it for a couple hours.
This Spicy Crock Pot Cauliflower Mac & Cheese has definitely made me a crock pot user again. Can you say delicious with virtually no work involved other than dismantling a cauliflower?
If you’re not into the spicy thing you can always leave out the jalapeno’s and you would still have what I consider a masterpiece. Okay so maybe I’m a little be partial to cauliflower and cheese.
But I bet I can make a non cauliflower lover into a cauliflower lover with this recipe. And to think when I was younger I didn’t really care for cauliflower.
So try this Spicy Crock Pot Cauliflower Mac & Cheese and see if you can get the children to start enjoying their veggies again.
- And I do mean children of all ages
- This being a healthier version for mac & cheese
- Lower carb so you can have seconds
- Kid friendly
- Gluten Free & Vegetarian
And I’ve now included a video on how to make Spicy Crock Pot Cauliflower Mac & Cheese below:
- 1 large head cauliflower
- 1/2 stick butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup diced pickled jalapeno's
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
- 2/3 cup half & half cream
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
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Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil
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Break cauliflower into small bite size florets and carefully add to boiling water
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Cook about 5 minutes. Remove from heat & drain well. Add back to pot
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Add remaining ingredients and combine well
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Pour mixture into crock pot and cook on high heat approximately 2- 2/1/2 hours
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Remove from crock pot and place in large serving bowl
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Allow 10 minutes to cool before serving
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Top with paprika and additional cheese**
**you can top with any cheese of choice. This part is optional. I can tell you I tried mozzarella on top and that was really good.
I can’t wait to try this crockpot recipe. I love cauliflower and I have never had pickled jalepenos. I must look for them as well. Thank you so much for these recipes. I have Celiacs disease so I have to be very careful. But I love cauliflower and cheese.
You’re welcome Nancy. All of my recipes are gluten free since I’m following that diet. I’ve never been diagnosed with Celiacs but I know I started feeling a lot better when I quit eating gluten. I hope you enjoy this. It is one of my favorites and I think you can find the jalapenos pretty much anywhere. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Do you shred the cheddar cheese or just put in the whole block?
Hi Mimi, you want to use shredded cheddar cheese. After you pre-cook cauliflower and drain, then add shredded cheddar cheese along with other ingredients and mix well. Then just pour in crock pot. Hope this helps 🙂
Thanks
I love this new mac & cauliflower recipe! The peppers liven up the dish and making in the crock pot is easy! Thanks.
You’re welcome. Yes, the peppers give it a little more flavor although it’s also good without them!
Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables, add some cheese and spice and it’s heaven, must make immediately.
Thanks John! Mine too. Hope you enjoy.
I think I’ve discovered how I can eat cauliflower!! I dislike it on its own, but bet this would be delicious!
This is the most delicious, comforting dish I’ve seen all day — and I wish it was in front of me!
Thanks! It really is easy to make and so good.
I love anything spicy and this looks AMAZING! What a creative idea!
Thanks!
Half and half????
Yes Karleen. It’s half & half cream. Let me know if that answers your question 🙂
I make half and half by using my cream and adding water to it. 3/4 cream to 1/4 water.
Thanks for the tip Mindy 🙂
I’m trying to go completely gluten-free and this is a lovely dish to satisfy my comfort food craving.
I go through phases with my crockpot too, but everytime I start using it again, I’m like “why am I not using this all the time??” haha You’re right– it’s just so darn easy. You can make a delicious meal with almost no work. Like this one! This mac and cheese looks fabulous! Love the nutrition boost from the cauliflower and the pickled jalapenos are such a great idea. Can’t wait to pull out my crockpot and make this delicious sounding dish. Thanks!
You’re welcome Alyssa 🙂
I am a huge fan of veggie up classics and Im thinking this would fool my daughter! Delicious!
Perfect timing to discover this recipe as the cooler months are just hitting Australia now. I am going to have to give this one a go, looks truly delicious.
Thanks Sara!
Your spicy cauliflower mac & cheese is a gorgeous dinner idea during the week. Especialy now because I am looking for lent recipes for my mother in law. She likes western food and try different things once in a while. Thanks for the great share!
You’re welcome Helene!
I am trying to go fully gluten-free and this is a delicious and comforting option.
Hi Stef. I apologise if I’ve missed it but do you have a breakdown of fat, protein and carbs? I’m new to this WOE so feeling my way at the moment. Best wishes from New Zealand, Jan x
Hi Jan and you actually didn’t miss that. I normally don’t calculate that for recipes. I usually just follow a diet which includes mostly whole foods and is all vegetarian and gluten free. But I know some people need that information so I was Happy to calculate it for you.
Per serving: 6 servings
Fat: 25.09 g
Carb: 6.7 g
Protein: 9.3 g
Hope this helps and also maybe someone else may need this information as well 🙂
Thank you Stef. I really appreciate that. ?
This was AWESOME!! Thanks a ton. Do you have the calories per serving by chance?
Thanks RaeAnn and so GLAD you liked it. Definitely one of my favorite go to’s as well. And the calories per serving is 281.8.
I don’t see the need for the crock pot. Is it really necessary? Just seems like au gratin cauliflower–why is it called mac & cheese?
Hi Lana! Feel free to try it without the crock pot if you like. I have tried this recipe numerous times and this is the way it turned out best to me. The recipe was inspired by my love for mac & cheese and the reason I created it and called it that. When going gluten free I wanted a recipe that incorporated whole foods yet still gave me all the flavor of mac & cheese. Cooking it in the crock pot just intensifies the flavor.
Do you think I could use heavy whipping cream instead of half and half (& if so, the same amount?) thank you! Looks delicious.
Thanks Lisa and I think it would be fine to use cream instead of half & half. I would maybe just do 1/2 cup of that since it is richer. I haven’t tried it though so let me know how it works out for you 🙂
Hello, This looks amazing! I’m hoping my almost 3 year old that loves mac and cheese but hates veggies will like this. How spicy is it with the jalapenos? Do you think I could add them as a topping after it’s done cooking with similar taste?
Hi Shelbi! And Thanks 🙂 I hope your 3 year old loves this as well. And you certainly can add the jalapenos as a topping. I’ve actually made it both ways..with and without jalapenos. Love it both ways. To me it’s not that spicy but I love spicy food. But I would say for your 3 year old just leave them out and if you like spicy mix some in with yours.
How would it be with a diced jalapeño? I didn’t see pickled ones. Sounds wonderful!
Hi June, I’m sure it would be good with diced jalapeno as well. The pickled ones are sometimes referred to as nacho slices and a lot of stores have them where you see the taco stuff. Hope that helps 🙂
Hi, recipe looks delish, would love to try. Can I skip the step of pre-boiling the cauliflower and just place it directly with cream and cheeses into crock pot? I’m thinking that to boil first and the crock pot would maybe make it very soggy?
Thanks Sophia! It’s definitely one of my favorites. Actually by pre-cooking the cauliflower & draining it Well actually helps remove some of the moisture from the cauliflower & makes it less soggy, and easier to mix with the cheese. Feel free to try it that way but I think you’ll get much better results following the recipe 🙂