Updated June 2026
If you have been missing proper comfort food on keto, this keto cauliflower cheese recipe with bacon is a proper low-carb Sunday dinner win. I have made it hundreds of times now and can practically make it on auto-pilot, this recipe is always a people pleaser!
It is rich, creamy, cheesy and made without flour, using cream cheese, double cream and grated cheese for that classic cauliflower cheese feel.
I usually use Red Leicester cheese for its gorgeous golden colour and slightly stronger flavour, but cheddar works seriously well too. Serve it with roast chicken or beef, steak or sausages or add cooked chicken before baking to turn it into a full keto cauliflower casserole.
Quick keto note: Red Leicester gives this cauliflower cheese a lovely golden colour and a slightly stronger flavour, but mature cheddar also works well if that is what you already have in the fridge.
Why You’ll Love This Keto Cauliflower Cheese
- No flour needed: the sauce is made with cream cheese, double cream and melted cheese instead of a traditional white sauce.
- Proper comfort food: it is rich, creamy and cheesy without feeling like a sad “diet” side dish.
- Made and tested loads: I have made this hundreds of times, so it is one of those reliable recipes I can practically cook on auto-pilot.
- Red Leicester works beautifully: it gives the bake a gorgeous golden colour and a slightly stronger flavour than mild cheddar.
- Easy to adapt: serve it as a side dish or add cooked chicken before baking to turn it into a full keto cauliflower casserole.
Can You Make Cauliflower Cheese Without Flour?
Yes, absolutely. This keto cauliflower cheese without flour still tastes rich, creamy and comforting because the sauce is thickened with full-fat cream cheese, double cream and plenty of melted cheese instead of a traditional flour-based white sauce.
The result is a thick, cheesy sauce that coats the cauliflower properly without making the dish feel heavy or gloopy. Add crispy bacon lardons and spring onions, and you have a low-carb cauliflower cheese that feels like proper comfort food.
Ingredients For Keto Cauliflower Cheese With Bacon
You only need a handful of easy UK supermarket ingredients to make this keto cauliflower cheese with bacon: cauliflower, bacon lardons, spring onions, full-fat soft cheese, double cream and grated cheese.
The key thing is to use full-fat ingredients, as they help create a thick, creamy sauce without needing flour. Low-fat soft cheese or single cream can make the sauce thinner and less satisfying, so this is one recipe where the richer ingredients really do work best.
Use one large cauliflower, chopped into florets. Try to keep the pieces fairly even so they cook at the same speed.
This helps create a thick, creamy sauce without needing flour. Full-fat soft cheese works best for keto.
Double cream makes the sauce rich and silky. Use a little less if you prefer a thicker bake.
Cheddar gives a classic flavour, while Red Leicester adds colour and a slightly stronger taste.
Crispy bacon adds saltiness, texture and that proper comfort food flavour. Pancetta or chopped streaky bacon works too.
These add freshness and a little bite to balance the rich, creamy cheese sauce.
Sim’s tip: Don’t overboil the cauliflower. You want it just tender, not mushy, because it will carry on cooking in the oven. Soggy cauliflower cheese is a crime against Sunday dinner.
How to Make Keto Cauliflower Cheese
This recipe is simple once you break it down. Cook the cauliflower, crisp the bacon, mix the creamy cheese sauce, then bake until golden and bubbling.
- Prepare the cauliflower: Chop the cauliflower into florets and cook in boiling water for 5–10 minutes, until just tender.
- Crisp the bacon: Fry the bacon lardons in a little butter until golden and crispy, then drain on kitchen paper.
- Make the cheese mixture: In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, double cream, grated cheese and sliced spring onions.
- Combine everything: Add the cooked cauliflower and crispy bacon to the cheese mixture and stir until well coated.
- Bake: Spoon into a large oven-proof dish, top with extra grated cheese and bake at 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas Mark 6 for around 25 minutes.
- Serve: Let it sit for a few minutes before serving so the sauce settles slightly.
Keto Cauliflower Cheese With Bacon
Equipment
- Large Oven-proof Dish
- Frying Pan
- Large saucepan
- Large mixing bowl
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Spatula
- Spoon
- Kitchen paper
Ingredients
- 1 Large Cauliflower cut into florets – or finer
- 4-5 Whole Spring Onions finely sliced
- 1 tsp Butter for frying the bacon lardons
- 150 grams Cheddar or Red Leicester cheese grated, plus extra for topping if liked
- 250 ml Double Cream heavy cream in the US
- 200 grams Full-fat cream cheese soft cheese
- 200 grams Bacon Lardons or chopped streaky bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas Mark 6.
- Cut the cauliflower into florets and cook in a pan of boiling water for 5–10 minutes, until just tender. Drain well and leave to steam dry for a minute.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, melt the butter in a frying pan and fry the bacon lardons until golden and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, double cream, grated cheese and sliced spring onions.
- Add the crispy bacon lardons to the cheese mixture and stir well.
- Add more double cream if necessary to make the mix more malleable.
- Add the drained cauliflower to the bowl and gently mix until the florets are coated in the creamy cheese sauce.
- Transfer the mixture to a large oven-proof dish and sprinkle extra grated cheese over the top, if using.
- Bake on the middle shelf for around 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Leave to stand for a few minutes before serving. Store any leftovers in the fridge and reheat thoroughly.
Notes
Recipe Notes
This keto cauliflower cheese makes 6 generous servings and works well as a low-carb side dish or a filling main meal.- Net carbs: Approximately 5g net carbs per serving, based on 6 servings.
- Drain the cauliflower well: Too much water can make the cheese sauce thinner.
- For a thicker bake: Use slightly less double cream or let the dish stand for a few minutes before serving.
- For extra flavour: Use Red Leicester, mature cheddar or a mix of cheeses.
- For a crunchy topping: Sprinkle crushed pork rinds and extra grated cheese over the top before baking.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Freeze portions for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven for the best texture.
My Best Tips for Creamy Keto Cauliflower Cheese
- Drain the cauliflower well: too much water can make the sauce thinner and stop it clinging properly to the florets.
- Do not overcook the cauliflower: cook it until just tender, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Use full-fat ingredients: full-fat soft cheese and double cream give the best texture for a keto cheese sauce.
- Let it rest before serving: a few minutes on the side helps the sauce settle and thicken slightly.
- Add extra cheese on top: because the golden, bubbling topping is obviously the best bit.
Easy Keto Cauliflower Cheese Variations
Once you have the basic recipe sorted, you can easily turn this keto cauliflower cheese into something a bit different depending on what you have in the fridge.
| Variation | What to add | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded cauliflower cheese | Extra bacon, spring onions and more grated cheese | Gives the dish more flavour, texture and proper comfort-food appeal. |
| Keto chicken cauliflower casserole | Cooked chicken pieces | Turns this from a side dish into a filling low-carb main meal. |
| Crunchy topping | Crushed pork rinds mixed with grated cheese | Adds a breadcrumb-style crunch without using breadcrumbs. |
| Extra cheesy bake | Mature cheddar, mozzarella, Gruyère or any cheese that melts well | Creates a deeper flavour and a gooier finish. |
| Spicy cauliflower cheese | A pinch of paprika, chilli flakes or mustard powder | Cuts through the richness and adds a little warmth. |
Is cauliflower cheese keto-friendly?
Traditional cauliflower cheese is not always keto-friendly because the sauce is usually made with flour. This version keeps things low carb by using full-fat soft cheese, double cream and grated cheese to create a rich, creamy sauce without a flour-based roux.
Cauliflower is naturally lower in carbs than starchy vegetables like potatoes, which makes it a useful base for keto-style comfort food. Just watch the extras, as flour, breadcrumbs and ready-made toppings can quickly add more carbs than you expect.
How to store, freeze and reheat keto cauliflower cheese
Storing leftovers
Let the cauliflower cheese cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing
You can freeze keto cauliflower cheese for up to 3 months, although the sauce may separate slightly when reheated. For best results, defrost it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat in the oven at 180°C until hot and bubbling. The microwave works for a quick single portion, but the oven gives you a better texture and helps the topping crisp up again.
Keto cauliflower cheese FAQs
Can you eat cauliflower cheese on keto?
Yes, you can eat cauliflower cheese on keto if it is made without flour. Traditional cauliflower cheese usually uses a flour-based white sauce, but this keto version uses full-fat soft cheese, double cream and grated cheese instead.
How many carbs are in keto cauliflower cheese?
This recipe has approximately 5g net carbs per serving when divided into 6 portions. The exact amount will vary depending on the size of your cauliflower and the brands of cream, cheese and bacon used.
Why is my cauliflower cheese watery?
Watery cauliflower cheese usually happens when the cauliflower has been overcooked or not drained properly. Cook it until just tender, drain it well and let it steam dry for a minute before mixing it with the sauce.
Can I make keto cauliflower cheese ahead of time?
Yes. You can assemble the dish ahead of time, cover it and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake. Add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from chilled.
More Keto Recipes To Try Next
If this keto cauliflower cheese has made you hungry for more low-carb comfort food, here are a few more Sim’s Life keto favourites to try next:
→ Keto Halloumi Fries — crispy, salty and ridiculously moreish.
→ Keto Air Fryer Salmon — a simple low-carb meal when you want dinner without the faff.
→ Homemade Keto Guacamole — fresh, easy and perfect with low-carb snacks.
→ Keto Avocado Fries — a fun low-carb side dish if you fancy something different.
→ Keto Recipes Roundup For Beginners — a handy place to browse more easy keto meal ideas.
