Crockpot Mashed Cauliflower is a delicious and versatile side dish made with 5 simple ingredients. It's a great alternative to traditional mashed potatoes and roasted baby potatoes.
Table Of Contents
Making mashed cauliflower in your crockpot is an easy way to prepare this tasty side dish that works great for many meals, from meatloaf to juicy steak to salmon and pecan-crusted chicken. This recipe is essentially the same as my Instant Pot mashed cauliflower, just that it's cooked low and slow without much hands-on work.
Mashed cauliflower also makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, along with buttery carrots and balsamic roasted brussels sprouts. For little ones at home, serve as a side with crispy air fried chicken nuggets, fish sticks or mini meatloaves.
Why This Recipe Works
The crockpot slowly cooks the cauliflower in butter without burning it, but giving it a roasted flavor and caramelized color for extra deliciousness.
Mashed cauliflower is perfect for anyone looking for a healthy vegetable side dish that isn't bland or boring.
It's easy to add mix-ins, such as crispy bacon bits, chopped spinach, green onions or diced ham.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower: a 2 pound head of cauliflower, washed and cut into florets. You can increase the amount used with all other ingredients proportionally.
- Butter: I use unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, reduce the amount of salt used.
- Milk: any type of dairy milk, soy milk or plain unsweetened almond milk. Use heavy cream for a thicker mash.
- Salt and pepper: simple, yet classic flavorful seasonings for mashed potatoes and cauliflower.
- Optional herbs: chives, parsley, oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme for serving or adding in to make it your own.
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower by washing it thoroughly. Place in the slow cooker with 4 tablespoons of the butter, cut into pieces.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
- Add the milk, remaining butter, salt and pepper. Use a potato masher to mash the cooked cauliflower until desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano or chives if desired.
Chef's Tips
- Season additionally with fresh or dried herbs to give it a personalized taste. Chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme and basil all work really well.
- Mashed cauliflower can be kept somewhat chunky or blended until it's perfectly smooth and creamy. A blender or food processor does the job at making it smooth, while a potato masher keeps it chunky.
How To Store
Mashed cauliflower should be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days in a covered container. It can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen cauliflower but it release a fair amount of water as it defrosts and cooks. If the crockpot has water in it when it's done cooking, consider draining it before adding the milk, butter and seasonings.
If you follow this recipe as written, you shouldn't be left with watery mashed cauliflower like you might get when steaming cauliflower to make your mash. Make sure you check the crockpot for water or liquid before adding the milk, butter and seasonings and drain it out if there is any. If you do this, you should have a thick and creamy cauliflower mash.
Recipe
Crockpot Mashed Cauliflower
Equipment
- slow cooker
- blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 lbs cauliflower florets
- 6 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- fresh herbs for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower by washing it thoroughly. Place in the slow cooker with 4 tablespoons of the butter, cut into pieces.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
- Add the milk, remaining butter, salt and pepper. Use a potato masher to mash the cooked cauliflower until desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano or chives if desired.
Anonymous
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It turned out great!