This Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is rich, buttery, and unbelievably silky without a hint of watery texture. Finished with crispy bacon and fresh chives, it's an easy side dish that's just as welcome on a busy weeknight as it is on a holiday table.
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If you've only had bland, watery mashed cauliflower before, you're in for a surprise. This Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is rich, buttery, and unbelievably silky thanks to one simple method: steaming instead of boiling. Add a little butter, cream cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh chives, and suddenly you've got a side dish that can hold its own next to mashed potatoes.
Whether you're serving it with a weeknight roast chicken or adding it to your holiday table, this is one of those recipes people go back for seconds. It's simple, comforting, and proof that cauliflower deserves a permanent spot in your side dish rotation.
Why You'll Love This Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
- Steamed, not boiled: Steaming keeps the cauliflower rich and creamy instead of watery.
- Smooth and silky: Butter and cream cheese create an ultra-creamy mash with plenty of flavor.
- Easy to customize: Finish with crispy bacon and chives, or keep it simple with fresh herbs.
- Weeknight easy: A simple side dish that comes together with everyday ingredients.
- Holiday worthy: Rich, comforting, and perfect alongside turkey, ham, steak, or roasted chicken.
What You'll Need & Why
- Cauliflower: The star of the show. Steaming keeps it tender and naturally creamy without becoming watery.
- Chicken Broth + Garlic: Gently steam the cauliflower while adding savory flavor from the very beginning.
- Cream Cheese + Butter: The secret to a rich, silky mash with plenty of buttery flavor.
- Bacon + Fresh Chives: A classic finishing touch that adds smoky, salty flavor and a pop of freshness.
The Recipe Rundown
- Steam the cauliflower: Cook the cauliflower and garlic in chicken broth until the florets are fork-tender. Steaming instead of boiling keeps the cauliflower flavorful and prevents a watery mash.
- Add the creaminess: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cream cheese while everything is still hot.
- Blend until silky: Use an immersion blender to puree the cauliflower and garlic until smooth, adding just enough cooking broth to reach your perfect consistency.
- Finish with the good stuff: Fold in the crispy bacon, fresh chives, and butter, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy: Spoon into a serving bowl and serve warm with your favorite comfort food dinners or holiday favorites.
Buy Now → Swaps & Variations
This Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is easy to customize with a few simple swaps, whether you're using what you have on hand or adding your favorite flavors.
- Swap the cream cheese: Sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt both add plenty of creaminess with a little tang.
- Add more cheese: Stir in freshly grated Parmesan, Gruyère, or sharp cheddar for an even richer mash.
- Boost the garlic: Blend in roasted garlic for a sweeter, deeper garlic flavor.
- Make it heartier: Add peeled potato chunks and cook them alongside the cauliflower for a creamy mashed potato-cauliflower hybrid.
- Change the topping: Skip the bacon or swap it for crispy pancetta or prosciutto, then finish with fresh chives, parsley, or thyme.
Tips For The Best Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
A few simple tips will help you make rich, silky mashed cauliflower every single time.
- Steam, don't boil: Cooking the cauliflower in just enough broth prevents it from becoming watery while building extra flavor.
- Blend while hot: Warm cauliflower blends much more smoothly, giving you the silkiest texture.
- Control the consistency: If there's extra cooking liquid in the pot, remove a little before blending. You can always add it back until the mash is just how you like it.
- Season to taste: Cauliflower is naturally mild, so don't be shy with the salt, pepper, and butter.
- Finish with bacon and chives: Crispy bacon and fresh chives add the perfect smoky, savory finish, but they're completely optional.
Make Ahead
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is a great make-ahead side dish for holidays and busy weeknights.
- Make ahead: Prepare the recipe up to 2 days in advance, let it cool completely, then cover and refrigerate.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth and creamy.
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower Recipe
Equipment
- immersion blender
Ingredients
- 2 large cauliflower heads cut into florets
- 4-6 cloves garlic
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
- ¼-½ cup chives minced
- 2 tablespoon salted butter
- kosher salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the cauliflower florets to a dutch oven along with the garlic cloves.
- To the dutch oven, add the broth and cover with the lid. Cook on med-high heat until the florets become fork tender. This should take approximately 20 minutes.
- Remove the dutch oven from the heat and add the block of cream cheese.
- Carefully, use the immersion blender to begin breaking down the cauliflower and garlic cloves along with the broth and cream cheese. In slow, steady up and down motions, continue until you reach your desired consistency.
- Now, fold in the bacon and chives. Top with the butter. Add kosher salt and black pepper to taste and try no to eat it all in one sitting!
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Storage
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth, cream, or butter if needed. You can also microwave in short intervals, stirring between each, until heated through.
- Freeze: Freeze for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
You Asked, I Answered
What does mashed cauliflower taste like?
It has a mild, buttery flavor with a creamy texture that's similar to mashed potatoes, especially when blended until smooth. It's comforting in its own right—not just a substitute.
Can I use frozen cauliflower?
Yes! Thaw it completely and drain away as much moisture as possible before cooking to keep the mash rich and creamy.
What if I don't have an immersion blender?
A food processor or blender works well—just blend carefully in batches if the cauliflower is hot. For a more rustic texture, use a potato masher instead.
Other Easy Side Dishes You'll Love
If you're looking for another easy side dish, here are a few more reader favorites.
- Boursin Mashed Potatoes: Rich, buttery, and unbelievably creamy thanks to Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin and a simple stovetop method.
- Creamy Parmesan Polenta: Smooth, cheesy, and the perfect comfort food side for everything from pot roast to roasted chicken.
- Baked Three Cheese Mac and Cheese: Three melty cheeses, a homemade cheese sauce, and a buttery golden topping make this a family favorite.
- Buttered Noodles: Buttery, lemony, and incredibly simple—a classic side dish that goes with just about everything.
- Cheesy Baked Cauliflower: Roasted cauliflower folded into a rich homemade cheese sauce and baked until golden and bubbly.
Who's Stirring The Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth! — the comfort-food-obsessed recipe developer behind Rufus for Real, where we believe cozy food doesn’t have to be complicated or fussy. I test and tweak every recipe until it hits that sweet spot of simple, satisfying, and lick-the-spoon delicious. Pull up a chair, grab a fork, and let’s make real food that loves you back!
I hope you try my Mashed Cauliflower recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces.
And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Alana Andrews says
This is like a loaded baked potato. I’ve made this 3 times so far. We serve it with our steak and sometimes roasted chicken. Great recipe!
Rufus says
I am so glad you like it! And, I love serving it with the steak and chicken for the protein! Thank you!