Confessions of a Fit Foodie

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Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” | Instant Pot Low Carb Hamburger Helper [21DF | WW]

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Like a Low Carb Hamburger Helper, this Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” is pure comfort food with a healthy veggie twist!  Perfect for the 21 Day Fix, Weight Watchers, and 2B Mindset! This post contains affiliate links for products I’m obsessed with. 
 
 
Confession: I never actually had Hamburger Helper in my life.  Or Cheeseburger Macaroni from a box or however it comes.
 
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know this.
 
And it’s not because I am in any way above it (I would probably love it, lol)…I just grew up in a house where mostly everything my mom made was homemade.  And, believe me, I was totally jealous of my friend’s SpaghettiOs.
 
 
Anyway, I told this story already in the original 21 Day Fix Cauliflower Cheeseburger Mac recipe, and despite me never having Hamburger Helper, many readers have confirmed that this recipe does taste like a low carb, healthier version of it!  Go me!
 
And thanks to one of my super awesome readers, I have been making this Cauliflower Cheeseburger Mac in my Instant Pot for the past year!  Mainly because steaming cauliflower is ridic easy in the Instant Pot.
 

How to Steam Cauliflower in your Instant Pot

It’s SO easy to steam cauliflower in your Instant Pot, but if you aren’t careful, it will turn to mush very quickly!  When I cook it, I cut away the leaves and part of the large stem, but I keep the head of cauliflower fairly in tact. I add a cup of water to the bottom of my pot, and then I place my head of cauliflower on the trivet or in a steamer basket.  Then I set the Instant Pot for zero minutes.
 
Yup!  I said zero minutes!  This is a thing!
 
Setting the pot for zero minutes steams the cauliflower just enough for it to be tender, but firm.  And this way it won’t get mushy when mixed in the cheese sauce and meat mixture.
 
If you are looking for cauliflower as a side, you could chop it into larger florets first and set for zero minutes.  It’s so perfect not having to wait for a pot of water to boil and babysit your cauli!
 

How to Make Low Carb Hamburger Helper in the Instant Pot

After steaming the cauliflower, all that’s left to do is saute the meat and make the yummy cheese sauce – and both of these can be done right in the Instant Pot!

 
Like magic!
 
And I don’t even use my oven to melt the added cheese…I also just place my Instant Pot lid on top and set the pot to keep warm…it’s totally enough to melt the cheese.
 
 
Check it out in this video!

And see?  Melty, cheesy goodness without turning on your stove or oven!

Is this Low Carb Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger “Mac” Keto?

I have a lot of followers doing keto, and with a simple tweak, this recipe can fit a keto plan!  Just simply change the rice flour to almond flour or your favorite keto flour and you will be good to go!  And you can also change up the milk to whatever you have on hand!

What are the Container Counts for this 21 Day Fix Cauliflower Cheeseburger Mac?

You get to have a HUGE serving of this Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” – 1/4 of the entire pot – and it counts as 1 red, 1 green, 1 blue and 1 tsp per serving.  Which is awesome, except that this dinner is SO good…and I could eat it all in one sitting…but that would be alotta blues!

What are the Weight Watchers Freestyle Points for this Low Carb Hamburger Helper?

Weight Watchers is a little different than the FIX, so you want to use a lower fat cheese…but you can eat this delicious Cauliflower Cheeseburger Mac for only 5 points per serving!

Looking for more Healthy Instant Pot Recipes?  Check these out!

31 Days of Healthy Instant Pot Recipes [21 Day Fix | Weight Watchers Freestyle]

Healthy Instant Pot Summer Recipes | 21 Day Fix | Weight Watchers

Healthy Instant Pot Mexican Favorites (21 Day Fix | 80 Day Obsession | Weight Watchers)

Like a Low Carb Hamburger Helper, this Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger "Mac" is pure comfort food with a healthy veggie twist!  Perfect for the 21 Day Fix, Weight Watchers, and 2B Mindset! Instant Pot Recipes | 21 Day Fix Recipes | Healthy Instant Pot | Healthy Hamburger Helper | Low Carb Hamburger Helper | Keto Instant Pot Recipes #healthyinstantpot #ultimateportionfix #ketoinstantpot #confessionsofafitfoodie

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Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” | Instant Pot Low Carb Hamburger Helper

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Nancylynn
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Low Carb Dinners
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Like a Low Carb Hamburger Helper, this Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” is pure comfort food with a healthy veggie twist!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean grass fed ground beef
  • 1 small to medium head of cauliflower, green leaves cut off, stem still intact.
  • 4 tsp of rice flour (or flour of your choice – almond flour is best for keto)
  • 4 tsp butter, vegan butter, or ghee
  • 1 cup of unsweetened original almond milk (or milk of your choice)
  • 1 1/3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (use Daiya or Violife for dairy free!)
  • Himalayan salt

Instructions

  1. Place head of cauliflower on trivet and add in one cup of water to the IP. Set to steam for ZERO minutes.
  2. After pot comes to pressure, it will beep and and turn to warm (since you set it for 0 minutes). You can Quick Release right away.
  3. Carefully remove cauliflower. Cut into little florets and set aside.
  4. Drain water from IP and dry completely. Set to saute and add in ground beef. Brown until cooked through. Remove meat and set aside with the cauliflower florets.
  5. Wipe out IP and add in butter. Melt butter and whisk in the flour. Slowly whisk in the almond milk, and continue to whisk until the mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken.
  6. Once thickened, remove steel pot from IP base (essentially removing the heat) and stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese until fully melted, adding salt to taste.
  7. Combine beef, cauliflower, and cheese sauce together and mix well. Top with remaining cheese and place back in the IP on warm. Place cover back on pot until the cheese topping melts and starts to bubble. If necessary, place back on saute for this to happen. Enjoy!

Notes

21 Day Fix- 1 RED, 1 GREEN, 1 BLUE, 1 tsp per serving

WW Freestyle- 5 points per serving (calculated with 95% beef, and 50% less fat cheddar cheese)

Related posts:

Instant Pot Sausage Broccoli Pasta (21 Day Fix)
21 Day Fix Spinach Pesto
Coconut Macaroons {21 Day Fix}
21 Day Fix Salsa Verde Pork {Slow Cooker/Instant Pot}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. This recipe is brilliant. My children and I loved it, and I stole the leftovers the following day (my co-workers were ooing and ahhing about how it smelled so good) and it was still good. I used almond flour and used heavy whipping cream to make the rue/cheese sauce and it was so creamy and filling. I will definitely be making this again and again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Ahh!!! I am so happy, Cassi!! Thank you for taking the time to rate and give those Keto friendly swaps so other readers can benefit!! Means so much!!

      Reply

  4. I’ve noticed this happening all over as i search 4 recipes for my ninja foodie…. Please edit this recipe to say set to zero on the pressure cooker, you can not set steam to zero! Also you’d have no need to vent since when in steam mode vent should be left open!
    It really bothers me that ppl dont take the time to write exactly how they do things….. Even as i watched & paused the video over & over to try & clearly see if it was in fact pressure cook setting that allows timing of “zero” I’m still not positive but since this is what I planned 4 dinner this is what ill be doing & I’m hoping like hell that everything will turn out ok!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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