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You are here: Home / All Recipes / Instant Pot Cauliflower Cheeseburger “Mac” | Instant Pot Low Carb Hamburger Helper

June 7, 2019 By Nancylynn 33 Comments

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

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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

★★★★★ 4.5 from 6 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)

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @confessionsofafitfoodie on Instagram and hashtag it #confessionsofafitfoodie

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Beef, Cauliflower, Cooking Method, Courses, Diet, Dinner, Gluten Free, Ingredient, Kid Friendly, Pressure Cooker

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    June 27, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    Where can you get rice flour ?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      July 9, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      At any grocery store, but feel free to sub in any flour that works for you!

      Reply
  2. A says

    September 7, 2019 at 12:53 pm

    I’d like to substitute the beed with ground chicken..what do you think?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      September 7, 2019 at 1:12 pm

      I think it would be great!

      Reply
  3. Cassi says

    October 16, 2019 at 1:40 am

    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
    • Nancylynn says

      October 20, 2019 at 5:52 pm

      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. Somebody says

    October 19, 2019 at 11:36 pm

    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
  5. Brittany says

    January 3, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    What is a serving size?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      June 11, 2020 at 2:15 am

      1/4 of the pot

      Reply
  6. Annie says

    January 10, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Hi Nancy! I was wondering what the portion size was? Did I miss it? LOVE your recipes!

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      January 20, 2020 at 12:40 am

      It’s 1/4 of the whole pot! And YAY!

      Reply
  7. amanda says

    January 28, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    Hi, can you post the instructions for stove top or slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      June 11, 2020 at 1:51 am

      Here is a link to the original oven version!
      https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-cauliflower-cheeseburger-mac/

      Reply
  8. Sarah Notaro says

    January 31, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Wonderful recipe! Thanks for posting the keto/vegan substitutes. My husband and I loved it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      March 7, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      Thank you – this makes me happy!

      Reply
  9. Phyllis says

    February 14, 2020 at 3:30 am

    I used almond flour and almond milk and it didn’t thicken up. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      February 16, 2020 at 5:31 pm

      Almond flour is tricky as a thicker. Are you Keto?

      Reply
      • Phyllis says

        February 16, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        No, I’m not keto

        Reply
      • Misty says

        March 6, 2020 at 6:03 pm

        I just made with almond flour and had no problem thickening sauce

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Nancylynn says

          March 7, 2020 at 4:50 pm

          Nice work, Misty!

          Reply
  10. Jen says

    April 11, 2020 at 7:46 pm

    Do you have a recipe for this that doesn’t use the instant pot?

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      June 11, 2020 at 12:47 am

      Here’s the original oven version-
      https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-cauliflower-cheeseburger-mac/

      Reply
  11. Dan says

    August 13, 2020 at 11:04 pm

    I made this tonight and it was AWESOME!! I added some taco seasoning to the ground beef to give it a Mexican twist and it was fabulous. Top it with some taco sauce for an extra punch. I will definitely be making this again!

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      August 17, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      Ooooh – I love that you gave it a Mexican twist!! I will be trying that, too!!

      Reply
  12. Bridget Brown says

    October 8, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    I wasn’t sure I was going to like this recipe but WOW was I wrong. I will be making this again for sure! It depends on the size of your cauliflower but for me it made 3 and 3/4 cups.

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      October 9, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      YAY! This is awesome! And yes – it definitely does!

      Reply
  13. Emma says

    January 3, 2021 at 7:33 pm

    Setting the instant pot to zero min for the cauliflower was not enough…I felt like I was eating it raw. Flavor is very bland and this dish literally just tastes like what it is ground beef and cauliflower.

    ★★

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      January 4, 2021 at 6:38 am

      Sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work out for you- thanks for the feedback! Cutting the cauli head in half first and/or setting to 1 min might work in the future if you give it another try.

      Reply
  14. Muddy says

    January 6, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    This is by far the best recipe I have tried during my keto journey. SOOOOOO happy I found this, and steak and eggs or cabbage and sausage was getting old!! I subbed rice flour for almond flour, added an extra tbsp of butter, and I used a 16oz bag of cauliflower pearls instead of a head. I just lined my steamer basket with some parchment paper and dumped the bag of cauliflower in. It came out to 4 – 11 oz servings. Soooooooo good! At 8 NC this is definitely a WINNER for me. Thanks Nancylynn!!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      January 7, 2021 at 7:21 pm

      This is so helpful, thank you!

      Reply
  15. V says

    January 15, 2021 at 12:35 am

    Can you post the nutritional information? Serving size, calories, fat, carbs ? Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Nancylynn says

      January 17, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      Hi! The nutritional info included on my recipes is for the 21 Day Fix and WW. Other readers have success using MyFitnessPal to calculate calories, etc. Since no two heads of cauliflower are exactly the same it’s hard to say exactly how large the serving is, but you divide the final product into 4 equal portions here- roughly 1 1/2 cups! I hope this helps!

      Reply
  16. Autumn says

    February 9, 2021 at 1:30 am

    This is a family favorite! So yummy, so delicious! I can’t believe my kids ask for all this veggie goodness! I was skeptical that having so much cauliflower but it is perfect! We make it in the steamer/oven and it’s delicious!

    Reply

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