A cheesy pulled pork mac and cheese is sure to be a winning dinner with the family. And, it's a quick low carb recipe that repurposes leftovers from a previous meal!
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I was looking for a way to use up some leftover low carb pulled pork. So, I combined it with some cauliflower and my creamy cheese sauce to create a new dish!
Although I thought about creating a new low carb casserole recipe, I chose to keep the oven off. Instead, I heated everything in a skillet right on the stove!
What I came up with is an easy keto mac and cheese that adds in pulled pork to make a filling meal. Of course, there really isn't any macaroni in the mix.
Ingredients Needed For Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
This is such a simple recipe to put together. All of the ingredients are listed out in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. First, here is a bit more information about what I used to make this cheesy dish.
"Pasta"
Instead of using carb-filled pasta, I decided to cut up a whole head of cauliflower into florets. Make sure to keep them bite-sized so they are easier to eat.
Pulled Pork
I had recently made a batch of my favorite pulled pork recipe to make pulled pork sandwiches and had some leftover.
So that is what I used!
Cheese Sauce
Next, I used my keto cheese dipping sauce on top of it. This is made with:
- Heavy cream
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Dijon mustard
I added some mozzarella cheese to it to make it even cheesier!
Crunch Toppings
For the crunchy topping, I added some crushed pork rinds. You can season it however you want but, I used black pepper and fresh parsley. I can see this tasting delicious with some garlic powder and paprika too!
Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low carb recipe.
Quick Tips:
- Want more of a bbq flavor? If you want this to have more of a BBQ flavor, add a few dashes of liquid smoke to the pulled pork when you heat it up. You can also toss the pork in some homemade BBQ sauce!
- The pork rinds are optional. Not everyone enjoys crunchy toppings on their mac and cheese, so it is perfectly acceptable to leave them out.
- To save yourself time, use a steamable bag of frozen cauliflower. Let them cool off quite a bit and then use a paper towel to remove a bunch of the moisture.
- Use precut cauliflower. You can also pre-cut the florets ahead of time and store them in your refrigerator in a resealable plastic storage bag or an airtight container with a lid.
How To Make Keto Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese
Skip on down to the recipe card to read the entire recipe. But first, I have a few photos and tips to share.
Blanch The Cauliflower
Blanching the cauliflower is a quick way to make the cauliflower florets have the best texture. All you do is drop the cauliflower into boiling water and let them boil for about 2 minutes while you cover the pot with a lid.
Then, immediately transfer the cauliflower to a bowl of ice water. This helps stop the cauliflower from cooking.
After 5 minutes, shake off excess water from the cauliflower and put them on a plate.
Add The Pulled Pork And Cheese
Next, reheat the low-carb pulled pork in a skillet with some olive oil. While that is reheating, make the creamy cheese sauce in another saucepan.
When everything is heated up and ready, add the cheese sauce on top of the cauliflower florets.
Sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese and top with the low-carb pulled pork and pork rinds.
What To Serve With Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese
Even if I wasn't on the keto diet, a plate of pulled pork mac and cheese is an entire meal. You don't really have to serve very many other sides with it for it to be a filling dinner.
With the being said, this mac and cheese recipe will taste perfect with some low-carb garlic bread. You can also serve your favorite chopped salad!
Frequently Asked Questions About Low-Carb Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
Here are some questions people often ask about low-carb pulled pork mac and cheese.
What low-carb noodles can I use instead of cauliflower?
My favorite keto friendly pasta is shiratake noodles. But, a lot of people don't like the texture of them. However, I think they make a fantastic keto friendly macaroni and cheese.
I just haven't had much luck with the low carb macaroni products. Many are high fiber so there's a lot of total carbs.
The best macaroni-like product I've tried is made by ThinSlim Foods. I use it in my low carb macaroni and cheese recipe!
Can I use a different type of meat instead of pulled pork?
Yes, you can use a few different types of meat if you want!
The pork really ups the flavor of the dish. A lot of people also like to add bacon to their mac and cheese. Ham works well too!
To be honest, you can add any kind of meat you like. Here in Southern New England, lobster mac and cheese is also very popular.
Feel free to change things up depending on the leftover meat that you have on hand. I just happened to have a ton of pulled pork!
You just have to try this recipe. The pork rinds on top give the most delightful crunch and the pork and cheese really compliment each other perfectly. You won't believe how amazing this tastes!
More Low-Carb Pork Recipes
If you enjoyed this low-carb pulled pork mac and cheese recipe, you will love these keto pork recipes too. They are so easy and filling!
- Fried Cabbage And Sausage Recipe can be made in just a few minutes and is perfect to make for an entire family.
- Boneless Pork Ribs can be made right in your oven and this recipe shows you how to do it step by step.
- BLT Low-Carb cheese Wraps are a fantastically low-carb lunch idea that uses fresh ingredients.
- Sausage Egg Roll In A Bowl tastes just like an egg roll without the wrapper.
- Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops are covered in a creamy mushroom gravy that is unforgettable.
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Keto Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower cut in florets
- 1 ½ cups creamy cheese sauce
- 1 ½ cups low carb pulled pork reserve ¼ cup
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese freshly grated
- ⅓ cup pork rinds crushed
- freshly parsley chopped, for garnishing
- ground black pepper or white pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Blanch cauliflower. Slowly drop cauliflower florets in boiling water. Allow to boil for 1 to 2 minutes, covered. Immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water. Shake off excess water after 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- If Low Carb Pulled Pork was refrigerated, reheat in a skillet with olive oil over low heat.
- In a large skillet or saucepan over low heat, combine all ingredients of Creamy Cheese Sauce. Once the sauce is ready, add grated mozzarella cheese and cauliflower. Sprinkle ground black (or white) pepper. Combine ingredients.
- Once mozzarella has melted, add 1 and ¼ cups of Low Carb Pulled Pork. Mix well. Transfer to a serving platter. Top with pork rinds, add the remaining pulled pork and garnish with fresh parsley.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Updated on February 16, 2021, with new images and additional recipe information. First published on February 12, 2018.
Jordan
This was so good!! I doubled the sauce and made macaroni and cheese for the rest of my family and it was perfect.
Brandy
This meal was so good! My husband wasn't even sad that there was no pasta in this mac n cheese. I was in love from the first bite, I will definitely be making this dish the next time we make pulled pork.
Joyce
This was SOOOO good! I was looking for something different for dinner, not the same old chicken or beef. I had some leftover pulled pork and found this recipe - perfect! I roasted my cauliflower because I think it gives it so much flavor. And my pork did have some homemade BBQ sauce on it, which I wasn't sure how it would work in this recipe. AMAZING! The flavors were so good and I definitely liked the crushed pork rinds on top for a little extra crunch! Thanks for sharing another great recipe = )
Simona
This turned into a broccoli cheese soup of sorts lmao. Tasted ok but it was so soupy.
Lisa MarcAurele
You can add in a thickener like xanthan gum if you'd like.
Mason
Mix mozzarella with cheese sauce before putting the rest of the ingredients in.
Estelle
Does the nutritional information include the cheese sauce and the pulled pork?
Lisa MarcAurele
The nutritional data is an estimate that includes all the ingredients listed.
Kim
Loved this! I am tracking carbs on an app. Serving size would be a good thing to add to your recipes. ???? Excited to try some of your others.
Lisa MarcAurele
I've struggled with how to provide an accurate serving size which is why it's not included. The weight can vary depending on the ingredients and volume measurements aren't that accurate. So I just estimate by dividing into the number of servings for the recipe.
Messy Mom
This looks amazing. I added link on my blog.
AmandaF
fixed this last night and hubby LOVED it!!! He even asked me not to take LOs to work for lunch so we could have leftovers tonight!
AmandaF
Looks great! Any thoughts on fixing this in an instant pot to cut back on the time??
Lisa MarcAurele
You could cook the cauliflower in a steamer basket on high pressure for zero time then quick pressure release (it cooks while coming to pressure and while releasing pressure). I don't recommend cooking the creamy cheese sauce under pressure. It's better to do that in the oven or stovetop.
AmandaF
Thank you! I tried cooking the meat in the Instant pot and did fairly well; I googled pulled pork instant pot and cut off and hour in the cooking time!
Liz
Can this be frozen?
Lisa MarcAurele
The cauliflower could get mushy if frozen.
Brian
I made this with a mexican cheese blend and mozzarella. I put the pulled pork in a 9x13 pan, then the cauliflower, then the cheese sauce. I then added the crushed pork rinds . Baked it at 350 for 25 min. then added a bit more cheese and baked it until the cheese browned.
Christine Callaway
Great recipe! Only thing I'd do different next time is cook the cauliflower longer so it is completely or almost completely done.
Lisa
How long you cook the cauliflower depends on personal preference. So cooking a little longer is perfect for those who like it more tender.
Dana
Great recipe!! For personal preference I cooked the cauliflower until fork tender. I sampled before and after adding the pork rinds, i will omit tjose next time as I was not able to taste a difference. I added a bit of salt at the end to give the whole dish a bit of a flavor lift. The cheese sauce is bery easy to make, I really enjoyed the flavor there and can see various modifications for different recipes being bery simple to achieve!! Overall, 4 stars!! Thank you!!!!!
Lisa
Thanks for the feedback!
Deb Walker
My sis gave me some pulled pork and I just made this. Awesome!!! I love cauliflower just as the recipe called for. Thanks!
Christine Callaway
Very good. I will make it again but cook the cauliflower longer so it is mostly done before adding the cheese, etc.
Lisa
Thanks for the feedback! Good tip for the cauliflower if you like it more tender.
Stacey
1.76 lbs???? lol Is that just a whole head or....?? This is weird. lol
Lisa
I used a head that weighed that much. I've changed it to 1 head which is usually around 2 pounds.
Stacey
I made this over the weekend. YUMMMMMMMMMMM!! thank you so much. The whole family loved it! Some in the house don't eat pork, they used grilled chicken instead and loved it just the same.
Lisa
Good idea using the chicken!