Instant Pot Cauliflower Gnocchi Mac N Cheese is about to happen in your life. And you are SO welcome. 😉
As most of you are well aware... cauliflower is basically and can be transformed into almost anything. From pizza to rice to now GNOCCHI?! While I am in food freedom, and I choose cauli rice if it sounds super delicious or the occasional pizza crusts. They are usually just ok.
But the cauli gnocchi from Trader Joe's is OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious. Plus the ingredients are pretty clean (not the cleanest - but good!).
As I have stated before, in my food freedom journey and to break away from the restrict-binge-restrict-binge lifestlye that WAS diet culture. I HAD to pick a sustainable way to take "bad" food and "good" food labels off the table and to never restrict but substitute to fulfill my cravings. Because if you don't fulfill your physiological hunger... it will haunt you and instead of having the one cookie at the office. You turned it down for being "good" today. Then later after mindlessly grazing (still thinking about that cookie). You probably consumed just as much calories (usually more) than just that stupid cookie. Just sayin.
That's where this recipe comes in. It satisfies my mac n cheese cravings but in a healthier way! I actually serve a portion over greens to make it a complete meal!
It checks all the boxes for what I need :
- It's gooey
- Cheesy
- The pillow-y texture of gnocchi
- Pancetta (for bacon crisp crunch)
- Gluten Free
- And has a dairy free option in the instructions below!
- DONE in 3 minutes!
Simply crisp the pancetta and set it aside on paper towels to absorb the grease.
Dump the rest of the ingredients in the Instant Pot and set for 3 minutes on manual mode. Stir.
Add the pancetta back in and DONE.
HOW EASY IS THIS?!
Jake even loved it and he has SWORN to me that he hates cauliflower forever and ever. <3
Other easy Instant Pot recipes to try:
Instant Pot EXTRA Crispy Salsa Verde Carnitas
Whole30 Instant Pot Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
Instant Pot Japanese Style Short Rib Ramen
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Instant Pot Cauliflower Gnocchi Mac N Cheese
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Creamiest, cheesiest, gooiest macaroni and cheese. Plus the easiest!
This better for you nostalgic favorite will have your whole family lining up to try cauliflower! TRUST ME. Plus a little pancetta to add some bacon flavor...it's amazing and DONE in the Instant Pot in 3 minutes!
Ingredients
- 4oz pancetta
- 1 tbs ghee or grass fed butter
- 1 cup of milk of choice (i used lactose-free or oat milk)
- 4 oz of shredded cheddar
- 1 oz of white cheddar
- 1 tbs arrowroot powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne (optional)
- 2 packages of frozen cauliflower gnocchi ( I use Trader Joe's)
DAIRY FREE SAUCE (if you want to go even healthier and lactose free!)
In a blender combine:
2 cups water or dairy free milk
3 carrots, diced and peeled
¼ cup nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
⅓ cup raw cashews
Blend on high until smooth
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot in SAUTE mode. When it reads HOT add the pancetta, stirring often until crisp (about 3 minutes). Set aside on a plate with paper towels.
- Cancel SAUTE mode. Add milk, cheese, arrow root powder,salt and pepper (or add dairy free sauce at this point). Pour cauliflower gnocchi on top. Set to 3 minutes in MANUAL mode. When the timer goes off release steam (quick release).
- Stir until all cheese sauce is covering the gnocchi. Stir the pancetta back in and serve!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Method: Instant Pot
K says
When do you add the butter? I don't see it listed in the instructions.
Amanda says
Hi! I apologize for not including that part! You add it when you add the milk and the cheese 🙂
Rhea Ewer says
Lovely with normal gnochies