Our Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is one of my favorite side dishes and it’s a hit with the whole family! Rich and creamy, loaded with cheddar and bacon, and super simple to whip up!
Things I’ve been craving lately: loaded french fries. Ugh.
There is a restaurant nearby that serves the best dang fries that are topped with cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. I used to eat them way too often.
I’ve given up the french fries for cauliflower and no, it’s definitely not the same, but my pants fit better and cauliflower is delicious.
I’ve even made loaded radishes, which probably sounds weird but trust me – they’re so good. Loaded deviled eggs are a thing around here too!
Anyway, I’m all about cauliflower casserole recipes. Cauliflower just makes a great base for pretty much everything, you know?
This cauliflower casserole with bacon and cream cheese is going to rock your world.
Ingredient Notes:
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Cauliflower – I almost always go for fresh veggies over frozen. You could use frozen in this recipe if that’s what you have on hand, but you’ll likely have a more watery casserole than if you start with fresh cauliflower.
Cream Cheese – The low carb classic…we add cream cheese to everything we can. 😉
Sour Cream – This adds a little tang and some extra creamy goodness to the casserole.
Bacon – You’ll need some fried and crumbled bacon ready to go for this recipe. We usually make a bunch ahead of time if we know we’ll be using it in recipes. This air fryer bacon is an easy, mess-free way to make bacon!
Cheddar Cheese – We love creamy, cheesy casseroles! You’ll mix this up with the cream cheese and sour cream.
Seasoning – Just some salt, pepper, and garlic powder!
Green Onion – Feel free to skip this for picky eaters, but we love the flavor green onions add. Chives would also work well.
This keto side dish goes well with just about anything! We like to serve it up with our pork tenderloin or grilled chicken.
If you like creamy, cheesy flavor then you’re going to love this casserole! The cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar mix is pretty amazing.
Nope, this isn’t potatoes, but it sure satisfies my craving! These are thick and rich, nice and creamy, and just a great side dish option whether you’re cutting carbs or not.
Special Tools Needed:
Potato Masher – This makes mashing your cauliflower a breeze!
Baking Dish – A 9×9 square dish or any shaped 2 quart dish will be perfect for baking up this keto cauliflower casserole recipe.
How To Make Loaded Cauliflower Casserole:
Steam & Mash – Chop your cauliflower into florets and pop it into a microwave safe bowl with a tablespoon or two of water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for about 4 minutes. You could also steam your cauliflower on the stove, if you prefer.
Once the cauliflower is nice and soft, grab a potato masher and go to town.
Dairy – Once your cauliflower is mashed, stir in the good stuff – sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar. This is going to be so creamy and amazing.
Bacon & Seasonings – You’ll also stir in some bacon, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It’ll add some good savory flavor to this loaded cauliflower casserole. I’m pretty sure bacon makes everything better!
Bake – The cauliflower casserole just goes in the oven for about 20 minutes and you’re ready to serve! It’s a perfectly creamy and cheesy low carb side dish. See below for some suggestions on what to serve with it!
And if you enjoyed this recipe, I think you’ll love this easy and cheesy cauliflower bake recipe that’s made in the air fryer!
What To Serve With Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole:
My breaded baked pork chops go fabulously with this cauliflower casserole.
Of course, you can also keep things super simple with some grilled chicken or steak bites as your main dish.
Serve this at your next holiday dinner alongside our keto crockpot ham.
This is just the sort of low carb side dish that’ll pair well with pretty much any meat.
FAQs:
You can keep this loaded cauliflower casserole stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. This casserole should also freeze pretty well for up to a few months.
I prefer the flavor of fresh over frozen but I think it would work fine in this recipe since you’ll be mashing it. The casserole may be a bit more ‘loose’ or wet if you start with frozen cauliflower.
More Keto Cauliflower Recipes:
- Cauliflower Potato Salad
- Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice
- Cauliflower Risotto
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Pickled Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Au Gratin
Cauliflower really is the king of low carb foods! 🙂
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 20 ounces cauliflower florets
- 1 cup grated cheddar
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 6 slices bacon fried and crumbled
- 3 tablespoons diced green onions
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Add the cauliflower to a large microwave safe bowl along with 1 tablespoon of water. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave for 4 minutes or until cauliflower is soft. Drain liquid from bowl.
- Mash cauliflower with a potato masher.
- Add the cheddar, cream cheese, and sour cream to the bowl and stir well until the cheese has melted into the cauliflower.
- Stir in the bacon, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Spread mixture into prepared baking dish and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Kat says
I have used this recipe and I do love it. I have one regret that it doesn’t taste as good the 2nd day- cream cheese thickens too much perhaps? I do also use a different herb blend now, as my first attempt was extremely salty…I use one that is a blended salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powders. Leftovers are my lunch life, chuckl
Amyomom says
I just made this and it’s delicious! I asked my non- keto husband to try my potatoes, and he took a bite. He first said, this is cauliflower….boy is this delicious!
Made two slight changes in cooking. First I steamed the cauliflower because it’s a healthier way to prepare ( even though it does take longer), and believe it or not I don’t have a masher, so I used my food processor. This is a winner!
Mary F. says
As good as a hashbrown casserole but without the carbs. Delish.
Karly Campbell says
Thanks, Mary!
Rosemary Smith says
Can you use the vegetable steam bags in the microwave for this?
Karly Campbell says
Yep, should work fine. We just prefer the flavor of fresh cauliflower over frozen.
Laurie says
I make this and add chopped up leftover Easter ham, YUMMY!!!
Karly Campbell says
Sounds delicious!
Paula says
I’m a diabetic and love to find recipes like this since I can’t have any carbs. Love it. Thank you.
Ganderson0919 says
Would this be one head of cauliflower?
Karly Campbell says
It’d be one really big head of cauliflower or a little more on an average sized head.
Liz says
I used both fresh and frozen. Yum.
Cathy Peters says
I added a 1/2 packet of ranch dressing instead of garlic powder, so yummy!!
Will try with broccoli as well
Karly Campbell says
Sounds like a great swap!
Celeste de la Cruz says
made it, turned out great, was delicious. Only thing is it took twice that time and a lot more water in the microwave heating the cauliflower until it was tender enough to mash. It still didn’t mash that well, but it was fine by the time all the stirring, etc. got finished with. Will definitely be making this again, Thank you!!!
Jackie says
Can you make this the night before, store in refer and bake the next day?
Karly Campbell says
Hi Jackie! I think you likely could, but keep in mind that cooked cauliflower often gets a bit stinky as it sits. 🙂
jimb says
I made this yesterday and it delivered. This dish will be made again in my house.
Karly Campbell says
Yay! Glad to hear that!
Joan Thompson says
Absolutely delicious! It tastes like twice baked potatoes. My husband is new to keto, hates veggies but asked me to make this again. A huge victory
Chad Campbell says
Yay! I love getting comments like this. Thanks, Joan!
Argie says
Does it freeze and reheat well? How would you go about that?
Karly Campbell says
I don’t really freeze food myself, but I imagine it would freeze perfectly. I’d reheat in the microwave, covered for the first few minutes and then uncovered the last few minutes until hot…that’s solely based on the frozen packages of mashed cauliflower I’ve purchased though. Haha! 🙂
Bibi says
What is the serving size I only see the number 1
Karly Campbell says
The recipe serves 6. It’s 1/6th of the dish. I didn’t measure by volume.
Mary M Wilshire says
This is absolutely fantastic – and easy. It’s helping me come to terms with diabetes and the eternal carb count!
Susan says
could you use frozen cauliflower for this?
Karly Campbell says
I’ve not tried, but it should fine.
Kim says
I used frozen riced cauliflower and it turned out great!
Joan Herich says
How many carbs per serving?
Karly Campbell says
The nutrition information is located in the recipe card.
Anna Pawlyk says
Looks good I need to try this recipe.
Madeline Christiansen says
Everything BEE SAID IS WHAT i WOULD HAVE SAID . THANKS
Bee says
OMG these look delicious! I’m a cauliflower addict too! It really is just so good and versatile. I may totally be making these in the next couples of weeks.