This keto loaded cauliflower casserole mashes steamed cauliflower with cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar, then loads it up with crispy bacon and green onions. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and makes a rich, creamy low carb side dish that stands in for potatoes at any meal.
This extra cheesy little casserole started because I couldn’t stop thinking about the loaded fries from a restaurant near us – the kind piled with cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. Turns out you can get all of that flavor from a head of cauliflower, and it’s every bit as good.
Not the same, certainly. But still delicious and creamy and cheesy and basically all the good things.
We’re clearly into the “loaded” concept around here – our loaded radishes and loaded deviled eggs are both in regular rotation too.
- It’s ready in 30 minutes. Steam, mash, mix, and bake – there’s no long ingredient list or fussy technique involved.
- The cream cheese and sour cream combo is incredibly rich. Melted together with cheddar and studded with crispy bacon, this tastes like the loaded potato side you already know and love.
- It goes with absolutely everything. Pork chops, grilled chicken, steak, ham – this is the side dish you’ll keep making no matter what’s on the menu.
Ingredient Notes, Swaps, & Tips:
Cauliflower – Fresh works best here. Frozen will work in a pinch, but expect a slightly wetter casserole since frozen cauliflower holds more moisture.
Cream cheese – This is what gives the casserole its rich, creamy texture. Make sure it’s fully softened before mixing so it blends in smoothly.
Sour cream – Adds a little tang alongside all that cheese. Full-fat sour cream gives you the creamiest results.
Bacon – Fry it up ahead of time if you can. We like to make a big batch in the air fryer so it’s ready to go for recipes like this one.
Cheddar cheese – Freshly grated melts smoother than the pre-shredded bags, so grate your own if you have a few extra minutes.
Green onion – Skip it for picky eaters, or swap in chives for a similar flavor.
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 Cauliflower Casserole with Cream Cheese:
- Steam and mash. Chop the cauliflower into florets, add a tablespoon or two of water in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave for about 4 minutes until soft. Drain, then mash with a potato masher. Stovetop steaming works too if you prefer.
- Stir in the dairy. Add the sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar to the mashed cauliflower and stir until melted and creamy.
- Add the bacon and seasonings. Stir in the bacon, green onions, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Bake. Spread into your baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Rather try this in the air fryer? This cheesy cauliflower bake recipe is the place to look!
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.
Storage
- Fridge life: Store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer situation: This casserole freezes well for up to a few months.
- Reheating: Warm covered in the oven, or microwave until hot through.
- Make-ahead magic: Mix everything together and refrigerate unbaked for up to a day, then bake when you’re ready to serve.
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Would you like to save this recipe?
Enter your email and we’ll send it straight to your inbox so you can come back to it anytime!
By submitting you agree to receive this recipe and occasional emails. Unsubscribe anytime.
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:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and calculated automatically – it’s an estimate, not a guarantee. Values can vary depending on the brands and ingredients you use, so if you’re tracking closely, I’d recommend calculating with your own preferred tool. Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and any sugar alcohols.
Jane whitley says
will ty soon
Suzy says
great side dish! I measured out the ounces of cauliflower. Next time I will use the entire head. Highly recommend!