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!
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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:
Jacqueline says
I made this recipe last night for dinner guests and it was a big hit. I substituted chives for the green onions and sprinkled a little extra cheddar and bacon on the top before baking. I also grated the cheddar myself instead of using pregrated bagged cheese, but I did use 2 bags of frozen riced cauliflower. It turned out perfect. Very nice consistency.
Cheryl Boaldin says
This recipe was amazing and spool delicious! My very picky autistic seven year old who hates everything but chicken nuggets and cheese absolutely loved this and begged for seconds and thirds. Any food that passes that test is a must in our household!
Karly Campbell says
So glad to hear that!
Christine Conner says
can low fat cream cheese work for this??
Karly Campbell says
It should work fine.
Brooklyn says
I am wondering why its called twice baked cauliflower casserole. According to the recipe it is only baked 20 mins. Am I missing something? Or is it just a spin on the ever popular twice baked potatos?
Karly Campbell says
It’s just a spin on twice baked potatoes. 🙂
Vickihsmith@aol.com says
Can you give the macros?
Karly Campbell says
They’re in the recipe card.
Michelle Devaney says
When can you freeze this dish… Before baking or after?
Karly Campbell says
I think you could likely freeze either way.
Markene says
What are the nutritional facts on this recipe?
Karly Campbell says
Nutrition info is located in the recipe card.
Pam Hopkins says
Karly,
Thank you for the ebook. I’m anxious
to start making your recipes.
Tim slifka says
After reading all the reviews and just buying a giant head of cauliflower for a 99 cents looking for a recipe can’t wait to try it thanks for the info
Karly Campbell says
Enjoy!
Jane says
Wow, delish and my family likes it better than the mashed potatoes
Karly Campbell says
That’s awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
Andrea says
Do you think this would hold up well in a crock pot (for keeping warm purpose only) for a pot luck at a work function?
Karly Campbell says
I haven’t done it, but I think it would hold up perfectly. 🙂
Regina says
I bet this would also be good by adding ranch seasoning to it. We love ranch!!!
Karly Campbell says
Ranch does make everything better!
Jennifer Wilson says
I made this today as a trial run before Thanksgiving. It is delicious!!! I will have to double the batch for Thanksgiving as I know even my family that doesn’t eat low carb will LOVE this!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Amy says
Thinking the same thing. When you double the batch will you cook it longer?
Jennifer Wilson says
yes I will probably cook it a little longer….not sure how much longer though. It just all needs to be hot so depending on what dish I put it in will determine my cooking time.
Karen says
What happens if you over microwave the cauliflower? I’m at6 minutes and it is still too hard to mash. Wondering if I went to far with the microwaving (or just have too much in the bowl)
Karly Campbell says
I’m not sure, but I don’t think it would get too hard after just a couple of extra minutes. Was your plastic wrap on nice and tight? You have to trap the steam in or it will probably take longer to cook. Hope it worked out for you!
Shirley Lewis says
My sis made this for a party and not one of the 16 guests figured they were eating cauliflower and loved it and asked for the recipe. It doesn’t seem very low in artery clogging fats however.
Karly Campbell says
This recipe is great for keto with it’s higher fat content, but totally understand it won’t work for every diet. Glad it was a hit either way. 🙂
Susie says
When I loaded the ingredients into MyFitnessPal to “Create Recipe”, the nutrition count, especially carbs and calories were much higher than it says above. I will message MFP and ask why the huge difference. Thanks for any input you can give me. I baked tonight. It was DELICIOUS!!
Karly Campbell says
It’ll depend on the specific items you click in MFP. It’s very finicky and I just grab the ones that look most accurate to me.
Shawn says
Does this recipe come out a thin consistency like cauliflower tends to do, or does the cream cheese add body to it?
Karly Campbell says
It’s thicker than plain mashed cauliflower, for sure. We love the texture. 🙂
Tina S. says
Is it ok to prepare it like a couple hours ahead before you are ready to bake it?
Karly Campbell says
That should be fine.
Jen says
Would using riced cauliflower work just as well?
Karly Campbell says
Yep, it should work fine!
Debby says
20 ounces!??? Weight or size? Why can’t you use cups?
Karly Campbell says
I’m not sure what you mean by weight or size – an ounce is a measurement of weight. You can weigh the head of cauliflower at the grocery store using their scales or you can purchase the pre-cut florets or rice by weight as well.
Rocco says
Using cauliflower rice is it still mashed?