This Cauliflower casserole is loaded with fork tender cauliflower florets in a seasoned cream cheese mixture with shredded cheese and bacon bits.
The loaded casserole is baked until the cheese is fully melted - ready to be garnished with fresh chopped chives. This is a delicious keto-friendly side dish or main meal!
Jump to:
❤️ Why I love this recipe
- This cauliflower bake pairs beautifully with various dishes. I like to add it to midweek dinners, even holidays, or special occasions.
- Even picky eaters enjoy a healthy serving of this veggie bake. The cheesy cauliflower bake is irresistible!
- You won’t need flour or cream of soup to thicken this cheesy cauliflower casserole - perfect for those wanting a low-carb or keto-friendly dish.
Enjoy this healthy, low-carb cheesy cauliflower casserole for any occasion. Even the picky eaters will be back for more!
🛒 Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.
- Fresh cauliflower - for ease you may purchase fresh cauliflower florets from the vegetable department of your grocery store.
- Cream cheese - we recommend full-fat for optimum flavor.
- Sour cream - the full-fat variety yields the best results.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese - works best flavor-wise since cauliflower is a mild vegetable.
- Monterey Jack - adds delicious creaminess and taste to the vegetable bake.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper for seasoning and taste.
- Bacon - can't beat it for flavor and taste.
- Fresh chives - makes the cauliflower bake's flavor explode.
🗒 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Steam the florets until fork tender and drain well.
- Preheat the oven and grease a casserole dish.
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cheese in a mixing bowl.
- Add the garlic powder and onion powder.
- Mix the cheese mixture until it's creamy and smooth.
- Gently fold in the cauliflower, ½ of the bacon, and chives. Season with salt and pepper.
- Spoon the mixture into the baking dish.
- Top with the remaining bacon.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Garnish with remaining chives and serve!
🔪 Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Glass Casserole baking dish
- Mixing bowl
- Steamer basket
- Colander
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
🤔 FAQs
These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Cheesy Cauliflower Baked Casserole recipe.
Yes! Prepare the loaded cauliflower casserole and store it unbaked or baked in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Purchase frozen cauliflower florets and steam them as you would fresh cauliflower. You may need to adjust the steaming and baking time, as frozen cauliflower is softer than fresh cauliflower.
Yes! Allow the cauliflower bake to cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Transfer the cauliflower casserole to the freezer and store it for up to 3 months.
You bet it is! Cauliflower is a keto-favorite as it is very low in carbs. This recipe also calls for high-fat ingredients, which is ideal for someone following a ketogenic diet.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Choose fresh cauliflower florets that are firm and don’t have blemishes or spots.
- Boiling the cauliflower for a short time before baking helps to ensure that it’s cooked through by the end of the baking time.
- Always use good quality cheese for this cheesy cauliflower casserole. Cauliflower is naturally bland in flavor, so the combination of different cheeses creates a delicious flavor.
- The cream cheese and sour cream help to bind the cauliflower and cheese together. Allow time for the cream cheese to soften for it to mix easily with the cauliflower and cheese.
- Only top the vegetable casserole with fresh chopped chives after the casserole has baked otherwise, the chives will wilt and burn. Other fresh garnish includes parsley and green onions.
- Spray the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray for easy cleanup.
📚 Variations
- Make the casserole spicier by adding spices such as cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or paprika.
- Substitute cheeses such as Fontina, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and Parmesan cheese for the Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack.
- For a crunchy texture, sprinkle buttered Panko breadcrumbs over the top of the casserole before baking.
- Make this casserole vegetarian by removing the bacon.
- Turn this loaded cauliflower casserole into a main dish by adding shredded chicken or turkey.
🥫 Storage
This cheesy cauliflower casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or the oven, covered with aluminum foil to prevent the top from burning.
📗 Related Recipes
- Buffalo Cauliflower Bites - This is another delicious cauliflower recipe only with a smoky and spicy flavor. It's even perfect as a tasty appetizer or side dish.
- Cheesy Broccoli Casserole - If you don’t enjoy cauliflower, this cheesy broccoli casserole is a delicious alternative!
- Italian Baked Eggplant Parmesan - Ditch the carbs and enjoy a healthy and comforting baked eggplant parmesan made with aubergine, sausage, tomato filling, and a creamy parmesan sauce.
- Southern Spinach Madeline with Italian Charm – Easy Southern Spinach Madeline – This is the type of vegetable side that will have everyone wanting a second helping.
🍽 Serve with
Enjoy this cheesy cauliflower casserole as a side dish to grilled meat, pan-seared pork chops, meatloaf, baked salmon, or roast beef.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
Why settle for the predictable side of vegetables? With this recipe you have a mouth-watering cheesy cauliflower casserole in your culinary arsenal.
This low-carb and keto-friendly ultra-creamy cauliflower casserole can transform any ordinary weeknight meal into a dish you’re glad to serve. It's also a fabulous vegetable side to serve over the holidays or for special occasions.
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📝 Recipe Card
This cauliflower casserole is going to quickly become one of your favorite low-carb dishes yet! It’s loaded with fork-tender cauliflower in a cream cheese mixture, bacon bits, and shredded melted cheese!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
📖 Recipe
Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lbs cauliflower florets cut in bite size pieces
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
- 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack cheese finely shredded
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 6 slices crispy cooked bacon - divided coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh chives chopped - reserve one tablespoon for the top
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower until fork tender; approximately 10 minutes. Drain well in a colander.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with non-stick vegetable spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until creamy and smooth. Gently stir in cauliflower, ½ of the bacon, and chives minus 1 Tablespoon. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
- Spoon the vegetable mixture into a casserole dish and top with the remaining bacon.Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Top with remaining chives, bacon and serve.
Notes
- Choose fresh cauliflower florets that are firm and don’t have blemishes or spots.
- Boiling the cauliflower for a short time before baking helps to ensure that it’s cooked through by the end of the baking time.
- Always use good quality cheese for this cheesy cauliflower casserole. Cauliflower is naturally bland in flavor, so the combination of different cheeses creates a delicious flavor.
- The cream cheese and sour cream help to bind the cauliflower and cheese together. Allow time for the cream cheese to soften for it to mix easily with the cauliflower and cheese.
- For optimum flavor use full fat cream cheese and sour cream.
- Only top the vegetable casserole with fresh chopped chives after the casserole has baked otherwise, the chives will wilt and burn. Other fresh garnish includes parsley and green onions.
- Spray the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray for easy cleanup.
Nutrition
Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!
We'll never share your email or send you spam. Promise
