Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

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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!

Two white plates filled with baked cheesy cauliflower casserole recipe topped with bacon. — This cauliflower casserole can easily be served as a tasty side dish or low-carb main meal!

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❤️ Why I love this recipe
🛒 Ingredients
🗒 Instructions
🔪 Equipment
🤔 FAQs
👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
📚 Variations
🥫 Storage
📗 Related Recipes
🍽 Serve with
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
📝 Recipe Card
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ 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

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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.

Collage of the first four steps to making the Cauliflower bake with bacon and cheese.

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.

Collage of second set of four sets to making the cauliflower bake.

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.

The final step to making the cooked vegetable casserole is to sprinkle chopped chives on top.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Garnish with remaining chives and serve!

🔪 Equipment

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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.

Can you make cauliflower casserole ahead of time?

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.

How can I use frozen cauliflower in place of the fresh in this casserole?

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.

Can I freeze cauliflower casserole?

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.

Is loaded cauliflower casserole keto?

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.

Wooden spoon lifting a helping of cheesy bacon cauliflower casserole. — This delicious cauliflower recipe is so popular at our family dinners, I make extra just in case I run out.

👩🏻‍🍳 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.

Closeup of a fork holding a bite of baked cauliflower with cheese and topped with bacon bits. — This cauliflower recipe is such an easy and delicious recipe, everyone is actually eager to eat their vegetables.

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.

🍽 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!

Overhead view of a white plate holding a serving of cauliflower casserole in a cheese sauce and topped with bacon. — We enjoy this creamy cauliflower casserole so much that leftovers are rare.

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