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This loaded roasted cauliflower salad recipe is a medley of smoky, creamy, and cheesy tastes… a lot like a loaded cauliflower casserole, but in salad form! It’s perfect as a side for summer grilling, but the hearty ingredients are also available all year round.
Even though this creamy cauliflower salad is a total crowd-pleaser, I know there’s one reason why people might steer clear from cauliflower — the gas and bloating! Luckily, there’s a natural solution for it: Gasalia.
With plant-based active ingredients and tablets that melt away without water, Gasalia is an easy solution to keep on-hand when you want to enjoy foods that can cause discomfort. And (my favorite part), it contains no artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives. Take it before or after meals, and start enjoying cauliflower again!
What Is Cauliflower Salad?
Like other conventional salads, salad with cauliflower includes fresh vegetables and a creamy dressing. The difference is that it uses cauliflower instead of lettuce!
Plus, this loaded cauliflower salad recipe takes this dish one step further with smoky, tangy toppings – chopped bacon, shredded cheddar, and sour cream!
Why You’ll Love This Roasted Cauliflower Salad Recipe
- Rich, roasted flavor
- Soft and crunchy textures
- Easy to make ahead
- Super quick prep
- Tastes like a loaded baked potato!

Loaded Cauliflower Salad Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this cauliflower bacon salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
For the cauliflower:
- Cauliflower – Use a fresh head of cauliflower with densely packed florets and no blemishes or browning. Cut it into bite-sized florets.
- Olive Oil – I prefer extra virgin, but use whatever olive oil you have on hand, or even avocado oil.
- Salt & Pepper
For the cauliflower salad dressing:
- Mayonnaise – Make your own mayo or use your favorite store-bought brand.
- Sour Cream – I prefer full-fat sour cream for better flavor, but any kind will work.
- Dijon Mustard – Look for a sugar-free one if you can, but any dijon variety works here.
- Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper
For the add-ins:
- Cooked Bacon – You can make bacon in the air fryer, bake your bacon, or even microwave your bacon to cook it even faster!
- Cheddar Cheese – Get it pre-shredded to save more time.
- Green Onions – Sliced thinly, for that classic “loaded” flavor!

How To Make Cauliflower Salad
This section shows how to make cold cauliflower salad with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep cauliflower. Toss florets with oil and seasonings.

- Roast. Arrange cauliflower evenly on a baking sheet and roast until tender and browned. Cool completely.

- Make dressing. Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a bowl.

- Mix. Add cooled cauliflower and add-ins to the bowl, and mix everything together. Enjoy immediately, or chill for at least 2 hours to let flavors develop.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is cauliflower salad like potato salad?
It depends. Salads with cauliflower have many variations, but could mimic potato salad if they used other traditional ingredients like chopped celery, hard boiled eggs and paprika.
This cold cauliflower salad with bacon is more akin to a baked potato than traditional potato salad. But if you’re looking for something more similar to a traditional potato salad, try cauliflower potato salad instead.
How to make cauliflower salad without mayo?
This cauliflower salad with mayonnaise dressing is the best way to serve it. If you must avoid mayo, full-fat Greek yogurt would be the best substitute.
Is cauliflower salad keto?
Not always! Some salads add sugar to the dressing or use higher-carb add-ins. However, this salad is a keto cauliflower salad because it uses naturally low carb ingredients and no sugar.
Storage Instructions
- To store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- To meal prep: Chop cauliflower into florets, prepare dressing separately, and combine them with add-ins only when you’re ready to serve.
- Avoid freezing this salad, as flavors and textures will change too much.

What To Serve With Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This cauliflower cheese salad pairs perfectly with easy proteins — especially grilled ones!
- Juicy Burgers
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
- Crispy Baked Chicken Legs
- New York Strip Steak
More Hearty Salad Recipes
Skip the lettuce and try these satisfying salads instead!
- Cold Roast Vegetable Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad
- Keto Broccoli Salad With Bacon
- Horiatiki Greek Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
Tools To Make Roasted Cauliflower Salad
- Baking Sheet – Perfect for roasting just about anything.
- Gasalia – Lets you enjoy cauliflower more often!
Roasted Cauliflower Salad Recipe
Loaded Roasted Cauliflower Salad Recipe
This loaded roasted cauliflower salad recipe is bursting with smoky cheese, crispy bacon, crunchy green onions, and a creamy dressing. Ready in 30 minutes!
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Roasted cauliflower:
Dressing:
Add-ins:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
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In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
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Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until tender and browned on the edges.
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When the cauliflower is done, cool completely.
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Meanwhile, wipe down the bowl from the cauliflower. Add all the dressing ingredients and whisk together.
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Add the cooled cauliflower, bacon, cheese, and green onions. Mix together with the dressing.
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You can serve immediately, but for the best flavor, chill for 2 hours before serving.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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21 Comments
Chelsea Halisheff
0This is always the best side if you can’t figure out what else to do. This is delish.
OWhatAThrill
0This sounds wonderful m, will have to try it but I’m fairly new to Keto, what make 1 cup almost 6 carbs? Cauliflower itself? The mayo? Still going to try it, just trying to learn as I go.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi, Yes, there are carbs in cauliflower which is where the carbs in the nutritional facts come from.
Rick
0The recipe calls for 1 head of cauliflower…any idea on weight, sizes vary so much at my grocery store.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rick, I usually try for a head that is about 1.5-2 lbs.
Katie
0I’m convinced every veggie is better roasted. This is so good and everyone loves it!
Amy L Huntley
0This recipe is a perfect side dish to any BBQ. It has so many of my favorite food in one salad.
Natalie
0What a great use of cauliflower! It’s a tasty salad, that would be great with so many things!
Ann
0If you enjoy cauliflower, you will want to try this terrific recipe
Kristyn
0Yum! Love this!! The dressing is delicious & makes the salad!
Kara
0Holy yum! I’ve been trying to make au gratin cauliflower, but I like this much better. I cooked the cauliflower till barely tender, and it is so good with the bacon and cheese!
Robin Donovan
0I love this recipe. Great way to eat cauliflower!
Allyson Zea
0Wow the flavors here were amazing! Loved every bite!
Donna Burke
0Everyone loves this salad so much! I can’t wait to make it again!
Camille
0I am so excited to try this!
Susan
0YUM! This recipe sounds like a must-make for me. I plan to add some sautéed chicken to make it a whole meal salad.
Linda
0Our new favorite salad! Love every bite of it and so flavorbomb!
Paula
0Everybody’s wrong…. healthy does taste good!! Thanks for another great recipe!
Susan K Norris
0Sounds like a 10+ for rating!!!
Cindy
0This was fabulous! So many complimentary flavors!
Scarlet
0This was my first cauliflower salad but it was delish! You brought the flavor with the dijon, bacon, and cheese.