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As the weather cools down, I’m in comfort food mode. And, low carb comfort food often means cauliflower is involved. How about an easy loaded cauliflower casserole?
How To Make Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Healthy
Okay, that header is a trick question. If you ask me, loaded cauliflower casserole is already healthy! The cauliflower is a delicious way to make a low carb comfort food side dish that’s packed with veggies.
Now, don’t attack me for calling this side dish healthy. Sure, cauliflower casserole does have butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon in it.
Some people may be wondering if I’m crazy to consider it healthy. But, I’m not one to fear fat. I believe that it can be a good thing if you use unprocessed sources. I use grass-fed butter and uncured bacon. And, a casserole like this is much healthier than one with potatoes.
My friend, Kim, has a yummy loaded cauliflower recipe using mashed cauliflower. Try her version here if you miss mashed potatoes!
I like to make my easy cauliflower casserole using whole cauliflower florets instead. That way, I get the flavor of roasted cauliflower and don’t have to wash my food processor. The entire prep time is just around ten minutes, which is awesome for busy weeknights.
Twice Baked Cauliflower Casserole
If you’ve seen any of my other low carb cauliflower recipes, you know that I’m a big fan of roasting the cauliflower first.
This is my method with pretty much every baked cauliflower casserole that I make. Always, always roast it first. So much more flavor that way! Try my pesto chicken bake and cheesy beef marinara casseroles to see what I mean.
So, it’s no surprise that my favorite way to make an easy cauliflower casserole is a twice baked version. The result is actually a little similar to cauliflower mac and cheese with keto cheese sauce.
Can you guess the first step when making this cheesy cauliflower casserole? Roast the cauliflower florets, of course! That way, you get some crispy edges to the florets, without the smell and blandness of steaming.
While that’s doing its thing, mix all the loaded toppings together. These are all the ones you’d expect on a loaded baked potato.
Garlic, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions! So good. You could use chives instead of the onions, if you want to.
Next, stir the toppings into the roasted cauliflower casserole dish. Add some more cheese and bacon on top, then bake again. Baking the second time only takes five to ten minutes.
Don’t let the concept of twice baked cauliflower throw you off this recipe, because it’s still super quick. Baking twice doesn’t have to mean a lot of time or effort. It’s just about half an hour for the whole thing!
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole for the Family
For a deliciously cheesy cauliflower casserole that the whole family will love, this is the one. It’s a dish you can serve for picky family members that don’t want to eat vegetables. It’s pretty much the epitome of comfort food. I’ll bet they won’t mind the veggies with all that cheese and bacon in there! And if they are still feeling leery, then try out low carb cheesy cauliflower tater tots on them.
Loaded cauliflower casserole is also a yummy option if you have guests coming over. You can prepare most of it in advance. We all love that convenience when hosting, right? Just complete the final second baking step right before serving.
If your family still insists on potatoes, you can make the same toppings for you and them. Then, just bake in two separate casserole dishes. It’s easy to make one version with potatoes and one with cauliflower. If you ask me, the cauliflower and cheese casserole is the much better version, anyway.
Easy Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe:
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RECIPE CARD
Easy Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe
PrintIngredients
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- 1 large head Cauliflower (cut into small florets)
- 2 tbsp Butter (melted)
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- 2/3 cup Sour cream
- 1/4 cup Heavy cream
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded, divided)
- 6 tbsp Bacon bits (cooked, divided)
- 1/4 cup Green onions (chopped, divided)
Instructions
RECIPE TIPS in the post above! VIDEO + nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with butter. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
Transfer the cauliflower to a small 1.5 quart (1.4 L) casserole dish in a single layer. (Line the pan unless it's glass or stoneware. If there's too much cauliflower to fit in a single layer, roast on a larger baking sheet instead.) Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until crisp-tender.
- Meanwhile, in the same bowl, whisk together the sour cream and heavy cream, until smooth. Stir in the minced garlic, half of the cheddar cheese, half of the bacon bits, and half of the green onions. If desired, season sauce with sea salt and black pepper. (Don't oversalt - it will get more salty as the cheese melts later.)
- When the cauliflower is done roasting, take it out and leave the oven on. Add the cauliflower to the bowl and mix with the sauce.
- Return the cauliflower mixture to the casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and bacon bits.
Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese melts. Top with remaining green onions.
You'll Also Like These Keto Low Carb Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Video Showing How To Make Loaded Cauliflower Casserole:
Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make Loaded Cauliflower Casserole!
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support!
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
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133 Comments
Jennifer Leigh
I’m not a fan of cauliflower but this was amazing! I will be making this again and again. Thank you!
Gloria Valle
Amazing, amazing absolutely amazing dish! Thank you.
Beverly Goodman
It looked great! It tasted great! But the bottom was watery.
Kathy Line
Did you use fresh or frozen cauliflower? whenever I try to roast frozen veggies they are watery which makes sense. The end result is still good but fresh is better
Neisha
Mixed in some shredded pork I had left over and some smoke paprika. So good! On my new go to list.
Lorelei
Yay! Just what I was looking for to satisfy my “potato-esque” desire! What’s even better is my cauliflower hating crew had no clue that my loaded potato casserole had no potatoes! The key to faking everyone out is chopping the cauliflower small – or use riced cauliflower – then roasting till golden brown! This recipe will definitely be in regular circulation. Thank you for making Keto easy AND delicious!
Stephenie
I made the cauliflower loaded casserole and my 13 year old daughter loved it. She ate 3 plates and asked if I could make it again. Thank you!
Denise
Hi there. Looking to make this, but does heavy cream mean half and half, 18%, or 35%?
Wholesome Yum
Hi Denise, you’ll want heavy cream with 36% (or more) milk fat. Half and half may work, but the final texture may be a little less creamy.
Gerald
Omg way to good
Lola Miller
Great Recipe!!! We loved it!
Almut
I finally got to make it,it was delicious thank you for the recipe.
Jill
Can this be made ahead of time and put in the freezer?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jill, Sometimes dairy has issues when freezing, but you should be able to do it if you stir it well after reheating.
Jennifer
Everyone loved it and so easy to make.
Dawn Woody
This looks amazing. Making it tonight. I have made many of your recipes and every single one has been DELICIOUS!
Wendy S Rockwood
I made this tonight with Ham for our Easter dinner instead of the normal potatoes au gratin…I thought this was way better! So delicious!! Can’t wait to have it again!
Lorri
I made this dish last night. I did a couple of things different, I roasted the cauliflower with the garlic & added some chopped onions. I also broiled it the last 5 minutes to brown the cheese a bit. It came out delicious. I will definately make this again. Thanks Maya
Jennifer Campbell
I can’t wait to try this for Easter! Would riced cauliflower work for this recipe? I didn’t see any comments about anyone substituting it but I have a huge bag of riced cauliflower I could use for this if you think it would work.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jennifer, Yes, you can definitely do that! Just cook the riced cauliflower any way you like (I prefer stir frying) instead the step where you cook the florets in the recipe.
Kelsey
This was an awesome side dish. Made a few modifications – roasted some onions alongside the cauliflower, included sauteed bell peppers and kale, used yogurt and milk instead of sour cream and heavy cream, and added some dijon to the sauce. I may add even more veggies next time. Thanks for the recipe!
Sonji Lewis
Ok….so I’m very NEW to the Keto diet but was experiencing the Keto flu. I NEEDED some type of satiety…potatoes, bread, idk!! I came upon this recipe AND read the reviews carefully…..OMG!! I made it tonight and am soooo satisfied with how this turned out! It tastes AMAZING! My husband who, reluctantly, joined my journey said this is the best meal I’ve ever made! I added chicken because he won’t eat anything without it. But this was my FIRST time eating cauliflower and I will have it no other way!!! Thanks for helping us during our start up!
Sandra Lee Anderson
Hi! Can this be made with frozen cauliflower florets? I’m not opposed to buying fresh, but we already have frozen 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sandra, Yes, definitely! The roasting time would just be a longer.
Lynn
Hi Maya.
Can I use almond milk?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lynn, What are you trying to use it for?
Helen
OMGosh! This is my new fav cauliflower dish! It gives me that baked potato fix! Super easy too! My son said it would be a great thanksgiving side! That’s a BIG compliment! I’ll share and make again.
Nancy
Oh my goodness! I didn’t have cheddar so I subbed Monterey Jack – oh.my.word. DELICIOUS!!!
Jennifer
This was AMAZING!!! I do not like cauliflower, but I am trying to eat less carbs. This recipe changed my opinion. It is full of cheesy goodness, and my son who stated that he is a carnivore even loved it. I will definitely be making this again. Next time I am going to add some chicken and green chilies. I love the idea of dinner in one pan. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Susan
This is one of the BEST things I have tried! I added some cooked, cubed chicken for a all in one casserole and it will be made VERY often in my house!
Wilhelmina
This is top notch comfort food! So much cheesy goodness!
Jenn
This cauli casserole is seriously crave-worthy! Such an impressive dish!
Aimee Shugarman
This was so delicious, my family gobbled it up!
sugrbug2
This sounds delicious! I haven’t made it yet, but have a question. Since I am already home and have frozen cauliflower, how could I go about roasting It? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
You can roast frozen cauliflower and use it in this recipe. It would just take longer, and the texture turns out slightly different, but it’s still really good!
Resa
This was absolutely delicious! I have been a vegetarian my entire life and sometimes it gets a bit boring with the combinations of foods I can eat. Made this for my fiancee and I tonight and we both absolutely loved it. Thank you! I will definitely be making this again!
laura
Yes, I have made this fabulous recipe twice now…once for my parents and once for our guests. Delicious and easy.
John Holt
Very good I will roast for 15 min next time.
Tasty. And easy
Marissa
Quick, easy, yummy, and cheap! Two thumbs up from this college student!!
BusyMom
Wow! Delicious, this was perfect! I had tried a different recipe for lauded cauliflower but could not find it so I went with Wholesome Yum because I have tried several recipes from this site and they are always winners. Wow we were not disappointed, this will be saved in our recipe files, to be remade, everyone loved it!!! Please keep posting more recipes I love everything I have tried so far!! Thank you!
Sheila Lowrie
OK……..this was the best cauliflower I have ever eaten, better and more flavorful than twice baked potatoes! I don’t ever want to eat cauliflower any other way and can’t wait to have it again!
Doreen
Wow! This is super tasty! Leaving the florets as they break off does save a lot of time, and I’m not a fan of mashed…anything really! I don’t like the texture (had a stroke age 16, and I think the nurses found it easier to feed me ‘easy’ mashed food…, hated it since! But please don’t think I’m ungrateful!! Actually, right about then was when my weight problems began…couldn’t put weight on before then! but I’ve strayed from the point. This is another winner Maya! Thank you. Hope you have a brilliant Christmas and New year…and thank you for all your help on my lifelong carb busting journey xxx
kathy
Had this first the other night at a potluck and had to hunt down the recipe – scrumptious doesn’t begin to describe just how tasty this simple casserole is. A family favorite was found that night
Michelle
Hi! I made this for my family and they loved it! Today im making it again with 1/2 broccoli 1/2 cauliflower. My question is
Can you substitute cream cheese, instead of sour cream?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Michelle! You can probably use cream cheese instead of sour cream, but it would be thicker, so you may need to thin out the sauce more.
Letitia
Can I make this ahead of time and freeze it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Letitia, Yes, that should work. The sauce might separate a bit after re-heating, so just stir well as needed and it should be fine.
txgrandma
I forgot to mention that roasting the cauliflower first instead of blanching it is genius! It gives it a real flavor bump and increases the richness of the taste.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yes, I love roasting vegetables!
txgrandma
I made this recipe for our family dinner this weekend and it was a real hit! My daughter makes the cheesy hash brown casserole for her family because it’s one of their favorites and so they were anxious to try this. My 5 year old grandson even asked for seconds. It will have a regular place at our family dinners. Thanks for this great idea!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for stopping by!
BVP
This is the best recipe ever! My meat and taters husband has actually requested this dish twice in two weeks, I have made it at least once a week since we found it. So simple to make too! Thanks Maya!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you!
Pat Gauvin
I would like written instructions with amounts. and baking times for the easy cheesy cauliflower casserole. I need to print them out in order to make this delicious sounding dish. I like the one that prebakes the cauliflower instead of steaming it first.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Pat, The instructions are on the recipe card above. You can use the print button to see a printer friendly version.
Cheryl
Making this tomorrow for my son in law’s bday dinner. Broccoli us hus favorite, what do you think about doing 1/2 cauliflower and 1/2 broccoli?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I think that sounds delicious, Cheryl!
Sara Jennen
I have made it with all broccoli and it is delish! I actually prefer it!
Linda
The flavor on this recipe is ah-mazing! I had more than one serving! Mine turned out one less carb (as per Carb Manager). Gotta say I loved it! And that it was so easy to make and it didnt take forever. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Linda! Have a great day!
Abby
I definitely had more than one serving. Try 4
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am glad you liked it, Abby!
Melissa
Yummmmmmmy!!! I didn’t have heavy cream so I used cream cheese. Still amazing:)
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I’m so glad you liked it, Melissa!
Heather
I made this three times in two weeks because my friends and family couldn’t get enough
I even told a friend looking for a dish for a dinner party to make it. Super easy and doesn’t take forever to make. Will make it again soon.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Heather! Thank you!
Ted Ream
This was amazing!!! Thanks so much for this KETO friendly recipe ❤️❤️❤️
My kids loved it as well and they hate veggies
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Ted! It’s the best when even the kids like it. 🙂
Kathy
I made this as to recipe and it looks as delicious as it is! Used largest organic cauliflower head I could find and wished I had more. It only layered a 3.L casserole dish.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Kathy! Definitely feel free to scale the recipe if you want more of it.
Livinglifetothefullest
This was so good my family loved it.
I can’t wait to try other keto recipes.
#Iloveketolifestyle
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy that you liked the casserole! Have a great day!
Shannon
Made as directed and it was delicious!! My husband HATES cauliflower, but he had second helpings of this dish! Thank you for sharing such an easy and tasty recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy that you liked this, Shannon! Have a great day!
Dale Lydiard
I am making this with cream cheese, asparagus and bacon
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for sharing, Dale! That sounds delicious!
Glenda
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I hope you like it, Glenda! Thanks for stopping by!
Tracey Agard
Just finished baking it. It looks and smells delicious! Can’t wait to have it for lunch. Thank you Maya for your wonderful recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Tracey! Please come back again soon!
Doreen
This is so easy, flavoursome and satisfying! Thank you for all your lovely recipes Maya!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Doreen! I’m had you liked it.
christina
Seriously insanely good!! I ommited the bacon due to personal reasons but my whole family gobbled up!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the casserole, Christina! Please come back again soon!
Danna
This sounds delicious but can it be frozen? Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Danna, Yes, you can freeze it!
Siobhan Smith
Made this tonight and OMG WAS SO GOOD! My two year old loved this! I substituted bacon for lean ground beef, added ranch seasoning with the meat and a little extra cheese and it was AMAZING! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the casserole, Siobhan!
Jessie Sams
I had to substitute a couple things and this came out great! The Bomb! Will do it again the right way, but even with these subs (Yogurt for sour cream; turkey bacon for real bacon; and spinach for green onions) it is so good! Thank you Maya!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love your substitutions, Jessie!
Susie
WoW! Just made this recipe……. my only concern is, I hope I don’t eat the whole batch!
It is delicious, and super easy. Good call on roasting the cauliflower too!
Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Ha, that is hard not to do, Susie! I am so happy you liked the casserole!
CandyC
Loved this, thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Candy! I am so happy you liked it!
Rosie
I haven’t tried making a recipe with cauliflower like this, it sounds delish, especially as we’re fond of sour cream in dishes, I’m excited to try it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I hope you love it, Rosie! Have a nice day!
Kim
Thank you so much for this dish! I made this for our extended family Easter dinner, and everyone loved it! (They are not keto, and usually take just a very small “just to be polite” portion of keto dishes I’ve brought before.) No leftovers at all today; I’ll have to make a double or even triple batch next time!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Kim! That means a lot. I know what you mean, it’s the best feeling ever when my non-keto family members finish off my keto food. 🙂
Melissa
I did as well. But I made a double batch because my kids devour it. Wanted to make sure everyone got some.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Melissa! Thanks for stopping by!
Annie
Made this the other night to go with steaks. The family went crazy for it! We decided we will make it for our Easter dinner. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Annie! Having this with steak sounds perfect.
Heather Monk
i love this recipe!!!!!!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you Heather!
Angela
Do you think it would be ok to freeze this casserole? I’ve been wanting to make it and have cauliflower that I need to use, but have other things I’m making that need to be eaten first.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Angela, Yes, you can! Just pop it in the oven when ready to eat. You’ll need to stir it well after, or possibly halfway through, to make sure the sauce doesn’t separate.
Stacy
Can you provide a link to a printable version of the recipe? Look forward to making it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Stacy, There is a print button on the recipe card. Let me know how you like it!
Terri Fant
This is a very good recipe. I’ll be serving it with pulled pork tonight.
Terri Fant
The cauliflower cheese casserole was very good and I will make it again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Terri!
Collette Davis
Can this be made the day before and heated in the oven when ready to serve?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Collette, Yes, absolutely!
Laura
Donna could you use ham instead of bacon. Wanted to make a ham and potatoe cassarole, but this sounds better yet. Yum!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
That would definitely work, sounds delicious!
gmasmith
How many cups or ounces for the cauliflower. My head weighs about 10 pounds.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Wow, that’s a gigantic head of cauliflower! Are you sure it’s 10 pounds? This recipe assumes about 4 cups of florets, though a little more or less will work just fine.
Donna
Could you freeze leftovers? I have to make options for my husband. I like to freeze single servings? Love your recipes.
Donna
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Donna! I haven’t tried freezing it. I know that sour cream sometimes separates when freezing, but since this will be reheated, it might be just fine if you mix it really well afterward. Let me know how it goes if you try!
Joshua
Quick question, any idea how many bacon strips I should plan on cooking to get the 6tbsp of crumbled bacon bits? Really like the site, thanks for taking the time to post and share these recipes, it’s very much appreciated! (I suppose I could just cook more bacon than I think I’ll need….worst case scenario, EXTRA BACON haha).
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Joshua, A tablespoon of crumbled bacon bits is approximately 1 slice. It will vary a bit depending on how thick it is. But 6 slices is a good estimate. Like you said, the worst case scenario is too much bacon – and when is that ever a bad thing? 🙂
Michelle
I made this today and it was so good. No leftovers!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Michelle!
Carolyn
I want to try this, but don’t have enough fresh. Does it work with frozen cauliflower?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Carolyn, Yes, absolutely! Just remove any ice crystals and roast it from frozen (don’t thaw it first, or it will be more mushy). The roasting time will take longer, but otherwise the recipe will be the same.
Carolyn Ricketts co
Why can I not access the recipe for chicken bacon ranch casserole?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Carolyn, I’m sorry about that. It’s possible the server was down at the moment, would you mind trying again?
Carolyn Ricketts co
GREAT recipe! Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Carolyn!
Marcia
Where do the 3 grams of sugar come from?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Marcia, It comes mainly from the cauliflower. A whole large head of cauliflower has 16 grams of sugar (this is divided among the servings in the recipe). Cheddar cheese, green onions, and heavy cream also have tiny amounts.
Marcia Little
I love this recipe, my problem is that I’m addicted to roasted cauliflower. It seems that I should roast two cauliflowers if any one else or a bowl of cheese sauce is to get some, haha. Thank you for your site, come here all the time.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Marcia! I’m glad you like my cauliflower recipes. 🙂