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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! You can also make low carb loaded potatoes using radishes.
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.
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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Easy Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe
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Ingredients
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Instructions
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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.
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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.
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Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese melts. Top with remaining green onions.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 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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350 Comments
Micki
If I wanted to do this as a prep-ahead recipe, could I roast the cauliflower and put together the sauce, store them separately and then combine when I’m ready to bake? Would the roasted cauliflower still be good after being in the fridge for a day or two? I suppose I could just do the sauce ahead of time, but would like to do both if possible. Thoughts?
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Micki, Yes you could prep both ahead of time and heat up when you are ready to eat.
Norma
Excellent recipe!! My family loved it!
Karen Hunt
Thank you so much Maya. Your Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is delicious! I had given up on cauliflower after trying it mashed until I looked up your recipe. It’s on the menu again. Awesome!
Megan
This was a HUGE hit to say the least. I brought it to my families Easter dinner. It was all gone in a matter of minutes. Everyone went home asking for the recipe.. so I shared the app! Thank you for the great recipe and the wonderful app that makes it all so easy and accessible.
Andrea
Absolutely delicious, even my husband likes it. We had it with a lamb chop, yummy, thank you.
Lejla
I just made this for dinner and have enjoyed it very much. Great recipe! Thank you for sharing. 👍
Sondra Johnson
OMG! This was fantastic! My husband gave it a “10” – said he could eat this every day. Thanks Maya for a wonderful recipe! (Served it with a rotisserie chicken and roasted asparagus.)
Linda P.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
Alyssa
I didn’t have sour cream so I used 2/3 cup heavy cream and it is still so delicious!
K.
How long will this keep in fridge after cooked? Thanks for reply!
Wholesome Yum D
You can store in an air tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
SW Scholar
Amazing recipe. We loved it. Will probably make a double recipe next time. I omitted the fresh garlic in the sauce and instead seasoned the cauliflower before I roasted it with a seasoning from Kinders called The Blend which is salt/pepper/garlic.
John Lacenere
I love it it’s quick and delicious. I used my ninja foodie xl.
Jami
The recipe was delicious. But seriously, the webpage is simply awful. Ingredients were obstructed, and the ads are just more than annoying.
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Jami, Thanks for your feedback. Ads keep the Wholesome Yum website running and allow me to develop recipes that readers like you can access absolutely free. However, you may be interested in Wholesome Yum Plus, which includes an ad-free version of the website, along with other perks.
Stephie
It’s not so much the ads, it’s the formatting. The ‘Pin, Facebook and Save’ circlets overlay the recipe on the left side. It ends up cutting off the first 4 spaces, so instead of seeing 2/3 cups you see 3 cups because the “2/” is cut off. Then some of the ads change the placement of the recipe vertically, so you are reading it and suddenly it shifts down, a few seconds later it shifts the opposite direction. I believe this is what they are referring to in their post.
BUT, the recipe itself is FANTASTIC. Thank you so much. It is a keeper. I couldn’t stop eating it and I’m buying more cauliflower tomorrow just to make it again. Roasting takes it to a whole new level.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Stephie, Oh no, what you are describing definitely should not be happening! I’ll take a look at this. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’m so glad you like the recipe!
Lizzy
Is it possible to do half cauliflower & half broccoli? The family loves both & have made many with with that combo. Thanks so much!!
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Lizzy, Yes, that would also work!
Karen Todd
This was delicious and my husband loved it.
Lori
Can you leave out the heavy cream altogether, I’m diabetic and that has a lot of things I shouldn’t have.
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Lori, You could omit it but the sauce would be very thick.
Angie
Loved it!
Susan
I’m really big into one pot meals these days and it occurs to me that adding some shredded chicken to this yummy-sounding dish would make it a complete meal. I will try that.
Christina
This dish was amazing as a side at Christmas dinner! A star of the meal. I adjusted it slightly, using plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I also cooked a small diced onion and the garlic cloves until they were soft and translucent (about 6 mins) and mixed that into the dish. I didn’t add the bacon or green onions on top. I will definitely be making this again.
Laura
Can you use 2% milk instead of heavy cream
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Laura, I have never used 2% in this recipe, one being because 2% milk is not low carb and two being you want a thick and creamy texture and you will only get that from HWC.
Amy
Great recipe, so tasty every time. This is a new go to recipe for my family. I roast the cauliflower in the bacon grease rather than adding butter.
Sarene
Second time I’ve made this. First was Thanksgiving, a friend who had it that evening requested it for her birthday dinner. It was a huge hit both nights. Feedback was “Who would have thought cauliflower would steal the show!”
Deb Steppe
If using frozen cauliflower do you boil then roast or just roast etc…
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Deb, I would thaw and then roast your cauliflower.
Dawn E Van Riper
Could I use frozen cauliflower in this recipe?
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Dawn, Frozen cauliflower should work as a replacement in this recipe.
HK
How would you cook in crockpot?
Wholesome Yum D
It may work in a slow cooker, but I’ve never tried it to give any recommendations. Let me know how it goes and what you did if you decide to experiment with it.
Janet Howgate
Awesome. But I should have done more cauliflower I’m still hungry. Lol.
Anita
Loved it!!
Vickie
Is this recipe gluten free? I don’t eat gluten free but my daughter does and I would like to make something she can eat at our Thanksgiving dinner.
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Vickie, Yes, this recipe is gluten free.
Heather
I only have 10% cream in my fridge. Do you think that would work? Thanks
Wholesome Yum D
Hi Heather, Yes, that would also work in this recipe.
Jpallesen
This was SO DELICIOUS!! The roasting left the cauliflower with texture and a nice bite.
Judy
I’ve made loaded cauliflower casserole for a very long time & have never roasted my cauliflower…..I cook it first drain it & put it in the baking dish & pour my sauce over it cover with foil & I sprinkle the cheese over it & bake for 10-15 mins. or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with green onions & serve.
Gary
You should try the roasted approach, even though you have always done it another way. Roasting removes a LOT of the additional water! It also adds a more complex, nutty and smoky flavor to the cauliflower.
This recipe as written is GREAT! 🙂
Peggy Pavek
I made this last week & it was outstanding! I plan to make it again next week! It was THAT GOOD!
Tammi
This recipe is so delicious! My husband (who hates cauliflower) loved this casserole. I made this alongside smoked sausage and green beans. Will definitely be making this often!
Oh, I added double cheese
Ashley
My family requests this a lot now!! So good! When we need to go through veggies, we add sweet potato, squash and zucchini. Super easy and most of the time my picky girl will even eat this.
Chris Vigil
Love this recipe. I’d like to make ahead for a weekend away with some friends. Can I just refrigerate until time to bake? Any suggestions on bake time after that? Thanks in advance!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Chris, Yes, you can assemble the ingredients in a baking dish and refrigerate until ready for the final bake. Follow steps 1-6 on the recipe card and then refrigerate. When you are ready to serve, bake at 350 for 20 minutes or so until fully heated through. Enjoy!
Kristy c Glisson
Can you freeze this?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kristy, Absolutely! Store it in a freezer-safe airtight container and it will keep well in the freezer.
Lourdes Winter
Maya does it again! I just whipped up my second batch of this delicious side dish – two Sunday dinners in a row. Big hit with friends last week as well as with the hubs.
I can’t recommend it enough!
*My variation was to substitute “Unexpected Cheddar” cheese from Trader Joe’s – it’s got a hint of parmesan, but it’s definitely a nice, sharp cheddar flavor.
Julie
This just became a staple in my household and I will be making at least once a week. Was a little worried with cauliflower but it turned out incredible! With the salt and pepper I also added onion and garlic powder. So good!
Liz
I made this recipe last weekend. Oh my goodness this is so good. I did add cooked chicken breasts, chopped, to it to give it some meat. The flavor was absolutely amazing. Nothing “diet” like to this. Loved it.
Rebecca Heck
This recipe was one of our favorites when we first started Keto. We’ll 2.5 years and 105lbs later it STILL IS! Now I add 4oz of softened cream cheese in with heavy cream and sour cream. It’s a bit richer and spectacular over the top creamy.
Dana Jackson
I made this for my family. We loved it! I did use a bigger head of cauliflower, so I added some extra butter, cream, and cheese. We turned it into a one dish meal with some extra crumbled bacon and diced, sweet onion on the top. Great recipe!
Sue Y
Oh my… SO good! Husband and I may or may not have demolished the entire pan at dinner! Made exactly to the instructions. All the things I love about cauliflower mac & cheese without the fuss of making a sauce. Highly recommend.
Sue
I didn’t add bacon or green onions very satisfying without all those carbs
Mandy
I was planning to make this tonight but I only have 18% cream. Do you think that will work instead of heavy cream? Thanks so much in advance!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Mandy, Yes, melt an extra tablespoon of butter in to the 1/4 cup of cream and it will work great! Enjoy!
Christalynn
Very tasty but had some extra moisture in the bottom of the casserole dish. Any suggestions to reduce or what I may have done?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Christalynn, Did you have too much cream sauce at the bottom or was it watery from the cauliflower? If it was watery, you can increase the roast time by another 5 minutes. Then pour off any excess liquid before adding the cream and sour cream. If the recipe had too much creamy sauce, you can half the amount of heavy cream you add to the recipe. I hope this helps!