This comforting and tacky cauliflower casserole is loaded with tender cauliflower, crispy bacon, cream cheese, and gooey melted cheese in each chew.
Cauliflower, cheese, and bacon get collectively on this loaded cauliflower casserole recipe. It’s a straightforward consolation meals that’ll shortly turn into a brand new household favourite!
It positive is in my family. Whether or not it’s a busy night, chilly outdoors, or we simply need one thing creamy and tacky, this straightforward dish is all the time successful each with the adults and little ones. It tastes like mac and cheese however with out the pasta (or further carbs)!
Desk of Contents
Why this recipe works
- Addictively tacky and creamy. Nobody in my household can resist this dish’s heavenly mixture of gooey melted cheese, creamy sauce, and bite-sized cauliflower items.
- Ridiculously simple to make. Like my zucchini casserole and butternut squash casserole, this cauliflower casserole recipe takes mere minutes to assemble with out sacrificing taste.
- Meatless meal. I really like serving this casserole each as a meatless foremost dish and aspect dish. Identical to my cauliflower mac and cheese, it’s so tacky and flavorful that nobody ever misses the meat!
- Naturally low-carb. You don’t want flour, pasta, or potatoes to make this keto cauliflower casserole style similar to a loaded baked potato.
Substances wanted
This low-carb casserole comes collectively very quickly utilizing a mixture of easy-to-find and comforting components, like:
- Cauliflower. You possibly can reduce the cauliflower head into florets your self or save time by shopping for pre-cut florets as a substitute!
- Cream cheese. Make certain it’s softened and at room temperature earlier than you get began. Room-temperature cream cheese is less complicated to work with and mixes simply into the casserole.
- Half-and-half cream. I desire to make use of half and half however if you need an additional wealthy cream sauce, use heavy cream as a substitute.
- Shredded cheese. I like utilizing a mixture of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper season the cauliflower casserole.
- Bacon. Cook dinner the slices of bacon, so that they’re tremendous crispy and crunchy. I discover that the crispier the bacon, the extra it stands out within the creamy casserole. You need to use pancetta or prosciutto in its place if you need.
- Contemporary parsley. For garnish. Sliced inexperienced onions make for a unbelievable garnish, too.
How one can make cauliflower casserole
After simply 5 simple steps, your loaded cauliflower bake is able to take pleasure in. Right here’s the way it’s carried out:
Step 1 – Blanch the cauliflower. Cook dinner the cauliflower florets in a big pot of boiling water till virtually fork tender. Drain and put aside.
Step 2 – Begin the tacky filling. Stir the cream cheese, half and half, shredded cheese, and seasonings collectively in a big bowl till clean.
Step 3 – End the filling. Fold the cooked cauliflower and crispy bacon into the tacky combination. Switch it to a casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on high.
Step 4 – Bake. Bake the casserole within the oven till it’s bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Step 5 – Cool, then serve. Set the casserole apart to chill for a couple of minutes earlier than scooping and serving. Get pleasure from!
Recipe suggestions and variations
- Chew-sized cauliflower. Make certain the cauliflower florets are reduce into even, bite-sized items so that they prepare dinner evenly.
- Roast or air fry the cauliflower as a substitute. This can make it much more addictively scrumptious and a little bit crunchy.
- For a thinner consistency, add a heaping scoop of bitter cream or Greek yogurt to the tacky filling.
- Let it cool. I like to recommend setting the casserole apart for 10 to twenty minutes earlier than serving. Will probably be piping scorching and also you don’t need burnt mouths!
- Add breadcrumbs on high. A layer of buttery, Italian-seasoned panko breadcrumbs on high of the casserole will give it a scrumptious crispy crunch.
- Use a medley of cheese. Mess around with the cheeses on this casserole as a lot as you need! Add parmesan cheese for saltiness, blue cheese crumbles for tang, goat cheese for an earthy sweetness, or gruyere for further gooey goodness.
- Add protein. Typically I’ll stir shredded rooster, leftover chopped rooster breasts, diced ham, sausage, or chopped turkey breast into the casserole for further protein.
Storage directions
To retailer: Retailer the leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze: The casserole freezes properly each earlier than and after baking. After assembling and/or baking, cowl the baking dish with a lid or a layer of foil, then freeze for as much as 1 month. Both thaw it in a single day earlier than reheating or bake it from frozen (simply add an additional 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time).
To reheat: Pop the leftover casserole in a 350ºF oven till it’s warmed by and bubbly once more (about 15 to 25 minutes).
Extra comforting cauliflower recipes
Regularly requested questions
I desire to make the casserole with contemporary cauliflower florets however frozen florets work in a pinch. Let the florets thaw utterly, then stir them into the cheese sauce earlier than baking. You don’t have to blanch frozen cauliflower.
I prefer to serve the casserole as a comforting foremost dish throughout lazy nights however after I need to make it part of a meal, I’ll pair it with entire rooster, lemon pepper wings, or a juicy steak. It matches in completely with my household’s different favourite aspect dishes, like inexperienced bean casserole, cornbread, and broccolini.
Forestall your display from going darkish
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Grease a baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
In a big pot of boiling salted water, blanch the cauliflower florets for about 3-4 minutes, till barely tender. Drain and put aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, half-and-half cream, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Combine till the components are properly integrated and the combination is clean.
Add the blanched cauliflower florets and chopped cooked bacon to the cheese combination. Gently fold every thing collectively to coat the cauliflower evenly with the tacky combination.
Switch the cauliflower combination to the ready baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese excessive.
Bake for about 25-Half-hour, or till the casserole is bubbly and the cheese has melted.
Take away the casserole from the oven and let it sit for a number of minutes earlier than serving.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 14gFats: 18gSodium: 533mgPotassium: 572mgFiber: 7gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 548IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 313mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 5g
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