Creamy Cauliflower Casserole

Loaded with bacon, cheese, and veggies this creamy cauliflower casserole is a hearty good for you recipe that the whole family will love!

Eating healthy can be easy when you give into your cravings in a guilt-free way! This recipe replaces potatoes while still ensuring there is flavor and sustenance.

If you’re looking for a way to cut down on carbs, and load up on good for you veggies, you’re going to want to make this recipe as soon as possible! Cauliflower is our go to ingredient for making swaps.

Cauliflower rice, bacon and thyme cauliflower mashed, cheesy mashed cauliflower bake and buffalo cauliflower are just a few tried and true cauliflower recipes that are low on carbs and tasty!

What does cauliflower taste like?

If you’re wondering what cauliflower tastes like, it’s honestly bland (like a potato) and a little moist due to it’s high water volume.

Like a potato, cauliflower takes on the taste of what it’s cooked with -which makes it perfect for creating recipes that you enjoy!

How many carbs are in cauliflower?

One cup of chopped cauliflower has 5 grams of carbs, 3 of them being fiber, so it only has 2 net carbs! (Did you know 1 grape has about 1 carb?!)

How To Prepare Cauliflower For A Casserole

Preparing cauliflower for making a cauliflower casserole or even a cauliflower mash begins with the same process.

Take a cauliflower head, rinse it, then core it. (Remove the stems and center stalk of the head of a cauliflower.)

Cut the cauliflower into bite size chunks. For cauliflower mash, you could make them on the bigger side, but for a cauliflower casserole recipe, you want the potatoes to be on the smaller side (about an inch big).

Cook the cauliflower florets until it is fork tender. (The smaller the floret, the quicker it cooks.)

How To Cook Cauliflower

• Instant Pot Directions: Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot along with the chopped cauliflower. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Set to pressure cook for 3 minutes. When the 3-minute cook time is finished, turn the valve to quick release. Once all of the pressure is released, open the Instant Pot and pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain off any excess water.
• Stove Top Directions: Place the cauliflower in a large pot and cover with water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender. Pour the cauliflower into a colander to drain.

Ingredients For A Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

• cauliflower florets
• butter
• green pepper
• mushrooms
• red onion
• cooked bacon
• flour (use a keto approved substitute for a keto cauliflower casserole recipe)
• milk
• salt and pepper
• paprika
• white cheddar cheese (or use a variety for a 3 or 4 cheese cauliflower casserole)

How To Make A Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

• First, cook cauliflower until fork tender, then drain and set the cauliflower to the side.

• If you find that your cauliflower is quite wet, set your cooked cauliflower florets spread over a clean kitchen towel to absorb the excess water.

• Next, melt butter in a large pan.

• Then add the chopped vegetables and crumbled bacon. Sauté for 3 minutes or until peppers and onions have softened.

• For this loaded cauliflower casserole, you can spin it in multiple ways, this recipe would work amazingly well with steak for a cheese steak cauliflower bake!

• Add in the flour, and cook the flour for about a minute or two. (This helps keep the sauce from tasting like flour.)

• Gradually stir in the milk stirring constantly until it thickens. About 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

• Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking. At this time, you can also dress up the sauce with your favorite dried herbs or seasonings too!

• To assemble the cauliflower casserole, we’re going to layer the ingredients, as if it were a lasagna.

• Into a well-greased 1 ½ quart casserole pan, add in half of the cauliflower and spread it around to create an even layer of cauliflower.

• Top with half of the shredded cheese and then pour half of the sauce mixture over the cheese.

• Repeat the process and sprinkle paprika on the top for a nice presentation!

• Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.

Serve right away or store in air tight meal prep containers for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Cauliflower Casserole?

If using air tight freezer safe containers, cauliflower casserole can last up to 10-12 months in a deep freezer.

What To Serve With Cauliflower Casserole

This loaded cauliflower casserole recipe can pass as a one pan meal, if you’re looking for a high protein meal, adding a side of meat would be best.

Here are some additional sides that can be served with a cauliflower casserole:

• Garlic Herb-Crusted Roast Beef
• Ham Loaf
• Meat Loaf
• Chicken (Make wings to go for a tailgating vibe or BBQ rubbed chicken drumsticks for a BBQ feel.)
• Grilled burgers wrapped in lettuce.
• Grilled salmon or shrimp for a lean protein choice.