Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is steamed cauliflower combined with cream cheese, sour cream, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, bacon, and chives. Cauliflower has never tasted this good! This delicious cauliflower side dish is quick, easy to make, and low-carb-friendly.
The Best Cauliflower Casserole
This Loaded Cauliflower Bake is AMAZING. Finding new ideas for the same old veggies that everyone in the family loves can be hard work. This, my friends, is a real winner. If you have not tried any of my recipes in a while, you must try this one! Even my picky son loves this one. Forget the loaded baked potato casserole and make this lower-carb, better-tasting version with cauliflower. If you like cauliflower, you must try, cauliflower au gratin, cheesy cauliflower soup, broccoli cauliflower salad, and whole roasted cauliflower.
How to make Cauliflower Casserole
First, steam or boil your cauliflower in a large pot until fork tender. Then drain it well because you don’t want any added moisture in this dish. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Slowly and gently stir in the steamed cauliflower, bacon, and chives.
Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and sprinkle with a little more bacon. Bake until the cheese is melted and gooey. Garnish with chives and serve hot.
Beth’s Recipe Tips
- The cauliflower should be steamed or boiled until it is fork-tender.
- Spray the casserole dish well with nonstick spray, as it makes for easier cleanup.
- For optimum flavor, I recommend full-fat sour cream, cream cheese, and cheese for this recipe. It just tastes better with it.
- Other cheeses that work well in this casserole are fontina, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and Parmesan cheese.
- If low carb is not your thing, combine a cup of panko bread crumbs with 3 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle over the top before baking.
- Fresh chives really make this casserole pop! They are worth the added expense and trouble.
- Other garnishes that work well include chopped parsley or green onions.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. I love lots of pepper on this dish.
- This Loaded Cauliflower Casserole can be served as a full meal. It really is very filling, but if more protein is desired, consider adding roasted or grilled chicken or cooked ground beef.
Can you prepare cauliflower casserole in advance?
In a hurry? You can steam the cauliflower ahead of time. As a matter of fact, you can prepare the whole dish in advance. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Bring it out of the refrigerator and set it on the counter for about thirty minutes to warm up a bit. Then pop it in the oven for twenty-five minutes before serving.
Can you use frozen cauliflower?
Yes, follow the instructions for steaming the cauliflower and drain well. Then proceed with the recipe the same as using fresh cauliflower. Generally speaking, frozen cauliflower is more economical.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven on low or in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, first cool completely. Then, double wrap with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
More vegetable side dishes you will love!
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs cauliflower florets cut in bite-size pieces
- 1 box 8 ounces of cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese finely shredded
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 6 slices crispy cooked bacon coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives reserve one tablespoon for the top
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower until fork tender; approximately 10 minutes. Drain well in a colander.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until creamy and smooth. Gently stir in cauliflower, 1/2 of the bacon, and chives. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
- Spoon into a casserole dish and top with the remaining bacon. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Top with remaining chives and serve.
Notes
- The cauliflower should be steamed or boiled until it is fork-tender.
- Spray the casserole dish well with nonstick spray, as it makes for easier cleanup.
- For optimum flavor, I recommend full-fat sour cream, cream cheese, and cheese for this recipe. It just tastes better with it.
- Other cheeses that work well in this casserole are fontina, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and Parmesan cheese.
- If low carb is not your thing, combine a cup of panko bread crumbs with 3 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle over the top before baking.
- Fresh chives really make this casserole pop! They are worth the added expense and trouble.
- Other garnishes that work well include chopped parsley or green onions.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. I love lots of pepper on this dish.
- This Loaded Cauliflower Casserole can be served as a full meal. It really is very filling, but if more protein is desired, consider adding roasted or grilled chicken or cooked ground beef.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven on low or in the microwave at reduced power.
- To freeze, first cool completely. Then double wrap with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
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Sandi
Sitting here taking in the aroma of this dish cooking, We are looking forward to having a different side dish. Cooked the chicken separate.
Beth Pierce
Awesome Sandi! I sure hope you enjoy it!
Gina Thompson
Made this dish for my family tonight they thought it was a potato dish, they never had cauliflower made like this before…yummy!!!
Beth Pierce
So glad that the family liked it! My family loves it. I need to fix it again soon!
Melinda Newell
Could you use bacon bits instead of bacon and if so how much ! My kids are on keto diet, but I think this would work ! Trying it next week ! Looks yummy !!
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. 1 slice of bacon is equal to 2-3 teaspoons bacon bits. I hope that helps!
Mary
Could I use dried chives?
I don’t have fresh🤷🏼
Beth Pierce
Yes you can.
Pat
Do you think this recipe could be baked at 350 degrees with another casserole? And for how long? Thank you.
Beth Pierce
Yes I do think you could. I would probably plan on about 40 minutes.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Missy! Glad that you liked it! I love cajun seasoning too!
Grace
This recipe is excellent and who knew cauliflower could taste so darn good!!…. Not me.
I did modify the recipe by reducing the cream cheese to 1/2 of a block and reduced the cheese to roughly a cup and used bacon bits (because Im lazy) instead of bacon and it was still excellent and I also roasted my cauliflower.
Lisa
This might be the only way I ever eat cauliflower again! This was great and even better on day 2.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Lisa! So glad that you liked it. We love it too!!
Renee Cook
can this recipe be made the day before – and then cooked in the oven?
Beth Pierce
Yes you most certainly can! Sorry about the delayed response. So busy around here lately.
Jenn B.
Has anyone roasted the cauliflower instead of steaming it? I’m going to make this for Christmas dinner and was thinking the roasted cauliflower might be good.
Beth Pierce
That would be delicious!
Melanie
This dish is delicious and it will definitely be added to recipe book!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Melanie! So glad that you enjoyed it!!
Melinda
I’m so excited to try this. Do you think it would do ok in a slow cooker?
Beth Pierce
I have never tried it so I am not sure how it would turn out. Please let us know if you go that route and what the results were.
Stephanie Dunbar
Absolutely love this recipe! My first time making it and will make it again. I replaced the potatoes and made this instead of them because I need to cut the carbs out as much as I can. Very easy to make also. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Stephanie! So glad that you liked the recipe!
Betsy
Yum! I love this as an alternative to mashed potatoes! Delicious and wonderfully easy!
Laurie H Sherrod
This tasted great! I left the cream cheese out over an hour – but maybe it needed longer? When I put the cheeses, etc. together it seemed like it was the consistency of a cheese ball – and mixing it with the cauliflower was impossible. I even put it in the mixer and mixed hard – but it still would have smashed up the cauliflower. So I put the cauliflower in the pan and gently spooned the cheese mixture over in small spoonfuls. I almost added milk – but glad I did not – it was really good.
Beth Pierce
Glad that you liked Laurie! Sorry you had so much trouble with the cream cheese. Perhaps it did need some more softening time.
Linda
This WAS like a fully loaded baked potato! The cheesiness of the casserole was so creamy and the bacon put it over the top. Plus I felt so much better eating this lower carb side than I would have with the potato alternative. Thanks for the delicious recipe that I will be making again and again!
Meagen
I love finding new ways to hide veggies! The whole family devoured this so we will definitely be making it again! Yay!