Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (2024)

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This loaded cauliflower casserole is the ultimate healthy comfort food swap for mashed potatoes. Loads of cream cheese, cheddar, butter, and bacon combined with cauliflower create an unbelievably delicious side dish that is ready to serve in 45 minutes.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (1)

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Ok. Let’s get real for a minute. Raise your hand if you miss mashed potatoes.
Uh-huh.

That checks out – potatoes were my JAM back in my pre-keto days – and my family lived for my homemade loaded mashed potatoes – which took an incredible amount of time to peel, wash, mash and smother with sour cream, butter, and cheese.

Look, I know my way around a bowl of hand mashed heaven, and I know you do too, so I’m not going to straight-up lie and tell you cauliflower is the new potato or claim that nobody here notices the difference between loaded cauliflower and a big steaming carb-filled pot of Russets.

They do – but here’s the thing – they like both.

Score for me. And you.

Also, my cauliflower version takes less than half the prep time and work, and you can have it on the table in 45 minutes from start to finish – with all of the cheesy flavors you love with significantly fewer carbs.

How To Make Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

We’re loading this cauliflower casserole up with bacon, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, sour cream, and butter.

So you’re going to want to fry the bacon first.

Next, we’re steaming the cauliflower for a few minutes in the microwave so that it gets tender, but our kitchen doesn’t get “that cauliflower” smell.

Once you have those steps behind you all that’s left is to add in ingredients and bake!

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (2)

Fast Facts: Cauliflower

Here’s the part where I geek out about a vegetable – it’s not mandatory for the recipe, but it is good to know in case you’re wondering why everyone and their mom is talking about cauliflower.

Cauliflower is healthy and loaded with vitamin C, K, B6 plus Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber.

Cauliflower is keto-friendly and low carb – as in 3 net grams per cup. That alone will make you want to jump on the cauliflower bandwagon – especially when you compare it to white rice’s carb count of 45 grams per cup and potatoes 30 grams per cup.

Cauliflower is easy to roast, bake, grill, microwave, steam and air fry or you can eat it raw!

Cauliflower makes healthy, low carb comfort food a possibility – as evidenced and here in this loaded cauliflower soup and here in this loaded cauliflower casserole bake.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole – Carbs Per Serving

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (3)

If you’re keeping up with your macros – this casserole contains 4.7 net carbs per serving. In case you forgot – you calculate net carbs by subtracting dietary fiber from total carbs:) 5.8 – 1.1 = 4.7. Full Disclosure: I use a plugin that I trust to calculate nutrition – but if something looks off to you or you’d rather calculate your own info – I encourage you to go for it!

More Must Have Keto Side Dishes

If you like this loaded cauliflower recipe, then you need to check out these keto sides!

Crispy Brussels Sprouts With Bacon – An easy low carb side that screams I worked all day on this, but it took less than 40 minutes to pan roast these Brussels Sprouts to perfection in bacon, butter, and olive oil:)

Green Beans with Bacon – Make fresh green beans stand out for the holidays or any day with this green beans with bacon side dish that you can make on the stove or slow cooker with 3.1 net carbs per serving.

46 Keto Side Dish Recipes – An epic collection of the best low carb side dish recipes!

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (4)

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Low Carb, Keto] | Word To Your Mother Blog

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  • Author: Heather Burnett
  • Total Time: 45
  • Yield: 8 1x
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Description

This loaded cauliflower casserole is the ultimate healthy comfort food swap for mashed potatoes. Loads of cream cheese, cheddar, butter, and bacon combined with cauliflower create an unbelievably delicious side dish that is ready to serve in 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 Head Cauliflower (4 cups cauliflower florets) – Chopped
  • 6 Ounces Cream Cheese, cut into chunks
  • 8 Strips Fried Bacon
  • 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
  • ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 + 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Monterey Jack Cheese
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder (Optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons Chives or Green Onions To Garnish

Instructions

  • Cook bacon and set aside
  • Preheat oven to 400°
  • Chop cauliflower
  • Steam Option 1: Put cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, add a few tablespoons of water – cover with cling wrap – and steam for around 5 minutes until tender
  • Steam: Option 2: Place the cauliflower in a steamer basket on top of a pot with boiling water and steam until tender, around 5 minutes.
  • Once it’s steamed – drain excess water and throw the cauliflower back into the bowl – cover it and let it sit there for 2-3 minutes. Please be patient here and let the cauliflower do its thing – (it will absorb extra moisture and prevent your casserole from being a soggy disaster)
  • If you want a mashed potato consistency, then whip out the potato masher, blender or food processor and go for it. Or skip this step. It’s up to you.
  • Next Step: Add cream cheese, 1 cup of cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, heavy cream, butter, and garlic powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and toss to combine.
  • Transfer to an oven-safe casserole dish and top with remaining shredded cheese blend and crumbled bacon.
  • Place in preheated oven and cook until cheese is melted and nicely browned on top, around 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and serve topped with fresh chives or green onions.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Variations:

Swap Cheddar Cheese with 1/2 cup Gruyere Cheese + 1/4 Cup Parmesan

Add 1/2 Cup Colby

Swap Cheddar with Italian Cheese Blend

Make it Au Gratin by adding Parmesan breadcrumbs (1/2 cup Parmesan cheese + Cup crushed original flavor pork rinds)

  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Keto Side Dishes

Keywords: low carb, keto, cauliflower, casserole, comfort food, side dish, recipe

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (5)

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (6)

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (7)
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese [Easy Low Carb, Keto Side Dish Recipe] (2024)

FAQs

Is cauliflower loaded with carbs? ›

Cauliflower has a mild taste and is often used as a substitute for higher carb foods like potato and rice. One cup (107 g) of raw cauliflower contains 5 g of carbs, 2g of which are fiber.

What is in casserole dish? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What's good to have with cauliflower cheese? ›

The best side dishes to serve with cauliflower cheese are crispy green beans, gluten-free bread, roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, garden salad, garlic bread, caramelized carrots, grilled asparagus, rice pilaf, zucchini fritters, quinoa, potato wedges, eggplant parmesan, pulled pork, and fresh ...

How many net carbs are in 2 cups of cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower, raw (1 cup) contains 5.3g total carbs, 3.1g net carbs, 0.3g fat, 2.1g protein, and 27 calories.

Why is cauliflower crust so high in carbs? ›

A single slice could have anywhere from 2 to 29 grams. That's a huge range, especially because cauliflower isn't carb-heavy (a cup has 5 grams). Why the difference? Crusts may include rice or brown rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, and corn starch, which supply carbs.

Can too much cauliflower kick you out of ketosis? ›

If cauliflower is your only carb source other than eggs, you won't be able to eat enough cauliflower to snap out of ketosis. It will take at least a portion the size of your head.

Can you eat cream cheese on keto? ›

Cream cheese: Cream cheese is very popular in the keto diet. At only 84 calories per 1 ounce serving, it has 1 gram of carbs and 2 grams of protein but packs 8 grams of fat per serving. It can be a keto-friendly snack or meal addition when more fat is needed.

Can you eat too much cauliflower on keto? ›

How Much Cauliflower Can You Eat on a Keto Diet? The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that people eat no more than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day while on a keto diet. You can eat up to 900 grams of cauliflower per day when on a ketogenic diet because 100 grams of it only contains 5 grams of carbohydrates.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

Should you cover casserole when baking? ›

The primary reason for covering a casserole as it bakes is to trap moisture inside the dish. This will not only keep the casserole itself moist, but it will also help get the casserole up to cooking temperature.

What protein pairs well with cauliflower? ›

Ground beef and cauliflower combine to create a hearty weeknight casserole that both kids and adults will love. Serve with tortilla chips and sour cream. Carolyn Casner is a longtime recipe tester and contributor for EatingWell.

How many carbs are in cauliflower and cheese sauce? ›

Cauliflower, with cheese sauce (0.5 cup) contains 6.1g total carbs, 4.2g net carbs, 7.6g fat, 5.3g protein, and 110 calories.

Is cooked cauliflower high in carbs? ›

Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

How many net carbs in 1 cup of cooked cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, 1 cup (1" pieces)
Protein (g)1.14
Carbohydrate, by difference (g)2.55
Energy (kcal)14.26
Sugars, total (g)0.87
Fiber, total dietary (g)1.67
34 more rows

Is cauliflower crust good for low carb diet? ›

Per serving, cauliflower crust is lower in carbs. So, if you're looking to eat fewer carbs, going gluten-free or simply trying to eat more veggies, then cauliflower crust is for you. Eating a slice of this crust delivers close to a cup of cauliflower per serving.

Is all cauliflower crust keto friendly? ›

Cauliflower is very low carb, and has the right consistency to make a pizza crust out of. So it is a natural base for a keto pizza crust.

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