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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is a low carb, delicious alternative to loaded potato casserole. You’ll want this easy baked cauliflower casserole in regular rotation after you taste how good it is!
Cauliflower Casserole
Serve this loaded cauliflower casserole with crock pot honey bourbon chicken and then have some oatmeal raisin cookies for dessert!
Buffalo Cauliflower is one of my most popular recipes so I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to make another cauliflower dish. Clearly, the world loves cauliflower.
As much as I love bread and pasta, our whole household could do with a few less carbs. Fortunately, I also love vegetables so I’m trying to focus on making them more exciting than just the usual steamed or roasted (though I do love them that way).
I made this loaded cauliflower casserole last night for dinner and I’m looking forward to leftovers tonight. It really rivals a baked/loaded mashed potato!
The steamed then baked cauliflower really takes on a potato texture and once you load it up with the sour cream, cheese, and bread crumbs, you’ll never miss the potato!
Helpful Tools
- Santoku Knife – a good kitchen knife makes chopping the cauliflower & onion easy.
- Medium Saucepan – for cooking the cauliflower.
- Baking Dish – a like when baking dishes come with lids for leftovers or freezing.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Cauliflower – a head of cauliflower, washed & broken into florets
- Water – to steam the cauliflower
- Sour Cream – to add to the creaminess
- Cheddar Cheese – or whichever cheese you like, shredded.
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Onion
- Salt & Pepper
- Bacon – crisp bacon for the top, optional. Learn how to cook it in the oven.
It’s simple enough to make as a weeknight side but also perfect to serve on a holiday dinner table.
It can easily be made into a vegetarian dish if you omit the bacon on the top, but a little bit of crisp bacon just adds to the flavor.
How to make Cauliflower Casserole
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
JumpIt’s really easy! First, preheat your oven to 325 and spray an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
Next, wash your cauliflower and break it up or cut it up into small florets. Add them to a medium saucepan with a cup of water and cook over medium heat until they’re fork tender, about 8 minutes.
Then, drain off the water and return the cauliflower to the saucepan. To the cooked cauliflower, add the sour cream, cheese, panko bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and onion. Gently mix.
Finally, spread the cauliflower into the prepared pan, sprinkle with more cheese, and bake for 25 minutes. Once done, top with crisp bacon, if desired. That’s it!
Is loaded cauliflower keto?
Yes, this cauliflower casserole recipe is keto. Swap out the sour cream for Greek yogurt to add another protein source that is healthy and low carb.
Can you use frozen cauliflower?
You sure can use a bag of steamer cauliflower. Just steam it, then pick up the recipe after the cooking of the cauliflower.
Can I freeze it?
You can freeze this casserole in an airtight container. It will also keep in the fridge, covered for about 4 days.
Need more ways to incorporate vegetables? Try these:
Loaded Potato & Cauliflower Soup
Click here to view my whole collection of vegetarian recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower washed & broken into florets
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese + more for topping shredded
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup onion chopped
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 strip crisp bacon chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and spray a 2 quart casserole dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Wash your cauliflower and break it up into small pieces. (I usually chop it in half then break up the florets by hand). Add them to a medium saucepan with 1 cup of water. Cook over medium heat for 8 minutes or until fork tender.1 medium cauliflower, 1 cup water
- Drain and return to the saucepan.
- To the cooked cauliflower, add the sour cream, cheddar cheese, panko, salt, pepper, and onion. Gently mix.1 cup sour cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese + more for topping, 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup onion, 1.5 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Spread the mixture into your prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with more shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
- Top with chopped bacon.1 strip crisp bacon
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published September 22, 2015.
The sharper the cheese, the better! Extra-sharp cheddar is my favorite.
I like all cheese. My fav is probably good ol’ cheddar.
his sounds amazing!
Havarti, but any creamy cheese will do!
I’m always looking for lower calorie alternatives and this is so great! Plus I prefer cauliflower over potatoes any day 😉
Wisconsin White Cheddar yum
Cheddar sounds good to me!
we love loaded cauliflower casserole! what a beautiful dish, would love to win 🙂
My favorite cheese is cheddar cheese.
Asking me to pick my favorite cheese is like asking me to pick my favorite kid…LOL! I love them all. But Gouda is probably in the lead right now. This casserole looks so tasty.
I don’t think I could pick a favorite cheese if I tried! I really love all kinds of cheese. I probably have 6 different kinds in the fridge right now…if not more!
I love smoked gouda!
Swiss cheese has been my “go to” lately. Had a goat cheese quesadilla over the weekend and it was delicious!
This looks so yummy; I will definitely have to try it!
Havarti is my fav!!
I’m particularly partial to provolone, but cream cheese is great for yummy desserts.
I am not sure I can pick a favorite cheese….I love so many, sharp white cheddar, havartii, feta, gouda….
Recipe looks yummy!! My fav cheese would be baby swiss!!