The original Loaded Cauliflower Casserole! This recipe combines all delicious flavors of a twice baked potato, but in a keto-friendly version. With tender cauliflower cooked in chicken stock, cheeses, garlic, crispy bacon, sour cream and fresh green onions, this is the ultimate low carb comfort food.
Ingredients in Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower: the tried and true classic keto potato substitution! The key to this recipe is using fresh cauliflower, cooked in chicken broth until it's fork tender. The fork should move right through the cauliflower when you pierce it. (More cauliflower recipes here.)
- Bacon: you can't have a Loaded Cauliflower Casserole without bacon! I get my favorite bacon here.
- Chicken stock: steaming the head of cauliflower in chicken stock and garlic makes it a lot more flavorful. I highly recommend this method.
Step by step instructions
How to make loaded cauliflower casserole
STEP 1: First, preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the chicken stock and garlic to a large pot. Add the head of cauliflower (whole) and steam the cauliflower, covered, over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork tender and soft enough to mash.
STEP 2: Drain the chicken stock from pan and let the cauliflower sit in the hot pot for a few minutes to help dry out excess moisture. Mash the cauliflower with the cream cheese and sour cream.
STEP 3: Once well mashed, mix in half of the cheese, bacon, and green onions (save the other half for the top). Add add salt and pepper, to taste.
STEP 4: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, top with the remaining cheese and bacon and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with the remaining green onions before serving.
Recipe tips and variations
- Storage: store this cauliflower casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months; I recommend portioning the leftovers out before freezing so it's easy to reheat single servings.
- Add more protein: Add a protein like shredded chicken or shrimp to take this from a keto side dish to a full meal deal. I like to use rotisserie chicken to make it a quick and easy weeknight meal. You could also add chorizo to this dish, for a casserole more similar to this Green Chile Chorizo and Chicken Mexican Casserole.
- Cooking tip: After steaming the cauliflower, I like to drain the liquid and put the cauliflower back in the hot pot for a few minutes. This helps draw out excess moisture and keep the casserole from turning to soup.
- Add more veggies: choose your favorites! I recommend mushrooms, broccoli, and/or bell peppers. You could also divide the casserole into different ramekins with different toppings so that everyone can enjoy their favorite flavor combinations.
- Change up the cheese: this Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is so easy to switch up with different cheeses. Some of my favorites are pepper jack, smoked mozzarella, and parmesan. You could also try bleu cheese with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce. I also love the flavor combination of Gruyere and diced ham, like in these Ham and Gruyere Cauliflower Waffles.
- Add more flavor: To mix things up I like to sometimes use ranch in place of sour cream, or ¼ cup ranch and ¼ cup sour cream. The ranch flavor really compliments the bacon and cheese! (Try one of my homemade ranch dressing recipes)
- Roasted cauliflower: another way to add more flavor is by roasting the cauliflower. I use this technique in my Loaded Mock Keto Potato Salad, and it gives the cauliflower a nice caramelization.
Frequently asked questions
Yep! I recommend baking your casserole, then storing it in pre-portioned containers so you can reheat individual servings easily.
I don't recommend using riced cauliflower in this recipe as it has a complete differently texture and the goal here is to mimic mashed potatoes.
Other recipes you might enjoy
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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The original Loaded Cauliflower Casserole! This recipe combines all delicious flavors of a twice baked potato, but in a keto-friendly version. With tender cauliflower cooked in chicken stock, cheeses, garlic, crispy bacon, sour cream and fresh green onions, this is the ultimate low carb comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower, cleaned and trimmed
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 ¼ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add the chicken stock and garlic to a large pot. Add the head of cauliflower (whole). And steam the cauliflower, covered, over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork tender and soft enough to mash.
- Drain the chicken stock from pan and let the cauliflower sit in the hot pot for a few minutes to help dry out excess moisture. Mash the cauliflower with the cream cheese and sour cream. Once well mashed, mix in half of the cheese, bacon, and green onions (save the other half for the top). Add add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, top with the remaining cheese and bacon and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with the remaining green onions before serving.
Notes
- net carbs per serving: 5.5g
- Cooking tip: After steaming the cauliflower, I like to drain the liquid and put the cauliflower back in the hot pot for a few minutes. This helps draw out excess moisture and keep the casserole from turning to soup.
- Storage: store this cauliflower casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months; I recommend portioning the leftovers out before freezing so it's easy to reheat single servings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙th of the recipe
- Calories: 290
- Fat: 23.6g
- Carbohydrates: 7.8g
- Fiber: 2.3g
- Protein: 15.3g
**Recipe originally posted July 6th 2011 - Recipe updated 5/5/21**
Jennifer D. says
This just came out of the oven and it's too late to eat it now ( 9 p.m. MST). It smells really good. I'll probably have it for breakfast! 🙂
Olivia Gray says
You have officially gained a new follower. I am OBSESSED with your recipes! My husband and I have recently had a change of lifestyle and are low carb eaters now. It's very helpful to have fast, budget friendly recipes to try, in lieu of eating the same old plain jane foods every night. Thank you so much!! :))
Kyndra Holley says
That's awesome. Thanks so much for the compliment.
Sarah S says
We had this tonight. I modified it a bit...steamed the cauliflower in the microwave instead of stovetop, used 8 oz of cream cheese because I didn't have any sour cream, garlic chives instead of green onions, plain old salt & pepper instead of garlic pepper seasoning, reserved some of the cheese to go on top. It was very good! Four of us polished off the whole thing as a main course. 🙂
Maricruz says
I made this recipe again but instead of using cauliflower I used zucchini (shredded). It was awesome as well.
Adriana Gutierrez says
A little comfused is the cauliflower cooked IN THE BROTH? Or over it in a basket?
Kyndra Holley says
in the broth
Maricruz says
OMG I just made this recipe but with a little change, I saved half the bacon, green onions and cheese and put on top before baked..........It was delicious.........Thank you for your wonderful recipes..........I will keep trying them. YUM YUM!!!!!
Tricia Morris says
Made this for lunch today. Fabulous!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Kyndra Holley says
Thanks so much for the kind words. Glad I can be of help.
favoredsista says
I made these faux-tato's tonight with a steak, and WOW!! This is a phenomenal recipe! I am insulin resistant, and I am getting back into this low carb lifestyle. With the help of your fantabulous recipes, I believe that I will be able to stay with this lifestyle for good, finally. I would normally get bored with the same ole stuff, but you have definetly helped me to WANT to stick with it! You are a blessing to me and my health!! God bless!
Holley says
Best of luck on your weight loss journey. Let me know if you try any of my recipes?
Jessica says
I made this recently and my entire family, including the picky child, really enjoyed it. It's fantastic!
Misty Marie says
new follower.. found you on pinterest! Love low carb recipes and am on my own quest for weight loss!