Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

Creamy and cheesy with bacon bits and fresh green onions adding even more flavor, this Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is irresistible!

Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

This easy cauliflower casserole is delicious and satisfying.  Cauliflower can be an intimidating side dish, but using a couple shortcuts and enhancements like cheese and bacon make this cheesy casserole recipe quite easy!

My Loaded Potato Casserole has been very popular and we wanted a way to lighten that dish up.  A bonus is that this cauliflower casserole recipe is also low-carb and keto. 

Loaded Cauliflower makes a delicious alternative to potatoes. We also have a similar and very popular Low-Carb Crock Pot Cauliflower Casserole. Neither recipe feels like you’re giving up anything to enjoy a delicious vegetable.

The first time I made this was for a friend’s birthday party and everyone LOVED it!  It’s popular at easter and this vegetable side dish will be a hit at your family dinner table or potluck. I’ve since gotten several reports of them making the casserole at home!

My friends were shocked to learn that I used frozen cauliflower.  They love the freshness of the dish and know that frozen cauliflower takes a lot less time to prepare than washing and chopping fresh cauliflower.  Either would work well, but I noticed that frozen cauliflower was a much better value at the grocery store.

Low Carb Potluck Ideas

We had some healthy debate about whether this Cauliflower Casserole is a good side dish or whether it could be a main dish too.  Our crowd is divided, so I guess it depends how hungry you are!

An adaptation with another combination of trending flavors if our Crock Pot Buffalo Bacon Cauliflower Casserole.  Another low-carb snack or appetizer that tastes great with any of these cauliflower dishes is our Salami Roll-Ups.

While this veggie casserole does have carbs it is another show stopping recipe with a couple bags of frozen California blend veggies, Baked Vegetable Medley.

Why This Recipe Works:

• This veggie side dish is super easy to make and can be mixed up in 15 minutes or less
• Fresh or frozen cauliflower work fine in this recipe
• This casserole is loaded with flavor and makes eating more vegetables easier
• It’s easy to add cooked chicken or broccoli to change up the flavor in this classic dish
• Cauliflower casserole is always popular on the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter table and is a perfect low carb vegetable side dish for a potluck

Ingredients Needed:

• Fresh or frozen cauliflower
• Sour cream
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Bacon bits
• Green onions

How to Make Cauliflower Casserole

1. Cook cauliflower
2. Stir half of sour cream cheese and bacon into cauliflower
3. Place in greased casserole dish
4. Sprinkle remaining ingredients on top
5. Bake 15 minutes at 350ºF

Easy Recipe with Cauliflower

I purchased three 12 ounce bags of frozen cauliflower.  They were microwavable, but I wanted to cook all of the cauliflower together in a sauté pan so that I could more closely monitor the doneness.  Sometimes when I microwave vegetables they end up soggy.

I like to toss the cauliflower in one cup of water on medium high heat on the stove top.  Stir every five minutes or so to help the cauliflower cook evenly. 

After about 15 minutes I pull a couple of the biggest pieces out of the pan and cut them in half.  If they’re warm, they’re done.  If they are at all cold, continue to cook for additional 5-minute increments.  The cauliflower should be warm and tender, but not soggy.

I love my Swiss Diamond Sauté Pan that comes in a 3 piece set (two pans & one lid that both both). The pans are a great quality, heat well, have an excellent non-stick coating and this set easily fits in my cook ware drawer.

Drain the water from the pan and add sour cream, half of each of the cheese and half of the bacon. 

Stir well and place in a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. 

Sprinkle remaining cheese and bacon on top. 

I like to make mozzarella the first layer and put the cheddar cheese on top so it’s more visible.

Top with bacon for a great color contrast and the look that makes your mouth water.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350º F.  Add chopped green onion on top and enjoy!

This cheesy cauliflower casserole does hold well covered with foil on keep warm in a warming drawer. Just wait to sprinkle green onions on top until ready to serve.

Recipe Tips & Tricks:

• I save time on this recipe is by purchasing pre-cooked bacon bits.  One pound of cooked bacon chopped into pieces also works well.
• Cook cauliflower before mixing with other ingredients, but be sure not to over cook to avoid soggy veggies.
• The amount of cheese and sour cream used can easily be adjusted to better suit your tastes.

What Goes Good with Cauliflower?

• Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs
• Farmhouse Meatloaf
• Farmhouse Ham Balls
• Easy Root Beer Ham Glaze
• Pork Tenderloin

Other Delicious Side Dishes

• Loaded Smashed Potato Casserole
• Ranch Glazed Carrots
• Meaty Crock Pot Baked Beans
• Asian Asparagus
• Marinated Cucumbers & Onions

Originally published January 7, 2019 with pictures updated on April 19, 2023.