Cauliflower Casserole

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Cauliflower Casserole

This creamy, tacky Cauliflower Casserole with bacon provides the loaded baked potato remedy to cauliflower au gratin.

Why You’ll Love This Tacky Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

A Individuals Pleaser. Individuals pleasing is just not an excellent trait to have, until you’re a creamy cauliflower casserole. IN THAT CASE: When you’re on the lookout for a single aspect dish to serve at your subsequent vacation gathering or household dinner that pleases nearly each style choice and food regimen beneath the solar, look no additional, pals.
The Greatest Method to Get Your Veggie Repair. Tender, caramelized roasted cauliflower florets are hidden amongst indulgent, melting pockets of cream cheese, gruyere, and crispy bacon, a.ok.a. you’ll query whether or not or not this dish truly comprises greens (similar goes for this Broccoli Bake).
Some Sneaky Swaps. Wholesome swaps, like Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese, reduce energy with out sacrificing taste. Sure, it is a creamy cauliflower casserole with out mayo or bitter cream! As a bonus, it’s additionally naturally low-carb.

Cauliflower casserole in baking dish with spoon

5 Star Overview

“OMG! This was superb! EVERYONE raved about it! I’ll undoubtedly make it once more!”

— Renee —

How one can Make Cauliflower Casserole

The Components

Cauliflower. Not like uncooked cauliflower (which is bland), roasted cauliflower (like on this Roasted Vegetable Salad, for instance) is advanced, caramelized, and wealthy. For max ease, I roasted the cauliflower in the identical baking dish that I used for the ultimate casserole; no want to clean in between.
Garlic Powder. All of the garlic taste with out the fuss of really chopping garlic.
Floor Nutmeg. My nod to the normal flavors in a traditional cauliflower casserole au gratin recipe.
Lowered-Fats Cream Cheese. Lends the last word creamy texture that ramps up the “loaded” issue of this dish.
Greek Yogurt. My sneaky swap for mayo or bitter cream that retains this cauliflower casserole creamy. You might also make this cauliflower casserole with low-fat bitter cream.
Bacon. Turns this casserole into the stuff of dinner legend.
Cheese. Gruyere and Parmesan are the proper nutty mixture right here! (This Brussels Sprouts Casserole is one other aspect dish topped with this tasty cheese combo.) When you don’t have Gruyere, any related melty, alpine-style cheese will work splendidly.
Chives. A stupendous addition of colour and contemporary taste.

The Instructions

Roasted cauliflower florets in baking dish

Roast. Toss the cauliflower florets with the oil and spices, then roast till tender.

Cook dinner and Crumble the Bacon. Listed below are extra ideas for Baked Bacon.

Make the Sauce. Combine collectively the cream cheese, yogurt, and shredded cheese.

Cauliflower casserole in baking dish before baking

End. Take away the cauliflower from the oven, dollop with the cream cheese combination, and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Bake the cauliflower casserole at 425 levels F for five to 7 minutes till the cheese is melted and bubbly. Pop beneath the broiler to brown the highest. Sprinkle with chives and extra bacon. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

Loaded “Baked Potato” Cauliflower Casserole. Swap the Gruyere for sharp cheddar and the nutmeg for cayenne.
Fontina and Herb Cauliflower Bake. Swap the Gruyere for fontina, add 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme to the cauliflower previous to roasting, and high the ultimate casserole with chopped, contemporary parsley. Bacon non-compulsory…or not.
Italian. Swap the Gruyere for shredded provolone or mozzarella, omit the nutmeg, and add 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning plus a pinch of pink pepper flakes to the cauliflower previous to roasting.

Meal Prep Suggestions

Right here’s how one can make this tacky cauliflower casserole forward.

Roast the cauliflower 1 day upfront, then retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge.
Put together the cream cheese combination 1 day upfront and retailer within the fridge.
When able to prepare dinner, heat the cauliflower in a baking dish in a 350-degree F oven till sizzling.
Let the cream cheese combination come to room temperature.
Improve the oven temperature to 425 levels F, then dollop on the cream cheese combination, high with cheese, and bake as directed.

Cheesy cauliflower casserole on plate with fork

What to Serve with Cauliflower Casserole

Rooster. Baked Rooster Cutlets could be an ideal aspect with this tacky cauliflower casserole.
Pork. Crock Pot Pork Chops prepare dinner in your countertop whereas your oven is occupied with the cauliflower.
Beef. These Air Fryer Steak Bites are an alternative choice that cooks exterior your oven.
Extra Sides. So many sides pair properly with cauliflower casserole, from Sauteed Carrots to Roasted Garlic Potato Rolls.

Recipe Suggestions and Methods

The Sauce Is Thick. If you combine every part collectively for the creamy cheese sauce, you might surprise in case you’re lacking one thing, however I promise you’re not. It’ll soften and get smoother because it bakes.
Break Up the Florets into Small Items. We wish bite-sized florets right here! When you’d have to chop it with a fork in your plate earlier than consuming it, it’s too huge for this cauliflower casserole.
Don’t Use Frozen Cauliflower. I’ve not personally tried this swap, and I don’t assume I’d suggest it. I concern the frozen cauliflower would make this casserole too watery so I’d persist with contemporary, if potential. When you determine to experiment and make a frozen cauliflower casserole, I’d love to listen to about your outcomes.

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Cauliflower Casserole

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Creamy and tacky cauliflower casserole with cream cheese and bacon is a simple, low-carb aspect dish good for holidays and gatherings.

Course Facet Dish

Delicacies American

Prep Time 15

Cook dinner Time 35

Whole Time 50

Servings servings

Energy 229kcal

Writer Erin Clarke / Properly Plated

Components

2 medium heads of cauliflower reduce into bite-size florets (about 3–4 kilos cauliflower, previous to being reduce, or 5–6 cups florets)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon floor black pepper
¼ teaspoon floor nutmeg
6 slices bacon
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese at room temperature
¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
⅔ cup freshly grated Gruyere or related melty, nutty, alpine-style cheese, divided
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese divided
3 tablespoons contemporary chives chopped

Directions

Place racks within the higher and decrease thirds of your oven and preheat to 425 levels F. Calmly coat a large 3-quart (9×13) casserole dish, with nonstick spray, and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a big bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Switch the cauliflower to the ready casserole dish and unfold it into a good layer. Maintain the bowl helpful. Roast cauliflower on the decrease rack for half-hour, till the florets are tender and start to brown.
In the meantime, organize the bacon strips in a single layer on the ready foil-lined baking sheet. Bake on the higher rack till crisp, about 10 to fifteen minutes.
Take away the bacon and cauliflower from the oven. Stir the cauliflower, unfold it again into a good layer, and place it on the higher rack to proceed cooking till the tip of its baking time.
Switch the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate and calmly pat dry. As soon as cool sufficient to deal with, roughly chop or crumble the bacon into small items.
In the identical bowl that you just used to toss the cauliflower, beat collectively the cream cheese and Greek yogurt till mixed. Stir in ⅓ cup Gruyere cheese, 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, and half of the chopped bacon.
Take away the roasted cauliflower from the oven and dollop the cream cheese combination excessive. Sprinkle with the remaining ⅓ cup of Gruyere and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.
Return the pan to the higher third of the oven and bake till the cheese is melted and gooey, about 5 to 7 minutes. Flip the oven to broil. Broil the casserole till golden on high, 1 to three minutes. Don’t stroll away, and watch rigorously to ensure the cheese doesn’t burn.
Take away from the oven and sprinkle with contemporary chives and remaining bacon. Serve sizzling.

Video

Notes

TO STORE: Leftovers could also be saved within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
TO FREEZE: Baked cauliflower casserole could also be saved frozen for as much as 3 months. Defrost in a single day within the fridge earlier than warming.
TO REHEAT: Heat the cauliflower casserole in an oven preheated to 350 levels F till steaming and heated by means of.
TO MAKE AHEAD: The cauliflower could be roasted 1 day upfront. Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge. The cream cheese combination could be ready 1 day upfront and saved within the fridge. When able to prepare dinner, heat the cauliflower within the baking dish in a 350-degree F oven till sizzling. Let the cream cheese combination come to room temperature. Improve the oven temperature to 425 levels F, then dollop on the cream cheese and bake as directed.
TO DOUBLE: This recipe is simple to scale! Be happy to double it (bake in two separate 9×13-inch pans) or halve it and bake in a 1 1/2-quart casserole or gratin dish.