Loaded Cauliflower Casserole: A Delicious Keto Side Dish

Introduction

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole is the ultimate answer to comfort food cravings while staying low carb and keto-friendly. Imagine all the flavors of a classic loaded baked potato—cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions, and a creamy base—without the heavy carbs! Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, meal prepping for the week, or looking for a crowd-pleasing side, this casserole will win over even die-hard potato lovers with its irresistible flavor and satisfying texture.

Why You’ll Love This Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

What sets this dish apart is the clever use of cauliflower as a base, delivering a rich, creamy texture that perfectly soaks up all the cheesy, savory goodness. Topped with crispy bacon and a sprinkle of fresh chives, every bite is loaded with layered flavors. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free, making it a versatile side for all kinds of occasions.

Making the Creamy Keto-Friendly Base

Start by steaming or microwaving the cauliflower until perfectly tender—it should mash easily but not be too watery. Blending it with sour cream, cream cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese gives you that luscious, creamy consistency you’d expect from comfort food. The addition of garlic, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne for subtle heat takes the flavor to the next level.

Layering and Baking for Maximum Flavor

Once your cauliflower base is ready, transfer it to a casserole dish and layer on even more cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, and fresh green onions. A quick bake melts all the cheese and melds the flavors together. For a golden-brown, bubbly top, finish under the broiler for a couple of minutes just before serving.

Serving Suggestions for a Crowd-Pleasing Keto Side

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole makes a fantastic side for roasted meats, grilled chicken, or as a hearty vegetarian main. It’s also ideal for potlucks and weeknight dinners—just add a fresh green salad for a balanced meal. The casserole reheats beautifully, making leftovers something to look forward to.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 6 hefty servings, each typically containing around 210–250 calories, 15g fat, 7g net carbs, and 11g protein (values may vary by cheese, bacon, and sour cream brands). Loaded Cauliflower Casserole fits seamlessly into low-carb, keto, and gluten-free diets without sacrificing any flavor or comfort.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole (Recap)

This dish transforms humble cauliflower into a creamy, cheesy extravaganza brimming with bacon and tangy green onions—a keto-friendly classic reinvented for modern tables.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
2. Steam or microwave the cauliflower florets until fork-tender (about 6–8 minutes). Drain well and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
3. Transfer cauliflower to a large bowl. Add cream cheese, sour cream, half of the cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Mash or mix until smooth and creamy (use a potato masher or hand mixer).
4. Fold in half the crumbled bacon and most of the green onions.
5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and the rest of the bacon.
6. Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden. For a crispier top, broil for an extra 2–3 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with extra green onions and chives before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This loaded casserole is a true meal prep winner: it reheats well, packs easily for lunch, and stays delicious for several days. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your week, and CookifyAI will create a consolidated smart shopping list for all your planned meals—organized by grocery store section.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredients across all scheduled recipes
– Combines shopping lists to reduce duplicate purchases
– Ensures no ingredient is forgotten—making weekly meal prep effortless
– Helps you see ingredient overlap (e.g., if another meal uses green onions, you won’t run out midweek)

Pro Tip: When planning several keto meals, schedule your week to maximize shopping efficiency and reduce food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes