Description
Ground beef meets cauliflower in this hearty casserole that brings comfort straight to your dinner table. Cheesy, creamy goodness blends perfectly with savory meat and tender cauliflower, creating a simple meal packed with flavor your family will absolutely devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets
Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C) and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Transform your cauliflower florets into tender morsels by steaming or boiling them for exactly 5-6 minutes. Thoroughly drain excess water to prevent a soggy casserole.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb (450g) ground beef and 1 small chopped onion, breaking meat into small crumbles until perfectly browned.
- Sprinkle 2 minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika into the beef mixture. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep your dish light and delicious.
- Drop 4 oz (115g) softened cream cheese and ½ cup sour cream into the beef. Stir until the mixture becomes luxuriously creamy and smooth.
- Fold in ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring it melts completely throughout the mixture.
- Gently incorporate the cooked cauliflower, making sure each floret gets a delicious coating of the creamy beef mixture.
- Transfer the entire mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to create a tempting surface.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup mozzarella cheese across the top for a golden, cheesy finish.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese turns bubbly and golden brown.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, letting the flavors settle and making it easier to serve.
Notes
- Always drain cauliflower thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole that won’t set properly.
- Opt for full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for the richest, most luxurious texture and flavor.
- For a low-carb version, swap regular onions with green onions to reduce carbohydrate content.
- When browning ground beef, ensure the meat is broken into small crumbles for even cooking and better distribution throughout the casserole.
- Prep Time: 10-12 minutes
- Cook Time: 26-33 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg