Description
Loaded cauliflower bake delivers comfort straight from your kitchen with cheesy, creamy goodness. Crispy bacon and melted cheese make this low-carb dish a total crowd-pleaser for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 head cauliflower
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded monterey jack cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 5 slices bacon
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon diced chives
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 425°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Steam 6 cups of cauliflower pieces in a saucepan with 1½-2 inches of water for exactly 5 minutes, then thoroughly drain excess moisture.
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a separate saucepan, then sauté 1 tablespoon minced garlic for 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the butter mixture, whisking constantly to create a smooth base.
- Gradually pour 2 cups whole milk into the pan, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
- Drop 4 ounces cream cheese into the sauce, stirring until completely melted and incorporated.
- Season the sauce with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, then fold in 1 cup each of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.
- Spread the steamed cauliflower evenly across the prepared baking dish, then pour the entire cheese sauce over the top.
- Dollop ⅔ cup sour cream across the surface in small clusters.
- Crumble 5 slices of cooked bacon and sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups of cheese over the dish.
- Bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until the cheese bubbles and turns golden brown.
- Garnish with 1 tablespoon diced chives before serving immediately.
Notes
- Steam cauliflower just until tender to prevent a watery casserole, which could make the sauce separate or thin out.
- Drain cauliflower completely after steaming, shaking the colander to remove excess moisture that might dilute the rich cheese sauce.
- For a lower-carb version, replace regular flour with almond flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce without adding extra carbohydrates.
- Swap bacon for turkey bacon or omit entirely to make the dish vegetarian, and add smoked paprika for depth of flavor if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg