I miss potatoes the most on the keto diet. Creamy mashed or french fried, potatoes are what dreams are made of for me. Keto mashed cauliflower casserole with bacon and cheese is the closest thing I have ever gotten to a low-carb version of a loaded mashed potato casserole. It is incredible! Your dreams of the perfect keto side dish are here with this cheesy bacon cauliflower casserole.
Keto loaded mashed cauliflower casserole is loaded with white cheddar cheese and bacon while made as smooth as mashed potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese and baked to perfection. This recipe is super easy to make as well as being gluten-free and low-carb.
Keto Cauliflower Casserole Ingredients
The ingredients for a mashed cauliflower casserole are just like the ingredients in a loaded mashed potato casserole. The steamed cauliflower is combined with cheesy goodness and then topped off with bacon for a creamy and delicious combination that won't even have you longing for carbs.
Here is what you need to make this low-carb faux mashed potatoes recipe:
- Head of Cauliflower - A whole head of cauliflower is what I always use to make this. If you want, frozen cauliflower can be substituted for fresh. I would use at least 20 ounces of frozen.
- Butter - Do you even keto diet if you don't put butter in everything? Of course, you need butter!
- Cream Cheese - Whipped or block will work in this recipe. It should not have to be said, full-fat is recommended if you are on a keto diet.
- Sour Cream - Potatoes can't be loaded without sour cream. The same goes for loaded cauliflower casserole.
- White Cheddar Cheese - The sharpness of white cheddar gives this casserole lots of flavors. Monterey Jack could also be used. If you want a little bit of spice, you can also use pepper jack cheese.
- Bacon - Since the legendary black bag of bacon is always in my fridge this can be used. But, fresh-fried and crumbled bacon is really my preference for the best loaded mashed cauliflower recipe.
- Salt and Pepper - Seasonings are necessary. I also have used my salt and pepper blend that includes garlic powder.
How to make Loaded Mashed Cauliflower Casserole
To make this mashed cauliflower casserole, start by steaming a head of cauliflower. I steamed my cauliflower in the Instant Pot in a steamer basket in just three minutes and it worked perfectly.
Steam the cauliflower and then transfer it to your food processor or blender for mashing. I added a pat of butter to the blender to make the cauliflower nice and smooth. Then dump the pureed cauliflower into a bowl.
To the bowl of cauliflower add cream cheese, sour cream, shredded white cheddar, and bacon bits. Season with salt and pepper or a peppery seasoned salt.
Spread the mixture out in a 2-quart casserole dish that is oven safe. Then over the top of the mashed cauliflower, spread additional white cheddar cheese and bacon pieces.
Bake the loaded cauliflower casserole on 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese and bacon or golden and bubbly. The cheesy bacon cauliflower casserole is rich and creamy giving all your carb cravings reprieve without any of the carbs.
Tips for making Keto Mashed Cauliflower Casserole with bacon and Cheese
- Cook the cauliflower fully before mashing or pureeing it. Nobody likes lumpy faux potatoes.
- Don't have time to fry up the bacon for bacon pieces, just use some bacon pieces instead. I buy the big black bag at Sam's club.
- Buy your white cheddar cheese in a block and shred yourself. I couldn't find shredded white cheddar cheese in my stores.
- I used my favorite season salt in the casserole, but just a regular salt and pepper with a hint of paprika will work too.
Keto Side Dishes
While a keto diet is easy because it is a lot of meat, you want to eat things besides just meat. I have you covered with a few of my favorite low-carb side dish recipes.
Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini Chips
Bacon and Onions Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
๐ Recipe
Keto Loaded Mashed Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- ½ tablespoon butter
- 8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup fried bacon pieces
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon season salt
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower in an Instant Pot for three minutes, cut up in pieces in a steamer basket with a cup of water in the bottom.
- Puree the cauliflower in a food processor or blender with a small pat of butter. Then pour into a bowl.
- Combine half the cheddar cheese ยพ of the bacon in the cauliflower along with the cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in the season salt.
- Spread the cauliflower mixture in a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Top with the remaining shredded white cheddar cheese and bacon pieces.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and golden around the edges.
Video
Nutrition
Shared on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
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Jo
Help!!
I have to use my phone to read your site and recipes. With all the advertising it only leaves less than two inches on my screen to view your site. When I try to X out the ads they just keep taking me to the site. So frustrating.
Leah Beyer
You can see the print preview of the recipe here
https://www.beyerbeware.net/wprm_print/9513
Jo
Thank you for your help on this. - jo