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    🏠Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

    Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Feb 25, 2010 · Modified: Feb 28, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 25 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.38 from 66 votes

    This Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is easy to make with frozen or fresh cauliflower and loads of good things in only 30 minutes. Everybody will love it, but it's perfect for gluten-free, low-carb, and keto diets.

    cheesy cauliflower casserole on white plate
    Jump To:
    • 😊Why you will love this recipe
    • 👨‍🍳How to Make Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
    • The Cauliflower
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📖 Low-Carb Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • Recipe
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    This cheese cauliflower bake is a delicious vegetable side dish with tender mashed cauliflower in a flavorful cheesy sauce using all-natural products.

    😊Why you will love this recipe

    • A great vegetable side dish for potato lovers.
    • It fits well in gluten-free, low-carb, and keto diets.
    • It only takes 30 minutes to complete and is easy enough for novice cooks.
    • It can be made ahead and stored.
    • Easy to modify by using a different cheese or adding flavor with your favorite spices and herbs.
    • Perfect for casual or fancy meals.
    • The whole family, including the kids, will love this cauliflower casserole.

    I was initially inspired by my Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes when we wanted a smaller non-potato casserole side dish over ten years ago and repeated many times since.

    👨‍🍳How to Make Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    1. Preheat oven to 375° convection or 400° conventional.
    2. Cook cauliflower florets in the microwave.
    3. Slice green onions.
    4. Mash the cauliflower with a potato masher. A food processor can be used, but you want some texture, not creamy.
    5. Add cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, salt, and pepper. Add bacon if using. Stir well.
    6. Mix well and pour the mixture into a prepared baking dish.
    7. Bake until the top is browned—about 20 minutes.
    8. Let set for 5 minutes before serving.

    The Cauliflower

    This is a perfect frozen cauliflower recipe—no need to thaw the cauliflower. Just cook it according to the package instructions.

    The recipe is for one pound of florets, but bags have gotten smaller. Now, most frozen cauliflower comes in 12 oz. bags. If you use 12 oz., please adjust other ingredients.

    You can use fresh cauliflower. One medium head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds) will trim out to about 1 pound of well-trimmed florets.

    You should precook the fresh cauliflower in a microwave or boil it.

    For the Microwave: Place the cauliflower florets in a large microwave-safe bowl with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl loosely but not tightly. Cook on high until tender, 4 to 5 minutes, and drain.

    ❓FAQs

    Can cauliflower casserole be frozen?

    Yes. You can freeze cauliflower casserole after assembly but before cooking or freeze leftovers after cooking sealed airtight for three months.

    To reheat or cook, thaw completely.

    How to store and reheat leftover cauliflower casserole?

    Sealed airtight in the refrigerator for three days. Reheating in the microwave, but we prefer the oven.

    📖 Low-Carb Recipes

    Easy Low Carb Pizza

    Low Carb Parmesan-Sesame Crackers

    Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

    Simple Splenda Lemonade

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Casserole Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Low Carb/Keto Recipes, Side Dish Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    cauliflower with onions cheese and sour cream

    Preheat the oven to 375° convection or 400° conventional.

    putting cauliflower into microwave

    Use frozen cauliflower and cook 1 pound of cauliflower florets in the microwave. Follow the instructions on the package.

    For Fresh Cauliflower: One medium head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds) will trim out to about 1 pound of well-trimmed florets.
    Place the fresh cauliflower florets in a large microwave-safe bowl with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl loosely but not tightly. Cook on high until tender, 4 to 5 minutes, then drain.

    slicing green onion on wooden board

    Slice 3 green onions.

    spray casserole dish with PAM

    Prepare a 6 by 9 baking dish or a 9 by 10 Corningware casserole dish with PAM cooking spray.

    mashiing cauliflower with potato masher

    Move cauliflower to the large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or forks. You could also use a mixer or food processor, but you are NOT trying to cream this. Add sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, salt, and black pepper. Bacon is optional.

    moving casserole filling to baking dish

    Mix well and pour the mixture into a prepared baking pan. It may be refrigerated or cooked now. 

    baked cauliflower casserole in dish

    Cook in the oven until the top is browned—about 20 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

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    Recipe

    Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    This Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is easy to make with frozen or fresh cauliflower and loads of good things in only 30 minutes. Everybody will love it, but it's perfect for gluten-free, low-carb, and keto diets.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.38 from 66 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 4

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 lb frozen cauliflower
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
    • 3 green onions - sliced thin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper - coarse ground
    • 3 slices bacon - optional. Cooked and crumbled.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375° convection or 400° conventional.
      cauliflower with onions cheese and sour cream
    • Use frozen cauliflower and cook 1 pound of cauliflower florets in the microwave. Follow the instructions on the package.
      For Fresh Cauliflower: One medium head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds) will trim out to about 1 pound of well-trimmed florets.
      Place the fresh cauliflower florets in a large microwave-safe bowl with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl loosely but not tightly. Cook on high until tender, 4 to 5 minutes, then drain.
      putting cauliflower into microwave
    • Prepare a 6 by 9 baking dish or a 9 by 10 Corningware casserole dish with PAM cooking spray.
      spray casserole dish with PAM
    • Slice 3 green onions.
      slicing green onion on wooden board
    • Move cauliflower to the large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or forks. You could also use a mixer or food processor, but you are NOT trying to cream this. Add sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, salt, and black pepper. Bacon is optional.
      mashiing cauliflower with potato masher
    • Mix well and pour the mixture into a prepared baking pan. It may be refrigerated or cooked now. 
      moving casserole filling to baking dish
    • Cook in the oven until the top is browned—about 20 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. Make it "loaded" by adding 3 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon.
    2. It reheats well in a microwave, but we prefer the oven.
    3. Pan size. I usually use a 7 X 10 Corning Ware dish. A 6X9 or an 8 X 8 would be good, or anything in about that size range.
    4. Since this was originally published, many bags of frozen cauliflower have "shrunk" to 12 oz from 1 pound. The recipe will need to be decreased by 25%  if that is what you have. Cooking time will be about the same.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 263 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Saturated Fat 13g65%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 69mg23%
    Sodium 476mg20%
    Potassium 269mg8%
    Carbohydrates 8g3%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 5g6%
    Protein 11g22%
    Vitamin A 750IU15%
    Vitamin C 78.4mg95%
    Calcium 270mg27%
    Iron 0.9mg5%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course|Side Dish
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally Published February 25, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    1. Marla Williams

      September 23, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      This looks delicious. Can it be made and frozen. If it can be frozen, then should I bake it first or just mix together to bake later?
      Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        September 23, 2020 at 1:18 pm

        Hi Maria,

        Welcome to the blog.

        You can freeze this either before or after cooking. It should do well frozen for 2-3 months either cooked or uncooked.

        If frozen before cooking, thaw completely before baking.

        Dan

    2. Dee

      April 28, 2020 at 11:42 am

      5 stars
      Tried this last night, I added extra bacon, and it was delicious. It tasted similar to mashed potatoes. Hubby loved it and so this will be on my recipe software. Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Susan Reed

      March 18, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      5 stars
      I loved how tasty, quick and simple this recipe is! Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Sylvia

      October 07, 2019 at 7:16 pm

      4 stars
      I just made it with frozen cauliflower, I didn’t squeeze out the water so it came out watery. The sour cream didn’t sit well with me so I might use Greek Yogurt and maybe cream cheese. I would definitely make this again with some tweaks to suit my taste. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    5. Leah

      September 19, 2019 at 10:17 pm

      I made it with fat free Greek yogurt replacing the sour cream and it came out well. I used an 8x8 Pyrex casserole dish and it needed to be baked at 375 for 40 min not 20 in order to brown. Totally crave-worthy!

      Reply
    6. Lisa

      November 19, 2018 at 7:53 pm

      This was great! Used a little less cheese though.

      Reply
    7. Kate

      August 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm

      These were so good! My husband hates cauliflower. I gave him a bite and he immediately went and grabbed a plate to get a serving! :)

      Reply
    8. Vicky

      June 26, 2018 at 7:43 pm

      Tried this tonight and it was great left out sour cream for less calories and was still delicious

      Reply
    9. jen

      November 27, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      What size pan did you use?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        November 27, 2016 at 7:29 pm

        I usually use a 7X10 (approx.) Corning dish but that is about equal to a 9 inch round cake pan. The size of the dish doesn't matter much.

    10. DrDan

      November 13, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      I have seen similar recipes with cream cheese but not my taste. A common substitute for sour cream is plain yogurt but I have not tried it here. If you try the yogurt, please post the results here. Inquiring minds want to know. I would give it a trial run soon and not depend on it working well for Thanksgiving without testing.

      Reply
    11. Michelle

      November 13, 2016 at 12:42 pm

      This sounds great, thinking of taking for Thanksgiving! Is there anything I could use instead of sour cream?

      Reply
    12. Jen

      October 26, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      This was awesome! I love funeral potatoes, but these were so similar. My husband isn't a big cauliflower fan and he loved them.

      Reply
    13. Mrs. Leeberg

      February 04, 2016 at 11:00 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is beyond delicious! It has become a staple side dish ever since we started eating low carb high fat. Sometimes I add a little bacon and/or Uncle Dan's ranch seasoning to it, just to change it up a bit. Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    14. Jane

      July 04, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      I was wondering if you knew the calories, etc. for a serving. I made it and my family loved it.

      Reply
      • DrDan

        July 04, 2015 at 3:00 pm

        1090 per recipe which is 272 per serving assuming 4 servings but those are large servings This is low carb not low fat. You can decrease that by about 20% if you use lower fat sour cream and cheese.

        Thanks for the note and rating
        DrDan

    15. Karen Dwyer

      December 09, 2014 at 8:32 pm

      It's even more delicious with lots of bacon crumbled into it!

      Reply
    16. Meredith Brasca

      August 26, 2014 at 9:56 pm

      5 stars
      Very tasty! I was in a bit of a hurry, so I put in in the microwave for 5 minutes, stirred it, and then into the oven for 5 to brown the top. My dad - who does not like cauliflower, liked this. He likes a bit of crunch so I sprinkled some panko crumbs on top and hit broil for 1 more minute. Came out great.

      Reply
      • jen

        October 26, 2016 at 8:10 pm

        Love the panko crust idea! I'm trying this tonight

    17. Chelsea

      March 25, 2014 at 12:28 pm

      Do you think this could be made in a crock pot? If so, any suggestions on cooking times/temps?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        March 26, 2014 at 12:04 pm

        Most things "can" be cooking in a crock pot. Since nothing is raw except the onion (which doesn't matter much) it is safe. So you just need to get it hot enough to melt and combine ingredients. I will just guess 1 hour on high and then check it since it may take 2 hours. If you try it please post your results. We like the browned top so I won't be doing it.
        DrDan

    18. carolyn

      January 19, 2014 at 2:40 am

      yummm can't wait to try so easy. Thanks. I love CC

      Reply
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