Cauliflower Bake with Goat Cheese
This cauliflower bake is made extra creamy and delicious with goat cheese and bacon. You would never guess it’s super easy, healthy and low carb!
In my almost 30 years on this earth I have learned that there are only a few things that you can count on to be 100% true. Always:
- Peanut butter cheesecake bars fix all problems.
- It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere (read: anytime IS a good time for a margarita)
- Cheese also has the ability to cure all wounds, broken hearts and bad days.
Maybe they’re cousins?
And finally, and this is one that I have just recently learned: 4. Cauliflower is the “Super Man” of vegetables.
Or woman. I’m an equal opportunity cauliflower-ist.
I mean, not only can you cook cauliflower 4 different ways, you can make cauliflower mashed potatoes with 5 ingredients, cauliflower potato salad and even cauliflower tabbouleh.
And now…a yummy, cheesy bake! There is NOTHING TO NOT LOVE.
Cauliflower Bake Ingredients
I’m not usually one for side dishes. I’m an all-in-one kind of girl when it comes to weeknight meals, simply because then I don’t have to make MULTIPLE different dishes. I’m talking one pot rice casserole with pumpkin or one pot jambalaya– Keeping it easy is my JAM! How-ev-er, when a side dish is SO tasty, SO healthy, and SO EASY, I can’t resist. This loaded cauliflower casserole is all of those, and it has bacon in it to boot! Here’s what you’ll need to make this mouth watering, savory side dish:
- Cauliflower Heads
- Hickory Smoked Bacon
- Onion
- Garlic
- Goat Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Salt and Pepper
- Green Onion
How to make a Cauliflower Bake
Prepare
Turn on the oven and allow it to fully preheat. Meanwhile, spray a small casserole dish with cooking spray.
Microwave
Place all of the cauliflower in a large microwavable bowl. Heat on high in the microwave for 8 minutes. Remove, stir it around, then heat again on high for 8 minutes, or until the cauliflower is fork-tender.
Cook the Bacon
While the cauliflower cooks, heat a small pan on medium high heat. Cook the bacon, 2-3 minutes per side, or until it’s golden brown and cooked to your desired doneness. Once it’s cooked, blot off the excess fat with a paper towel and chop it up. Set aside. Be sure to reserve the bacon grease in the pan.
Sautee
Heat up the bacon grease a bit and add the onions and garlic. Sautee them until they are just done- they should be soft and golden brown.
Process
Place the cooked cauliflower, some of the goat cheese, the cream cheese and the onion mixture in a large food process and blend until it’s mostly smooth, leaving some chunks in for a bit of texture.
Mix
Transfer the cauliflower mixture to a large bowl and add in the chopped up bacon, mixing gently to combine.
Bake
Toss the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and top with the remaining goat cheese. Bake until the top is golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Something else that’s just so great about this oven baked casserole dish is that it can totally be a meal all on its own. If you want to make it a feast, cook up some asparagus stuffed chicken breasts and add a balsamic grilled vegetable salad for the FULL meal deal!
Cauliflower Bake With Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 large head Cauliflowers chopped (8 cups chopped)
- 4 strips Hickory Smoked Bacon
- 1 cup Onion diced
- 4 teaspoons Garlic minced
- 10 ounces Goat Cheese divided
- 1/4 cup Reduced Fat Cream Cheese softened
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Green Onion sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F and spray a small casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Place the chopped cauliflower into a large bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. Stir and microwave for an additional 8 minutes, until fork tender.
- While the cauliflower cooks, heat a small pan on medium heat and cook the bacon until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Once cooked, blot of the excess fat with a paper towel, cut into small pieces and set aside. Make sure to reserve the bacon fat in the pan.
- Heat the reserved bacon fat on medium/high heat and cook the onion and garlic until golden brown and soft, just 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked cauliflower into a large food processor and add in 8 oz of the goat cheese, the cream cheese and the cooked onions. Process until well mixed and almost totally smooth, keeping a few chunks in for texture.
- Transfer the cauliflower mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the sliced bacon and mix until evenly distributed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Fill the prepared casserole dish with the cauliflower and crumble the remaining goat cheese on top.
- Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Garnish with green onion and serve.
Nutrition
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