Loaded Cauliflower Au Gratin is a family favorite keto side dish. Like our cauliflower mac and cheese, this is a reader favorite! Keto loaded cauliflower , cheesy bacon goodness in a quick and easy dish perfect for dinner or as a side. The family will devour this. Loaded cauliflower casserole is one of those kid friendly keto recipes everyone will eat!
 Cauliflower Au Gratin
Cheesy, bacon mash!Â
Cauliflower Au Gratin is such a popular healthy cauliflower recipe in our home. One of my mom's favorite side dishes to make for dinner when we were growing up was scalloped or au gratin potatoes. Sometimes she would make them homemade if time allowed, but mostly they came from those handy boxes of Betty Crocker. Though the potato didn't exactly taste like potato, it didn't matter with all that creamy cheese sauce covering them.
It's a Kid Friendly Keto Recipe!
After all, I think that really is the only reason why we liked them so much. When I grew up and started cooking REAL food, I vowed to make them homemade. I try to stay away from preservative filled items from the grocery store.Â
My Keto loaded cauliflower au gratin became a huge hit with the family, kids love it and now a regular on our dinner menu. When I dream of mashed potatoes I reach for this low carb cauliflower gratin. This is a loaded cauliflower casserole that will win over young and old.Â
Cauliflower Au Gratin Keto Side Dish
As you know, on keto and lc potatoes are a no-no. Cauliflower is a popular replacement and with good reason. Cauliflower can basically be turned into anything- cauliflower mac n cheese, rice, puree, mash, roasted ... you name it. I have even seen cauliflower whipped into chocolate pudding. Seriously. After you are done here go back and click those two little highlighted words up there ^ .
Kid Friendly Keto Recipes
Cauliflower is pretty versatile and so easy to prepare that it was a no brainer, turn my famous potatoes au gratin into loaded cauliflower au gratin. The best thing about cauliflower is that it mashes or purees up so SMOOTH!Â
Now I think the cauliflower flavor goes away, but I have heard people say that they taste it. This usually comes from people who don't like cauliflower to begin with. Our Keto loaded cauliflower casserole is just that. Loaded. Cheddar cheese, bacon, green onion, sour cream, and deliciousness.
Alrighty, let's get to it
Making our Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
PIN ME !Â
Be sure to try our cauliflower mac and cheese , it is the perfect side dish!
Can I Halve The Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin Recipe
Yes, if you don't plan to need this 9x13 size, you can easily halve the recipe to trim down the loaded cauliflower bake. I used 2 head of cauliflower in this recipe. We like leftovers but if you prefer less, just halve the ingredients!Â
Can You Freeze Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
You can freeze this low carb cauliflower au gratin recipe. Just allow it to cool and then transfer to a freezer friendly container and store in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge the night before, then warm up in the oven or even microwave.
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Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower For Cauliflower Au Gratin RecipeÂ
Yes. You are welcome to swap with frozen cauliflower if that is what you have on hand. Just cook it until fork tender as directed, and then follow the rest of the steps. I haven't found that it affects the flavor or texture at all.
What Goes With Cauliflower Gratin
I use cauliflower gratin as a hearty keto lunch for just me, or as a side for my family. I also love making this keto cauliflower gratin for the holidays. It is a great replacement to those carb-loaded sides we all know and love. Even people who don't eat keto will dig right into this low carb cauliflower recipe.Â
Melted Butter, cream, cheese, cauliflower, what isn't to love? A great cauliflower recipe that isn't plain cauliflower rice, to kepe you interested!Â
How Long With Au Gratin Last In FridgeÂ
You can keep au gratin in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If stored properly it will last a handful of days. Just make sure to use your best judgment on if it is going bad if so toss it out.Â
Best Way to Reheat Cauliflower Au GratinÂ
You can do a quick reheat in the microwave or opt to use the oven. The oven if you bake it that way, just wrap in aluminum foil to help prevent the top of gratin to overcook. Then just reheat until it is warmed all the way through. You won't even miss the bread crumbs that are sprinkled onto regular gratin recipes.Â
Can I Use Cauliflower Rice Instead of Mashed CauliflowerÂ
If you use cauliflower rice it will change the texture of the recipe, but you are welcome to use it if that is all you have. I have not tried doing this but I am sure it would still taste good.Â
Can I Replace Bacon in Low Carb Cauliflower Au Gratin RecipeÂ
Feel free to swap bacon with pancetta or even Canadian bacon or diced ham. We love the bacon for the salty aspect, but if you are not a fan use one of the others, or skip meat altogether. This taste really delicious even as a meatless side dish. Try my keto buffalo chicken cauli-mac as well if you want another tasty cauliflower recipe!Â
Keto Side Dish RecipeÂ
This keto side dish recipe is truly a breeze to make. No hovering over the stove the whole time or constant stirring. After some prep, you toss it in the oven and let it finish baking away! Pull out a golden brown and cheesy cauliflower recipe the whole family will be thankful for. This is a low carb recipe you will want to save.Â
Have you ever tried Loaded Cauliflower Au Gratin?
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Keto Loaded Cauliflower Au Gratin
Our loaded cauliflower au gratin makes the perfect side dish for any meal while being both keto and low carb friendly. You definitely won't miss the potatoes here!
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- ½ small onion, diced
- 2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 c cream
- 1 c sour cream
- ½ lb bacon, cooked, rouch chopped
- 2 c cheddar, shredded
- ½ c parmesan, shredded
- 2 heads Cauliflower, rough chopped
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Green Onion or Scallions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- In a large stock pot, bring water to a boil. Cook cauliflower until fork tender. Remove from water and set aside. Wipe out the pot. Return to heat.
- Saute onions in 1 tablespoon butter. When onions are translucent, slowly add xanthan gum. Stir to combine. Slowly whisk in ½ the cream and all the sour cream.
- Stir in seasonings, bacon and half of the cheddar. Remove from heat. Set aside.
- Add remaining butter and cream to the cauliflower and mash. A hand mixer works really well to get it smooth.
- Spread cauliflower mash into a buttered casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over the mash.
- Top with remaining cheese, parmesan and green onion.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes
- Remove foil and bake additional 5 minutes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 323Total Fat: 28gCarbohydrates: 6gNet Carbohydrates: 3gFiber: 3gProtein: 15g
Nutrition facts are auto- populated by the app for this recipe card, numbers may vary. For best results, input your exact brand ingredients into a recipe analyzer like Verywell or MyFitnessPal.
Owner & Lead Recipe Developer for It's Simple! since 2015, where you will find our best Family Favorites & Keto Low Carb Dishes with Helpful Cooking Tips & Hints in each post. Many Thanks for Stopping By, Enjoy!
What kind of cream? MILK?, HEAVY CREAM?
dairy of your choice
Can you use anything besides xanthan gum?
Hi Cindy, If you aren't concerned with carbs you can make a traditional rue style with flour. Unfortunately, I can not recommend another keto/low carb option to replace the Xanthan as I have never used one.
This keto cauliflower au gratin is the best recipe to use with cauliflower that I have had yet. Thanks for this awesome recipe
That is awesome to hear Merril thank you for letting us know, we are glad you enjoyed it.
I wish you had included nutritional info such as fats, carbs, sugar, etc.
At the time this was posted there was no good recipe analyzer to use.
My Fitness Pal is inconsistent since it is based off of user submissions.
SO. Now that there is a recipe analyzer I can trust in between all of the work I do to bring readers free recipes, I have to schedule times to go back and update old recipes. This one happens to have not been done yet
Thank you