Loaded Mashed Cauliflower is a lightened up alternative to loaded mashed potatoes. It’s lower in calories and carbohydrates but definitely not lacking in flavor. Cheddar cheese, bacon, and sour cream make this cauliflower recipe anything but boring!
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One of the first recipes that I ever shared on this blog is for Loaded Cauliflower Bites. It’s also my most popular recipe on Pinterest with almost 400,000 pins!
So why in the world did it take so long for me to share my similar, but different, Loaded Mashed Cauliflower recipe? I have no idea but I am so happy to finally have this delicious recipe perfected for you now!
This is one of my favorite ways to eat cauliflower. I’m not going to attempt to fool you into thinking that this recipe tastes just like potatoes – it doesn’t – but even those who don’t love cauliflower tend to still enjoy this recipe. It’s kind of hard to not love a recipe that’s loaded with cheese and bacon.
Be sure to follow my tips below and in the recipe card to get the best, smooth and creamy mashed cauliflower imaginable!
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is comfort food at it’s finest. It’s a healthy, lower calorie, lower carb alternative to loaded potatoes. Fauxtatoes, if you will, at their finest!
There are only 345 calories and 6 net carbs per serving as opposed to 550 calories and 50 net carbs if you were to use the same amount of potatoes. This makes this recipe perfect for those watching their weight or following a keto diet.
This is a really easy recipe to make. In the instructions below, I’ll walk you through how to get the creamiest mashed cauliflower. Then it’s just a matter of adding in some big flavors to finish the dish.
You can serve Loaded Mashed Cauliflower as a side dish to so many main dishes. It pairs exceptionally well with steak or chicken. Just think of it like a steakhouse side dish when deciding what to serve with it, or check out some of the suggestions further down this post.
This recipe can also be made ahead of time. See the FAQ’s below for how to prep, store, and reheat it.
How To Make Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
What You Need To Make This Recipe
To make this recipe, you will need:
- 1 medium head cauliflower (cut into florets)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded, divided)
- 4 slices bacon (cooked, crumbled, divided)
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- parsley, green onions or chives (optional garnish)
The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.
Prep!
Cook and crumble your bacon, cut the cauliflower into florets, mince the garlic, and shred the cheddar cheese (preferably from a block for the best melting).
Tip: keep the florets larger so that they don’t get water-logged when you are steaming them. This will help to prevent your mashed cauliflower from getting watery.
Create!
Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover with plastic wrap leaving just one edge slightly open to vent.
Microwave on high for 8 minutes. Be careful removing the bowl from the microwave and the plastic from the top as it will be very hot and steaming.
If you’d prefer to cook your cauliflower in a different way, you can reference this post on How To Cook Cauliflower.
Tip: Steaming the cauliflower is the best cooking method for this recipe. It will give you super tender cauliflower without a ton of water which in turn with help to make super smooth mashed cauliflower.
Remove the cauliflower from the bowl with a slotted spoon, straining out as much water as possible, and place it in a food processor fitted with a blade. Again, we are trying to limit the amount of water to prevent watery mashed cauliflower.
Tip: using a food processor to “mash” the cauliflower is another way to get your cauliflower super creamy. If you do not have a food processor, you can use a blender or mixer.
Add the salt, pepper, garlic, butter, and 1 tablespoon of the heavy whipping cream to the food processor. Process until smooth, adding more heavy cream very slowly until the desired consistency is reached.
Tip: I find that heavy whipping cream really helps to get the cauliflower super smooth and creamy, but if you prefer it to be more buttery, you can add extra butter instead.
Remove the blade and stir in half of the cheddar cheese and bacon.
Transfer the loaded cauliflower mash to a casserole dish (or 4 individual baking dishes as shown in the photos) and top with the remaining cheddar cheese and bacon.
Turn on the broiler and place the cauliflower in the oven about 3-4 inches from the broiler for about 2 minutes, watching very closely, until the cheese is just melted and hot.
Present!
Top each serving with a tablespoon of sour cream and garnish with minced parsley, sliced green onions, or chives, if desired.
Tips and Techniques
- Cut the cauliflower florets larger so that they don’t get water-logged when you are steaming them.
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.
- Steaming the cauliflower is the best cooking method for this recipe, however, if you’d prefer to cook it another way, you can reference this post on How To Cook Cauliflower, if needed.
- Using a food processor to “mash” the cauliflower is the best way to get your cauliflower super creamy.
- Heavy whipping cream really helps to get the cauliflower really smooth and creamy, but if you prefer a more buttery flavor, you can add additional butter instead of cream, if needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.
FAQ’s
What Do You Serve With Mashed Cauliflower?
Mashed cauliflower can be served with any of the same dishes that you would typically serve with mashed potatoes.
Simple chicken, beef, turkey, pork, and seafood recipes all pair well with regular or loaded mashed cauliflower.
Some recipes that you may enjoy with this recipe are:
- Easy Garlic Chicken
- Creamy Garlic Chicken
- Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Beef Bites
- Crispy Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon
- Brown Sugar and Honey Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Can You Make Mashed Cauliflower Ahead Of Time?
Yes. This recipe can be made ahead of time up to the point of it needing to go under the broiler.
Prepare the dish as instructed, then cover it tightly and place it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake the dish, preheat your oven to 350°F and bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until warmed through with the cheese hot and melted on top.
Garnish and serve.
More Cauliflower Side Dish Recipes
Here are more cauliflower side dish recipes that you might like:
Love this Loaded Mashed Cauliflower recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!
If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!
Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic * minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese * shredded, divided
- 4 slices bacon * cooked, crumbled, divided
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- parsley, green onions, or chives * optional garnish
Instructions
- Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover with plastic wrap leaving just one edge slightly open to vent.
- Microwave on high for 8 minutes. Be careful, the bowl will be hot.
- Transfer the cauliflower from the bowl with a slotted spoon, straining out as much water as possible, and place it in a food processor fitted with a blade.
- Add the salt, pepper, garlic, butter, and 1 tablespoon of the heavy whipping cream to the food processor.
- Process until smooth, adding more heavy cream very slowly, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Remove the blade and stir in half of the cheddar cheese and bacon.
- Transfer the loaded cauliflower mash to a casserole dish (or 4 individual baking dishes) and top with the remaining cheddar cheese and bacon.
- Turn on the broiler and place the cauliflower in the oven about 3-4 inches from the broiler for about 2 minutes, watching very closely, until the cheese is just melted and hot.
- Top each serving with a tablespoon of sour cream and garnish with minced parsley, sliced green onions, or chives, if desired.
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- Cut the cauliflower florets larger so that they don’t get water-logged when you are steaming them.
- Shred the cheddar cheese from a block for the best melting and texture.
- Steaming the cauliflower is the best cooking method for this recipe, however, if you’d prefer to cook it another way, you can reference this post on How To Cook Cauliflower, if needed.
- Using a food processor to “mash” the cauliflower is the best way to get your cauliflower super creamy.
- Heavy whipping cream really helps to get the cauliflower really smooth and creamy, but if you prefer a more buttery flavor, you can add additional butter instead of cream, if needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.
Ramona says
What a lovely dish indeed- made it last night for dinner and we are thinking of making it again tonight 😉
Very nice and easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Karen says
My daughter and I are the cauliflower fanatics in my house – we might use a smoky tempeh bacon instead because she’s vegetarian, but totally trying this!
Dana says
With a few modifications I can make this totally vegetarian