Craving the gooey comfort of macaroni and the cheesy, bacon deliciousness of a baked potato? Well, then this loaded cheesy cauliflower bake is the answer to your prayers. While it brings together creamy, cheesy goodness like classic mac & cheese, there’s also all the irresistible fixings of a loaded baked potato (yes, bacon included.) In short, you’ve got a hearty, flavor packed cauliflower casserole no one will be able to resist.
Ingredients
- 2 small heads cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, divided
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
Directions
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350°. In a large pot of salted boiling water, blanch the cauliflower for about 3 minutes. Then, drain it and give it a gentle squeeze to get rid of any extra water. After all, no one likes soggy cauliflower!
Step 2
Time for the cheese sauce. In a deep skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, then stir in flour until golden, about 2 minutes. After that, slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the cream cheese and whisk until silky smooth, then remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheddar until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3
Grab a 9×13” baking dish and add the drained cauliflower. Pour the cheese sauce over it and stir until everything is coated. Fold in all but 1 tablespoon of both the cooked bacon and green onions. Top with the remaining cheddar, bacon, and green onions for that extra punch of flavor and color.
Step 4
Bake until the cauliflower is tender and the cheese is perfectly melty, about 30 minutes. Pull it out, dig in, and watch it disappear faster than you can say “loaded cheesy cauliflower bake.”
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