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5.0 from 12 votes

Loaded Mashed Cauliflower

Enjoy loaded mashed cauliflower with bacon and cheese, and you won't miss the potatoes! It's scrumptious, delicious, and very filling.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 237 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon fresh garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 lices Bacon
  • 1 medium head cauliflower 1 pound when trimmed
  • ½ cup cheddar sharp , shredded
  • 2 tablespoons chives or parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the butter, garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper in your food processor bowl.
  2. Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Drain it on paper towels, then crumble. Set aside.
  3. Trim the cauliflower and cut it into chunks. Place the chunks in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup of water. Cover and microwave on high until very tender, about 10 minutes. The bowl will be hot - be careful when removing it from the microwave. Drain and transfer the cooked cauliflower to the food processor.
  4. Process the cauliflower on high speed until very smooth, 1-2 minutes, stopping once to scrape the sides with a spatula.
  5. Transfer the cauliflower puree to a small 1-quart casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheddar and the crumbled bacon.
  6. Bake just until the cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Top with the parsley and serve.

Notes

  • Instead of cooking the bacon in a skillet, you can make microwave bacon. 
  • Cauliflower lacks starch, so this mash is not as thick as mashed potatoes, although it's definitely rich and creamy. One way to thicken it is to add ¼ cup of dry-grated parmesan cheese with the other ingredients that you place in the food processor. The Parmesan acts as a pretty powerful thickener.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. The bacon does lose its crispiness, but the mash is still very rich and flavorful. Reheat the leftovers in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.25recipe Calories 237kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 19g (29%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Sodium 574mg (24%) Fiber 3g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 237

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.25recipe
Calories 237kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Sodium 574mg 24%
Fiber 3g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.