Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese and Bacon

Roasted Cauliflower with Cheese and Bacon

4.8 from 4 votes

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Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Yield: 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

• ▢ 1 medium head cauliflower chopped into florets
• ▢ 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ▢ 1/2 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese
• ▢ 5 slices bacon
• ▢ 1 scallion thinly sliced
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

• Prepare a wide pan about 10 inches in diameter, safe for stovetop and oven use.
• Add bacon slices to the pan in a single layer. Cook over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer bacon to a paper towel to drain. When cool, crumble into small pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F.
• Add cauliflower florets to a gallon resealable bag. Scoop 2 tablespoons of bacon grease from the pan into the bag. Toss to coat. If you used a large head of cauliflower and the florets don’t look coated, add another tablespoon of bacon grease and toss.
• Add paprika, salt, and pepper to the resealable bag. Toss until well mixed.
• Transfer cauliflower florets onto the same pan, spreading them out until evenly distributed on the pan. They should be sitting snugly against each other, mostly in a single layer.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake at 400 F until the tops of the cauliflower are just starting to brown, about 30 minutes.
• Take the pan out of the oven. Evenly distribute cheddar and parmesan/asiago cheese on top. Lastly, add crumbled bacon over the cheese.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the cauliflower is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Garnish the top with sliced scallions and serve.

NUTRITION

Makes 2 Servings

Amount Per Serving:

Calories 420 (50% from fat)
Total Fat 23g	36%
Saturated Fat 15g	77%
Cholesterol 88mg	29%
Sodium 1460mg	61%
Net Carb 8.5g
Total Carb 14g	5%
Dietary Fiber 5.5g	23%
Sugars 5.5g
Protein 33g

Vitamin A 15% · Vitamin C 153% · Calcium 72% · Iron 6%

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Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in a rut, always cooking beef or chicken for dinner. Every now and then, I try to change things up and highlight a vegetable as the main focus of the dish, which also lets me explore seasonal vegetables.

I haven’t cooked with cauliflower in a while, so I decided to make a simple roasted cauliflower skillet with bacon and cheddar and it did not disappoint. The cauliflower florets were tender and tasty, and the cheddar and parmesan cheese mix with crumbled bacon was nothing short of amazing. This was also a really simple dish that I could whip up with just 10 minutes of prep time.

This loaded cauliflower is a great example of how low carb dinners can be amazingly tasty. When most people who haven’t tried a low carb lifestyle (such as keto or Atkins induction phase) think about low carb foods, they generally think they’re supposed to eat salads and lettuce wraps all the time.

What they don’t realize is all of the delicious foods that are low in carbs, including any kind of protein (chicken, beef, pork, salmon, shrimp, bacon), cheese, and certain vegetables. This results in a ton of delicious combinations, and I’ve been having fun coming up with new low-carb dinners that are healthy as well as comforting. Eating low carb definitely doesn’t feel like you’re on a traditional diet.

Let’s talk ingredient substitutions. I can’t imagine wanting to replace the cauliflower, but you could substitute it with broccoli if you prefer. Just watch the cooking time. For the cheese, you can use any kind you want. I used a mix of shredded cheddar cheese, grated parmesan, and grated asiago cheese. I loved the blend of flavors and the cheese really stands out. The rest of the recipe’s ingredients are pretty simple, and if you want to add some spices and herbs, you can toss them with the cauliflower florets prior to baking.

If you’re looking for more low-carb and keto friendly meals, check out these stuffed portobello mushrooms, bacon wrapped jalapeno peppers, and ground beef and cabbage stir fry.