Loaded Mashed Cauliflower

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

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 237kcal

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

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the butter, garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper in your food processor bowl.
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Drain it on paper towels, then crumble. Set aside.
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.
Process the cauliflower on high speed until very smooth, 1-2 minutes, stopping once to scrape the sides with a spatula.
Transfer the cauliflower puree to a small 1-quart casserole dish. Top with the shredded cheddar and the crumbled bacon.
Bake just until the cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Top with the parsley and serve.

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 grated Parmesan cheese with the other ingredients that you place in the food processor. The Parmesan acts as a thickener.
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The bacon loses its crispiness, but the mash is still rich and flavorful. Reheat the leftovers in the microwave, covered, at 50% power, or uncovered in a 350°F oven (remove the baking dish to the counter 30 minutes before placing it in the oven).