Easy and filling loaded cauliflower cheese recipe

If you want something wholesome and delicious, you must try this Loaded Cauliflower Cheese recipe. Packed full of flavour and a very comforting dish, you simply can’t go wrong with it. 

When this Loaded Cauliflower cheese is perfect

When the weather gets a little cooler, you just want something that is delicious and satisfying, and this loaded cauliflower cheese is exactly that. Perfect as a healthy midweek meal or a delicious side dish to other fabulous meals, the cauliflower gets a chance to shine.

Sometimes people are not fans of cauliflower; they can find it bland. But roasting it in the oven gives it an earthy flavour, and the creamy cheese mixed amongst it just transforms this once okay vegetable to a delicious side dish. 

I love to eat mine as it is or as a side dish to some roasted meats like pork or chicken. It is excellent as a tasty side dish for a roast dinner on a Sunday. The flavours work well, and you can easily add other things to it or use leftovers creatively. You have to try this loaded cauliflower cheese recipe.

Ingredients needed to make the Loaded Cauliflower Cheese

First of all, it is a good idea to ensure that you can get all of the ingredients together. Focusing on this first means that the cooking process will be simple. You will need:

• 6 slices of bacon, cooked & chopped 
• 2 medium heads of cauliflower, cut to bite-size 
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil 
• Salt & pepper to taste 
• 170g of cream cheese, room temperature 
• 165g cheddar cheese, grated 
• 180g sour cream
• Spring onion, chopped – used for garnish 

How to make the Loaded Cauliflower Cheese 

Now that you have all your ingredients to hand, it is time to make the Loaded Cauliflower Cheese. 

Gather your ingredients together and preheat the oven to 220°c/425°f/Gas Mark 7. 

Add your bacon to a frying pan or place under the grill and cook until crispy. Then chop and set aside.

Toss the bite-sized chunks of cauliflower in olive oil and salt & pepper and place in a 13×9 baking dish 

Bake for 30 minutes until the cauliflower is tender and slightly browning. 

Mix the cream cheese and cheddar in a mixing bowl.

Dollop over the cauliflower.

Bake for a further 5-7 more minutes until bubbling and delicious.  

Spoon over the sour cream cheese, then sprinkle with crispy bacon and chopped spring onion.

Serve and enjoy! 

Can you make this loaded cauliflower cheese for Slimming World?

If you are following the Slimming World weight loss plan then this is easily adapted to the plan. Simply syn the cream cheese, using extra light Philadelphia works best in my experience. You could use Quark however I think the few syns in Philadelphia are worth it for the better flavours.

Use spray oil instead of olive oil and this easily removes the 6-7 syns you would have in a tbsp of olive oil.

A great alternative to the sour cream is my sour cream alternative recipe and you will enjoy it just as much with fewer syns!

Recipe notes and tips

When it comes to any recipe, it is always a good idea to understand what notes and tips you can use to help you get the best from the recipe and have success every time. If you want to make the most of this delicious cauliflower cheese recipe, here are some recipe notes and tips to help.

• Prepare all the ingredients before starting so you can easily make this dish. 
• You can use spray oil instead of olive oil. Just make sure the cauliflower pieces are well coated in oil. 
• Use an air fryer for the cauliflower instead of baking in the oven. 
• Check the cauliflower by piercing a metal skewer or knife to check they are tender before carrying on with the recipe. 

Variations to try

Like many recipes, once you have tried them out a few times, you can change and vary the recipe to suit your tastes and preferences. So, I wanted to share some of them you might want to try. 

• Add more vegetables – You can add more vegetables to this dish. Broccoli would work well, as well as carrots and parsnips. Root vegetables will take a little longer to roast if used, so get them started first. 
• Add bacon to the roasting pan with the cauliflower for extra flavour. 
• Make a cheese sauce by creating a roux of flour and butter and adding milk to make a white sauce. You can add cheese to this. 
• Mix in a bit of mustard with the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. 
• Try different cheeses for different flavours. Red Leicester or even Stitton would work well.

FAQs

Like with any recipe, there are often questions that need answering. I thought I would share some common questions here, but if you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

How should I serve the Loaded cauliflower cheese?

This is a perfect dish to enjoy as it is if you want something light during the week. It also works well as a side dish to a roast dinner, cooked meats, or even something as simple as sausages and mashed potatoes. 

What should I do with leftovers? 

You can get very creative with leftovers. You could blitz them all together to create a cauliflower puree, which would be perfectly served with some pasta for a delicious creamy vegetable sauce. You could also add cooked meats to the leftovers and create a pie for the following day by adding mash. 

How do I store the loaded cauliflower cheese?

If you want to keep any leftovers as they are, let them cool completely and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

You can reheat in the oven or the microwave for a few minutes. 

Can you make this Vegetarian or Vegan?

Absolutely! Just don’t use the bacon. It will still be delicious. You can go one step further and make this vegan using your preferred plant-based cream cheese and cheddar cheese alternatives. 

I hope you enjoy making and eating your loaded cauliflower cheese. 

Other great side dishes

If you are looking for other side dishes to try, then here are a few favourites I have picked out for you:

• Hassleback potatoes
• Ukrainian vegetable nests
• Loaded potato wedges
• Sweet Potato hummus with courgette fries
• Fried cabbage with bacon

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