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Close up photo of cheesy baked cauliflower casserole topped with bacon.

Cheesy Cauliflower Au Gratin with Bacon (keto, low-carb)

Jessica Stroup
This amazing cheesy cauliflower Au Gratin is a delicious keto-friendly and low-carb side dish with all the comfort food flavors from your favorite scalloped potato recipe.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 190 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 heads cauliflower
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese freshy shredded is best
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt more to taste if needed
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 slices bacon cooked, crispy and chopped into bits.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Wash your cauliflower, remove any green leaves, and cut halfway down the middle from top to stem.
  • Slice your cauliflower into ⅓-¼ inch slices and place in a 9/13 greased baking dish
    2 heads cauliflower
  • Pour cheese sauce over cauliflower slices and bake covered with aluminum foil for 25 minutes, then uncovered for 10-15 minutes.  Once cauliflower is fork-tender and cheese sauce has slightly browned on top you can remove the casserole from the oven
  • Top with crispy bacon and serve.
    4 slices bacon

Cheese Sauce Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large sauce pan, then add flour. Cook butter and flour mixture over medium meat for about 2 minutes.
    2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons flour
  • Pour heavy cream, milk, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder into your sauce pan with the butter and flour.
    1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Cook cream sauce over medium low heat until thickened creamy, about 5 minutes.
  • Turn off heat and add your shredded cheese. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the cheese sauce is smooth and creamy.
    2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Notes

HOW TO STORE AFTER BAKING

Scalloped cauliflower, cauliflower au gratin, and most other cauliflower casseroles are best eaten right after cooking but can be stored in the refrigerator (after cooling) in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 

OPTIONAL ADD-INS

Here are a few ideas for some delicious add-ins!
Bacon
Rotisserie Chicken
Ham
Green Peas

BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER-BAKE

Overcooking your cauliflower can also cause a watery casserole. Baking times will vary in this recipe depending upon how large or small you’ve cut your cauliflower. 
The longer your cauliflower bakes, the more it breaks down, releasing its water. So, if your cheese sauce was thick when you started and watery by the end of baking, it’s most likely due to over-baking. 
To prevent a watery scalloped cauliflower, use fresh cauliflower (not frozen) and remove your casserole from the oven once your cauliflower is fork-tender. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 8gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 359mgPotassium: 354mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 535IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cauliflower, Keto, Low Carb
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Nutritional Disclaimer

The nutritional information provided here is approximate and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. We strive to give you accurate information, but many factors can cause this data to vary widely. For more information, please read our full Nutritional Disclaimer.