Cauliflower with Cheese & Bacon
This Cauliflower with Cheese & Bacon is a cozy, cheesy comfort dish that will wow on your holiday table. Tender cauliflower roasted right in smoky bacon drippings, then covered in melty cheddar and crispy bacon. It’s the side dish that turns vegetable skeptics into believers.
Everything cooks in one oven-safe skillet, so you get big flavor with very little cleanup. Paprika and garlic powder give the florets a warm, savory edge while the bacon grease helps them brown beautifully in the oven. It pairs perfectly with roast chicken, steak, or pork chops, and it’s hearty enough to hold its own on a holiday table.
Helpful Tips
- Cut even florets: Aim for bite-sized pieces that are all about the same size so they roast at the same rate. Mixed sizes leave you with some pieces mushy and others still firm.
- Don’t drain all the drippings: Leave the bacon grease in the skillet after you remove the bacon, since it’s what coats the cauliflower and gives every floret that smoky, savory flavor.
- Grate your own cheese: Freshly grated cheddar and Parmesan melt more smoothly than pre-shredded bags, which contain anti-caking agents. You’ll get a gooier, more even layer of cheese on top.
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Cauliflower with Cheese & Bacon
This Cauliflower with Cheese & Bacon is a cozy, cheesy comfort dish that will wow on your holiday table. Tender cauliflower roasted right in smoky bacon drippings, then covered in melty cheddar and crispy bacon.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of cauliflower cut into bite-sized florets
- 5 strips bacon chopped (or 6 oz lardons)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- green onions chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F(200°C).
- Cook the bacon in an oven-safe skillet until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to soak up any grease.
- Add the cauliflower florets to the pan and stir to coat them with the bacon grease. Sprinkle on the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Continue to stir until the seasonings are well mixed.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until the cauliflower starts to brown.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle on the cheddar and Parmesan evenly. Top with the crumbled bacon. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the cauliflower is tender, about 5 minutes. Garnish with green onions and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 540mgPotassium: 352mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 331IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 189mgIron: 1mg
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