Fresh cauliflower smothered in a creamy sauce then topped with a sprinkling of bacon and baked until bubbling with gooey melted cheeses; this Creamy Cauliflower and Cheese with Bacon receives two thumbs up from all of my kids every time I make it.
It never fails to amaze me that my kids who would be very unlikely to choose to eat cauliflower on its own will happily devour multiple servings of it when it is prepared this way. Of course, what’s not to love about vegetables covered in a spicy cheese sauce and topped with bacon, right?
While there are plenty of awesome pasta dishes that my family loves, this Creamy Cauliflower ‘n Cheese with Bacon will most definitely not leave you thinking that something is missing. This Creamy Cauliflower ‘n Cheese with Bacon is an awesome side dish for almost any meal, but it’s plenty hearty enough to be a main dish as well. For my meat loving family, I typically serve this with oven roasted or pan-fried chicken thighs.
If you’re looking for more terrific cauliflower recipes to try, this Garlic and Paprika Roasted Cauliflower and this Spicy Caramelized Cauliflower both disappear almost as fast as I can cook them! Old Bay Cauliflower Salad and Crispy Cauliflower Tacos both sound amazing too.
Kitchen Tip: I use this baking dish, this saucepan, and this flat whisk to make this recipe.
{originally published 2/24/14 – notes and photos updated 1/28/18}
yify says
Very helpful advice in this particular post! It’s the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly says
Hi Mary! I’ve just discovered your beautiful blog! Bacon and cheese…YUM!
Lesley says
Hi, this recipe for cauliflower n cheese n bacon sounds really good… do u cook the cauliflower ahead of time before u add the cheese sauce n bacon?
Mary says
I do not. I make this dish as written in the recipe. Enjoy!
Wendy says
Hi, this recipe for cauliflower n cheese n bacon is really good. I doubled up on the cheese.
Kathy says
Could you sub heavy cream for milk to make it more keto friendly?
Mary Younkin says
Honestly, I think that might throw the balance off too much, Kathy. I haven’t tried it myself, but you could try 1 part cream to 2 parts water for the milk listed in the recipe.
Shelby says
Love this recipe it’s super easy and good
Mary Younkin says
Glad you liked it, Shelby!