Low Carb Roasted Cauliflower Recipe w/ Bacon & Cheese
Loaded Roasted Cauliflower Recipe With Cheese and Bacon is so delicious, quick, and easy. This recipe gives you the crunch you sometimes miss on keto, while also adding extra veggies and fat to your diet. The cauliflower florets are roasted in the oven with spices and pork panko to make a delicious cauliflower dish.
Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
I don’t love cauliflower; it just isn’t one of my favorite vegetables. So, I set out with a lofty goal; to create a new cauliflower recipe that I would enjoy. I had recently seen a recipe on Facebook for loaded potato skins and thought I might be able to make something similar with cauliflower.
I started by cutting the cauliflower florets thin and added olive oil, pork panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, and spices to the mixture. Then, I roasted it in the oven until it began to crisp. I loved it; in fact, this is one of my favorite new ways to eat cauliflower. As good as it was roasted, everything is better with cheese and bacon. I crumbled a little crispy bacon on top with freshly grated cheese and popped it back in the oven for a few minutes. Wow! If made correctly, cauliflower can be delicious. The bacon and cheese kicked up the flavor by several notches and added a little extra fat in the process.
Is Cauliflower Beneficial on a Keto Diet?
Yes, cauliflower is an excellent vegetable on the keto/low carb diet because it is versatile, low in carbs, and good for you. Cauliflower has tons of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Studies have even linked cauliflower to lowering the risk of cancer. In addition to having tons of nutritional value, one cup of raw Cauliflower only has 3 net carbs making it the perfect keto vegetable.
I sliced the cauliflower very thin so that as it roasted, it would get more crispy. My favorite pieces in the roasted cauliflower recipe are the little bits that broke off when I cut them. When roasted these pieces get the most crispy out of all the sliced florets
With seasonings like garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika, the cauliflower is super flavorful and delicious. If you want to change this recipe up feel free to add extra spices such as minced garlic, curry powder, crushed red pepper, or kosher salt. It’s so easy to make this recipe your own.
You’ll want to make sure that you toss the cauliflower in a bowl or a zip lock bag with the spices, oils, cheese, and pork panko so that all the ingredients are combined.
What is Pork Panko?
Pork Panko is pork rinds that have been ground into a panko breaking like consistency without the added carbs. There is no seasoning added so it can be used in many different recipes to form a crisp breading or crunch. Although I haven’t tried grinding pork rinds, it is always an option. The bag of Pork Pank I have has lasted a long time and I’ve used it for several different recipes. Pork Panko is available on Amazon in either a 3 count bag or one larger bag.
Pork Panko is:
Pork Panko is:- Keto and Paleo-friendly
- gluten-free – factory only produces products with two ingredients pork skins and salt
- carb-free
- Subs 1:1 for bread crumbs
- A high heat tolerance so it can be used in place of flour in many different recipes
Spread the mixture evenly over a rimmed baking sheet covered with parchment paper. The florets will shrink while roasting in the oven, so you may not initially be able to spread them in a single layer. As the cauliflower begins to roast, you’ll be able to spread them out to give plenty of room to crisp.
What is the cooking time to Roast Cauliflower?
It takes approximately 44 minutes to make this roasted cauliflower recipe in the oven and an extra 5 minutes when you add the cheese and bacon.
This low carb roasted cauliflower parmesan recipe is also delicious without cheese and bacon; in fact, that’s the way we ate it for a while and enjoyed it. Then I decided to try adding cheese and bacon to it on a whim. Now we love roasted cauliflower even more.
Pro Tip:
To save time, prep bacon in bulk at the beginning of the week. By doing so, you’ll have bacon already ready for a quick bite at breakfast or a snack. Also, it will save time at dinner as all you’ll need to do is grab it out of the fridge already cooked to add to this roasted cauliflower recipe.
Can You Reheat Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower?
Yes, I love cauliflower as a side dish for my lunch the next day. For best results, put the cauliflower in the microwave for a couple of seconds then place it in a 425-degree oven on the top rack until crispy.
Can You Roast Cauliflower in Advance?
Yes, roasting it in advance can save time, and be a great way to meal prep. To reheat simply put the cauliflower it in the microwave for a couple of seconds, then bake in the oven until it starts to recrisp. Next, add the cheese and bacon and return to oven until the cheese has melted. Roasting it in advance and reheating will make it less crispy when reheated, but it still tastes fantastic.
We all loved this roasted cauliflower recipe, except my son who hates cooked cauliflower anyway. I would say five out of six people giving it a two thumbs up is a win. This roasted cauliflower recipe is tasty, crispy, and easy. I love making it for my family because I know they’re eating and enjoying their veggies. I’m not sure about you, but I call that a mom win.
More Low Carb Recipes with Cauliflower:
- 20 Cauliflower Recipes that Actually Taste Good
- Cheesy Mexican Skillet
- Chicken & Cauliflower Soup
- Keto Cauliflower Mac N Cheese
Don’t Miss Any New Recipes:
Don’t miss any recipes like this Low Carb Ground Beef Recipe. If you aren’t already following my Easy Keto/Low Carb Recipe Page on Facebook where I post all my new recipes, and content join here. Follow me on Pinterest for inspiration, recipe ideas, and more low carb/keto recipes here. There are tons of fantastic resources and help available for those of you who are just getting started on the keto/low carb diet and would like more information. Amazon also has several excellent books you may want to check out here.
How to Make Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe with Cheese & Bacon?
Loaded Roasted Cauliflower Recipe with Cheese and Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 small heads of cauliflower
- 1½ cups freshly grated mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pork panko (or ground pork rinds)
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3-4 slices cooked bacon
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Fry three to four slices of bacon until crispy then crumble and set aside.
- Wash and dry cauliflower, if it's not completely dry the cauliflower will steam instead of roast.
- Slice the cauliflower into very thin slices (see pics). I sliced the cauliflower head vertically from the top to the bottom to make the slices thin, you’ll get both slices and smaller crumbles as you continue to slice.
- In a bowl, add all of the other ingredients (except the cheddar cheese and bacon) along with the cauliflower. If you don't have pork panko, you can grind pork rinds instead. Toss to coat evenly.
- Pour cauliflower mixture onto a cookie sheet.
- Bake 20 minutes then use a spatula to turn over and spread out. As you roast the cauliflower it will shrink making more room to spread it out into an even layer.
- Bake for 12 minutes then stir again.
- Bake for another 12 minutes and stir again.
- Sprinkle grated cheese and cooked bacon over the top and cook for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Can I use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?
It might be tough to slice it thin, but if you enjoy it cut thicker it might be worth a try. I’ve only tested this recipe on fresh cauliflower.
I love the use of pork it gives it that meaty taste. great recipe.
I’m so glad you loved it.
Hi. I dont eat pork so can i substitute pork panko with maybe just panko crumbs? 🙂
OMG! I have looked periodically in my grocery store for pork rinds and have not found them. I haven’t been able to make anything that calls for bread crumbs at all! I had no idea there was such a thing as pork panko!! Thank you!!!
You’re so welcome.
How vital is the parmesan? It seems like parmesan cheese makes some dishes too rich.
This information is included in the post.
Is it 8 net carbs or total carbs?
It is total carbs.
How many serving does this make? So it is 8 carbs but for how much? Thanks
The servings are on the left side on the recipe card right above the ingredients.
I had just finished loading up on keto food and the cauliflower was next to the pepperoni. So I used pepp instead of bacon. Delicious. But.. did I upset the balance?
Also, while I’m here, am I liable to gain weight b4 I reach ketosis?
Each person’s body is different. I would suggest doing more research to get a better understanding of the keto diet.
Soooooo good! I served with a tiny bit of sour cream. Thank you!
You’re welcome! Glad you liked it.
Are there pork rinds that you list the snack food type of pork rinds? Or real fried pork rinds?
Thanks for delicious sounding cauliflower recipe!
You’re welcome. They are the snack food type of pork rinds.
I know the recipe serves 8, is that 1/2 cup, 1 cup?
I did not measure I just divided it evenly.
This was very good, but it became next level delicious when my husband and I drizzled some Primal Kitchens Buffalo Sauce over the top!
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it! I’ll have to get some of that buffalo sauce for my hubby.