Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole

This Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole is creamy, cheesy, packed with crispy bacon, and baked until hot and bubbly. Made with tender broccoli and cauliflower, sour cream, two kinds of cheese, bacon, and fresh chives, it’s an easy low-carb side dish that tastes like a loaded baked potato—without the potatoes!

Whether you’re making it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday dinner, or just need a seriously good vegetable side dish, this is one of those casseroles that always disappears from the table.

And there’s a reason this recipe has been one of the most popular recipes on Ev’s Eats for years!

Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

If you’re trying to get everyone excited about eating broccoli and cauliflower, cover them in cheese and bacon. 😂

Seriously though, this casserole has been a favorite in my house for years because it has all of those comforting loaded baked potato flavors while still letting the vegetables shine.

You’ll love it because it’s:

• Loaded with flavor. Bacon, sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, sour cream, and chives make sure this casserole is anything but boring.
• Easy to make. Steam the vegetables, mix everything together, top with cheese and bacon, and bake.
• Perfect for the holidays. It’s an easy alternative to the usual potato and pasta side dishes.
• Low carb and keto-friendly. You get all those loaded baked potato flavors without actually using potatoes.
• Make-ahead friendly. Assemble it ahead of time and bake when you’re ready.
• Freezer friendly. Perfect when you’re trying to get some of your holiday cooking done ahead of time.

What Does Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole Taste Like?

Think of this as a cross between classic broccoli cheese casserole and a loaded baked potato.

You have tender cauliflower and broccoli coated in a creamy mixture of sour cream, mayonnaise, and heavy cream. Then we add sharp cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, and fresh chives before covering everything with even more cheese and bacon.

Once baked, the cheese gets hot and bubbly while all those flavors melt together.

It’s rich, creamy, cheesy, smoky, and exactly the kind of vegetable side dish people go back for seconds of.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cauliflower

Cauliflower creates the hearty base of the casserole and takes on all of those creamy, cheesy flavors beautifully. Cut it into bite-sized florets so everything cooks evenly.

Broccoli

Broccoli and cheddar are already a classic combination, so adding broccoli here was a no-brainer. I like using roughly equal amounts of broccoli and cauliflower.

Bacon

Crispy bacon gives the casserole its smoky “loaded” flavor. Cook it until crisp before crumbling it so you get little pieces of bacon throughout the casserole.

Sour Cream

Sour cream gives the casserole its creamy texture and adds a slight tang that balances all of the cheese.

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise makes the filling even richer and helps create that creamy sauce that coats the vegetables.

Heavy Cream

You only need a small amount to loosen the mixture and help everything come together.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Sharp cheddar adds that classic cheesy flavor. I recommend shredding your own cheese when possible because it melts more smoothly.

Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese

Colby Jack melts beautifully over the top of the casserole and gives you that bubbly, cheesy finish.

Fresh Chives

Fresh chives add a little onion flavor and give the finished casserole some freshness and color.

Black Pepper

A little black pepper is all the additional seasoning this casserole needs since the bacon and cheeses already bring plenty of flavor.

How to Make Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole

1. Cook the Bacon

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate and allow it to cool before crumbling it into pieces.

Try not to eat half of it before the casserole is assembled. 😂

2. Steam the Broccoli and Cauliflower

Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into similar-sized florets so they cook evenly.

Steam the vegetables until they’re tender but not mushy. You want them cooked enough to be tender after baking while still having some structure.

3. Make the Creamy Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, heavy cream, and black pepper.

Add the steamed broccoli and cauliflower along with half of the bacon, the sharp cheddar cheese, and half of the fresh chives.

Gently stir until the vegetables are evenly coated.

4. Assemble the Casserole

Transfer everything to a greased baking dish.

Top with the shredded Colby & Monterey Jack cheese and remaining crispy bacon.

5. Bake Until Bubbly

Cover the casserole with foil and bake until heated through.

Remove the foil for the final few minutes of baking so the cheese can get bubbly and begin to brown.

Finish with the remaining fresh chives and serve warm.

What Size Baking Dish Should I Use?

For the casserole pictured here, I use an 8×8-inch square baking dish.

This size gives you a thicker, extra-cheesy casserole and works perfectly for the standard recipe.

If you’re making this Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a larger gathering, you can also use a 9×13-inch casserole dish. A larger dish gives you more surface area for all that bubbly cheese and makes serving a crowd easier.

SHOP MY FAVORITE CASSEROLE DISH →

Tips for the Best Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Don’t overcook the vegetables. This is probably my biggest tip. Remember that the broccoli and cauliflower will continue cooking in the oven. Steam them until tender, but don’t let them become mushy.

Drain the vegetables well. Excess water can make your casserole watery. After steaming, allow the broccoli and cauliflower to drain thoroughly before mixing them with the creamy ingredients.

Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese works in a pinch, but freshly shredded cheese usually melts more smoothly.

Cook the bacon until crispy. You want that texture against the creamy vegetables and cheese.

Save some bacon and chives for the top. Not only does it taste good, but it makes the finished casserole look much better too.

Let it rest before serving. Give the casserole about 5 minutes after removing it from the oven. This gives the creamy cheese mixture a chance to

Make It a Meal

I originally created this as a side dish, but you can easily turn it into dinner.

Add shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked chopped chicken to the casserole before baking. The chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, bacon, and cheese combination is SO good.

You could also serve the casserole alongside steak, salmon, roasted chicken, or pork chops.

One of my favorite combinations is this casserole with my Garlic Butter Pork Chops and a simple side salad.

Making Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole Ahead of Time

This is a great casserole to prepare ahead, especially when you’re cooking for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Prepare the casserole according to the recipe but stop before baking.

Cover the assembled casserole tightly and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.

Remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking so the dish isn’t ice cold going into the oven. Then cover with foil and bake according to the recipe instructions.

You may need to add a few extra minutes of baking time if the casserole is still cold in the center.

Can You Freeze Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole?

Yes!

This is actually one of the questions I’ve gotten the most about this recipe over the years, and readers have had success freezing it too.

You can assemble the casserole, cover it tightly, and freeze it before baking. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking for the best texture.

You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container.

Because broccoli and cauliflower contain quite a bit of water, the vegetables may be slightly softer after freezing and reheating, but the casserole will still be delicious.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through.

For larger portions, place the casserole back into a baking dish, cover with foil, and warm it in the oven until heated through.

Tools You’ll Need

You don’t need any fancy equipment to make this broccoli cauliflower casserole, but these are a few kitchen tools I recommend to make preparing and serving it even easier.

8×8 Baking Dish – This is the size I use for the original recipe and gives you a thick, cheesy casserole.

9×13 Baking Dish – Perfect if you’re doubling the recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a larger gathering.

Steamer Basket – Makes it easy to steam the broccoli and cauliflower until they’re tender without overcooking them.

Box Grater – I recommend freshly shredding the cheese for the smoothest melt.

Large Mixing Bowl – You’ll want enough room to gently toss the broccoli and cauliflower with the creamy cheese mixture without breaking up the vegetables.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen broccoli and cauliflower?

Yes, but make sure the vegetables are thawed and very well drained before assembling the casserole. Frozen vegetables can release more water than fresh vegetables, so removing as much excess moisture as possible will help prevent a watery casserole.

Why is my broccoli cauliflower casserole watery?

The most common culprit is excess moisture from the vegetables. Make sure your broccoli and cauliflower are thoroughly drained after steaming and avoid overcooking them.

If using frozen vegetables, thaw and drain them very well first.

Can I make this without bacon?

Absolutely. You can leave the bacon out for a meatless version. You may want to add a little salt to the creamy mixture since bacon contributes quite a bit of saltiness to the original recipe.

Can I add chicken?

Yes! Shredded chicken is one of my favorite additions. Stir cooked shredded chicken into the casserole mixture before transferring everything to the baking dish.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes. For a larger gathering, double the ingredients and use a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Keep an eye on the casserole toward the end of baking since the cooking time may need to be slightly longer.

Is this casserole keto-friendly?

The original recipe was created while I was following a keto diet, and it uses broccoli and cauliflower instead of potatoes or rice. If you’re following a specific diet, always check the individual ingredients and nutrition information against your own dietary needs.

Can I prepare it the night before?

Yes. Assemble the entire casserole, cover it, and refrigerate overnight. Remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking and then bake according to the recipe.

What to Serve With Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

This casserole goes with just about everything, which is one of the reasons I’ve made it so many times over the years.

For an easy weeknight dinner, serve it alongside pork chops, chicken, steak, or salmon.

Garlic Butter Pork Chops

Balsamic Glazed Chicken Breasts

It’s also perfect for a holiday table alongside turkey, ham, prime rib, or roast chicken.

And honestly? I’ve eaten the leftovers straight out of the refrigerator before. No judgment over here. 😂

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

If you loved this Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole, check out some of my other easy side dish recipes on Ev’s Eats for more ideas to round out dinner.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Easy Cuban Black Beans

Fresh Corn Salsa

Final Thoughts

Years after first sharing this Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole, it continues to be one of the most-loved recipes here on Ev’s Eats—and I completely understand why.

It’s cheesy, creamy, loaded with crispy bacon, easy to prepare ahead of time, and versatile enough for everything from a regular weeknight dinner to Thanksgiving.

If you’ve been making this recipe for years, thank you for continuing to come back to it! And if you’re making it for the first time, I hope it becomes one of those recipes your family asks you to make again and again.

If you make it, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below. I love hearing how these recipes turn out in your kitchen!

Looking for more recipes from my kitchen? ❤️

Discover my cookbook, Flavors of Africa, packed with bold, flavorful recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

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