Casseroles have long been a comforting staple in home cooking, bringing together simple ingredients into a satisfying dish. My Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole delivers all the warm, cheesy goodness you crave in a casserole, but with a low-carb, plant-based twist. It’s packed with vibrant veggies, rich flavors, and a delightful cheesy finish. Whether you’re looking for more side dishes or you just need to find some tasty ways to eat more broccoli, I’ve got ya covered! Check out these delicious broccoli recipes next.
What Makes This Casserole Special?
This Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole brings all the coziness of a warm, cheesy casserole fresh from the oven with a plant-based twist. Inspired by classic vegetable bakes, this keto-friendly version swaps out starch-heavy additions for hearty broccoli and cauliflower, savory vegan ground beef, and crushed tomatoes. The result is a comforting and flavorful dish that fits perfectly into a low-carb lifestyle.
This is the cheesiest side dish and that’s what makes it so great! Au gratin is one of my favorite recipes. Have you ever heard of au gratin potatoes? It’s a French word that describes any dish that is sprinkled with bread crumbs or grated cheese and then browned. I took my favorite au gratin potatoes recipe and turned it into something deliciously low-carb. I got the idea to make broccoli cauliflower au gratin after making Keto Cauliflower Au Gratin.
This casserole is perfect as a side dish. I would use in it in replace of mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. If you want to make this casserole a meal try adding shredded chicken. I’m no longer on the keto diet, but I find myself making this loaded cauliflower broccoli casserole all the time! As a go to meal, I like to make this casserole with my garlic butter pork chops and a side salad. The two go together perfectly, and it’s a huge hit with my family. I have also served this with steak (a nice juicy ribeye) and its also good with salmon. Remember, you can also eat this casserole on its own as a meal. If I have leftovers, I sometimes will sue them to make an egg scramble for breakfast in the morning.
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Casserole
The key to an exceptional casserole is in the quality and combination of ingredients. Fresh broccoli and cauliflower florets create the perfect base, providing a satisfying bite while absorbing the flavors of the sauce. Sautéed onions and garlic bring a deep, aromatic foundation, while crushed tomatoes add a hint of tangy sweetness. The vegan ground beef contributes a robust, meaty texture, making every bite fulfilling. And of course, a generous amount of dairy-free cheese binds it all together, with some reserved for that golden, melty topping that makes casseroles so irresistible.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this keto casserole:
- Broccoli and Cauliflower - I used fresh florets for quick cooking and the best texture.
- Bacon - Raw, cut into small pieces.
- Garlic - Minced.
- Almond milk - Unsweetened.
- Heavy whipping cream - Make sure to scrape out ALL of the cream from the measuring cup as it’s very thick, and a lot of it will stick to the cup.
- Cream cheese - Softened.
- Cheddar cheese - Shredded. You won’t use all of this at once.
- Parmesan cheese - Grated.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
This casserole is super simple and only requires a skillet and a casserole dish.
- Preheat the Oven: I start by preheating the oven to 390F, setting the stage for all the flavors to dance together in harmony. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.Begin by adding the broccoli and cauliflower to a lightly greased 11×7 baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven and allow the vegetables to roast for 10 minutes while you prepare the cheese sauce. Preheat oven to 370 degreesFry the bacon in a large skillet until crispy and crumble. Set aside.
- Prepare the Vegetables: The broccoli and cauliflower florets are gently boiled in salted water until they’re just a bit tender, about 4-5 minutes. Steam cauliflower and broccoli until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics and Vegan Ground Beef: Meanwhile, onions and garlic sizzle in a pan, filling the kitchen with their irresistible aroma. The vegan ground beef and crushed tomatoes join in, simmering into a rich, savory sauce.
- Layer the Casserole: In a baking dish, the casserole is layered: first the broccoli and cauliflower, followed by the tomato-sauce-beef mixture, and finally vegan cheese. Repeat the process. Combine the cauliflower, broccoli and sausage in a mixing bowl. Spread the mixture into a 9×9 baking dish.
- Bake to Perfection: Place covered dish in preheated oven. Bake casserole 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Add the Cheese Sauce: Reduce the heat to low, add the minced garlic, and saute until fragrant.Add the milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese has melted completely. Stir in one cup of cheddar cheese until melted. Bring the cheese sauce to a slight simmer, stirring constantly until it has thickened. Add half of the cooked bacon pieces to the roasted broccoli and cauliflower.
- Bake: Bake the casserole for 20-25 minutes until the cheese has begun to brown. Remove the veggie casserole from the oven and allow it to rest 5-10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken as it cools. Top with the remaining bacon pieces for a great crunch.
Tips for the Best Keto Casserole
- Get it super smooth - For a velvety sauce, you really want to take the time to allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature before starting. Freshly shredded cheese melts better as well.
- Make it your own - This casserole is an amazing base if you want to put your own twist on it! Feel free to add cayenne, paprika, cumin, Italian herbs, Cajun blends, hot sauce, whatever you like to that cheese sauce! You can season and taste it as you go. I recommend going very easy on any seasonings with salt because the cheeses and bacon add salt on their own.
- Prep ahead of time - If you want a fresh, 30-minute weeknight dinner, you can prep this on your prep day! Roast the veggies for 10 minutes, allow to cool, then refrigerate up to 3 days. Make the sauce, allow it to cool, then it will store in the fridge up to 5 days. The bacon can also be cooked ahead and refrigerated up to 4-5 days (or frozen for a couple months).
Recipe Variations and Add-Ins
There are endless ways to tweak this recipe while staying true to its keto-friendly nature. Adding mushrooms brings an earthy depth, while a handful of spinach sneaks in extra greens. If you like a spicy kick, a sprinkle of chili flakes or diced jalapeños does the trick. For an even creamier texture, a splash of coconut cream can elevate the dish to another level of indulgence.
Keto broccoli cauliflower casserole is one recipe you can really have some fun with.
Serving Suggestions
Since there are already 6 grams net carbs in each serving, you don’t have to add very many sides to the table with it. How about something sweet? And if you like bread, then make my keto garlic knots - they taste just like garlic bread! A chopped salad will be perfect with the cheesy casserole, too. Low-carb chicken cobb salad is another contender.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
This roasted cauliflower broccoli bake well as a side dish or as a simple main course.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
This casserole is just as good the next day-maybe even better! Storing it in an airtight container keeps the flavors locked in, making for an easy reheat-and-eat meal. Allow the casserole to cool completely, then cover with a lid or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 4 days. Warming Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole up in the oven helps maintain that crisp cheesy top, but if you’re in a hurry, a quick zap in the microwave works too.
If you love meal prep, this dish freezes beautifully. Yes, you can definitely cook a big batch of cheesy cauliflower and freeze it for later, for up to 3 months. Just make sure that you bake it without the cheese topping (you can add it when you bake it the second time) and let it cool down completely before freezing it.
To reheat, place a single serving on a plate, cover, and microwave at 50% power in 1-minute increments. You could also reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Consider keeping it covered for the first 5-8 minutes to prevent the cheese from browning too much.
Embrace the Cheesy Goodness
If you’re looking for a cozy, veggie-packed side dish that everyone will love, this Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole is it. Creamy, cheesy, and baked until golden and bubbly, it’s the kind of comfort food that makes you forget you’re eating your greens.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. Number of total servings shown is approximate. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings.
A Note from the Chef
Hi, I’m Maggie! After obtaining a Master of Education degree in 2020, I decided to combine my love of teaching with my passion for food. Cooking good food feeds our bodies and souls, but it also helps give us a confidence that empowers us far beyond the kitchen. I’d love to see how your Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole turns out!
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Tender roasted vegetables are covered in a rich, cheese sauce and topped with crunchy bacon in this Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole! This cheesy broccoli and cauliflower casserole is the perfect balance of healthy and indulgent! Nutritious vegetables are roasted for amazing flavor, then finished in a luscious cheddar and parmesan sauce and crunchy bacon. It’s the perfect recipe for people who normally don’t love their veggies! It’s a great side dish for grilled meats or can be a healthy, light dinner on its own. Let us know how it was!
Ingredients
- Broccoli and Cauliflower florets
- Bacon
- Garlic
- Almond milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cream cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese