Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites Recipe

Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites Recipe - topped with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese, these bites are a nice low-carb alternative to smashed potatoes. Serve as a side dish or a snack, you're going to love this recipe. Let me show you how easy these are to make.

Let's talk cauliflower for a few minutes before we get to this easy recipe. Did you know that raw cauliflower is 92% water? But yet when you eat it, it will fill you up! Cauliflower has slowly become the hero of a low-carb and keto diet for the past few years.

It is a very popular low-calorie, gluten-free alternative to rice and flour. You can "magically" turn a head of cauliflower into pizza crust, cauliflower rice and now even loaded smashed potato bites.

Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites

Most of us have goals to eat healthier or maybe even lose a few of the pounds we gained over the holidays. With that being said, this recipe for Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites I'm sharing with you today will satisfy the craving inside of you for mashed potatoes without all the carbs and calories from a potato.

Make sure you enjoy this recipe with a fork! Based on the photo below, you would think this is the perfect finger food, but trust me, you should use a fork so you make sure you get all that yummy goodness.

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How to Boil Cauliflower

This recipe begins with boiling the cauliflower florets for just a few minutes. But first you need to separate the florets from the cauliflower head by cutting them from the core.

Then add the florets into a pot of boiling water. I always place a wooden spoon on top of a boiling pot of water to keep the water from boiling over the sides. It really does work.

It should only take about 5 minutes for the florets to become fork tender, then drain them in a colander. Then place them on top of a baking tray that's lined with paper towels so you can try very hard to get rid of the excess water. Remember when I said above that cauliflower is 92 percent water? Well, because we boiled the cauliflower, there's even MORE water.

Try to get the florets dry by letting them drain on the paper towels for a few minutes before proceeding with the recipe.

 Ingredients:

• 1 large head of Cauliflower, cut into florets (about 3 cups)
• 2 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tsp. Garlic powder
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 6 slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 tbsp. Finely Chopped Chives; optional
• Sour cream; optional

How to Make the Cauliflower Bites

Place the cauliflower on top of the baking sheet lined with Parchment Baking Sheets.

Using a potato masher, gently smash the cauliflower florets. If you don't have a potato masher, you can use the bottom of a juice glass.

Brush each cauliflower floret with a little bit of the oil using a pastry brush. Adding the oil helps crisp up the florets. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the garlic powder.

Then top each smashed cauliflower floret with about 1 tablespoon of cheddar cheese and then a few pieces of the crumbled cooked bacon.

How to Bake Loaded Cauliflower Bites

Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven until cheese is melted and crispy around the edges, about 10 minutes.

How to Serve Cauliflower Bites

Serve warm or at room temperature with sour cream and chives on the side.

Did you make this recipe?

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Serve this Recipe as the Perfect Side Dish to the Following Main Dish Recipes:

• Hasselback Chicken Stuffed with Mozzarella, Tomatoes and Basil - another low-carb recipe!
• Easy Beef Ramen Stir Fry - this is a budget friendly recipe ready in 20 minutes!
• Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
• Chicken Cutlets Italian Style - my family's favorite way to enjoy chicken.
• Crock Pot Salsa Chicken- 2 ingredients, a crock pot and dinner is done!
• Keto-Friendly Chicken Recipes 

📖 Recipe Card

Lois

Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites

4.50 from 2 votes

Smashed Loaded Cauliflower Bites Recipe – topped with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese, these bites are a nice low-carb alternative to smashed potatoes. Serve as a side dish or a snack, you’re going to love this recipe.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 6 - 8 servings

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Calories: 153

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 large head of Cauliflower cut into florets (about 3 cups)
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 6 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled
• 1 tbsp. finely Chopped Chives

Cooking for More (or Less?)Scale this recipe up or down. Adjust the number of servings above to automatically update ingredient amounts.

Equipment

• Baking Trays
•  Parchment Paper Baking Sheets

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large pot of boiling water, cook cauliflower until fork tender, about 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
3. Spread florets out in a single layer paper towels to allow to try to get all the water out of the cooked cauliflower.
4. Then move the cauliflower to the top of the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Using a potato masher, gently smash the cauliflower florets. If you don't have a potato masher, you can use the bottom of a juice glass.
6. Brush each cauliflower floret with a little bit of the oil.
7. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the garlic powder. 
8. Then top each smashed cauliflower floret with about 1 tablespoon of cheddar cheese and then a few pieces of the crumbled cooked bacon.
9. Bake until cheese is melted and crispy around the edges, about 10 minutes.
10. Serve warm with sour cream and chives on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 153kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 8gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 290mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2g

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