Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole (Printable)

Hearty beef and cauliflower bake with cheesy topping

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 4 cups cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen)
05 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped (optional)

→ Dairy

07 - 1 cup sour cream
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Pantry

10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1 tsp dried basil
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
16 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and red bell pepper, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
04 - Add ground beef, breaking apart with a spatula. Cook until browned, approximately 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Add oregano, basil, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
06 - Stir in cauliflower rice and baby spinach if using. Cook for 4-5 minutes until cauliflower is tender and excess liquid has evaporated.
07 - Remove skillet from heat. Fold in sour cream and half the cheddar cheese until completely incorporated.
08 - Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and all mozzarella cheese over the top.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It hits all those nostalgic casserole notes while keeping things light enough for a weeknight
  • The cauliflower rice disappears into the background, so even veggie skeptics go back for seconds
  • You get all the creamy cheesy comfort without the heavy carb crash afterward
02 -
  • Frozen cauliflower rice holds more water than fresh, so give it a quick squeeze in a clean towel or cook it a bit longer to evaporate the extra moisture
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes is crucial, otherwise it will be too loose when you try to serve it
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts so much better
  • If you have time, let the beef and vegetable mixture cool slightly before adding the sour cream so it does not separate

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