This Cauliflower Jalapeno Popper Casserole is holiday party food combined with veggies to makes it almost okay to eat all year round. Minimize the guilt to maximize the flavor.
The holiday season is in full gear, and I want nothing more than to eat all the cheese, bacon, and dips that are coming my way. However, you have to keep your cravings in check sometimes. I feel like this casserole is a fair negotiation between eating healthy and eating like it's the holidays.
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I love how the cauliflower gives this dish a nice hearty texture. It adds to this casserole and ensures you eat your veggies. I also love how cauliflower doesn't have an overpowering flavor. It takes on the flavors around it.
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Cauliflower Jalapeno Popper Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 6 jalapenos halved and seeds removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon
- 1 ¼ cup cheddar cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese ⅓ less fat
- ½ cup light sour cream
- ¼ milk low fat
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 3 cup of fresh cauliflower florets cut into small bite-size pieces about 1 inch
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees
- Place chicken breast and jalapenos on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and salt. Place the bacon strips in a row on another backing sheet. Place both sheets in the oven and cook till the bacon and chicken are done about 20-25 minutes.
- Mix ¾ cups of cheddar cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and paprika in a large mixing bowl.
- Once the chicken and bacon have cooked, crumble the bacon, shred the chicken, and dice the jalapenos. Keep the oven at 375.
- Add ¾ of your chopped jalapenos, all of the shredded chicken, and ¾ of the bacon to the cream cheese mixture.
- In a 9 x 12 baking dish, distribute cauliflower on the bottom. Top cauliflower with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle ½ cup of cheddar cheese, and the remaning jalapenos and bacon on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes or till golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and may vary based on the ingredients used.
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Mae says
Can I freeze this after baking?
Megan says
I've never tried freezing it after baking. Let me know how it goes!
Cheryl says
Made it tonight (8/4/22) loved it! What a great recipe! I’ll make it again & again.
Jodi Knecht says
list of ingredients says cayenne but instructions says paprika...I used paprika...it was alittle bland I would add some garlic.
Kerry says
I noticed that too and only used paprika. It definitely needed more seasoning. I added salt and pepper to my serving. I would add salt, pepper, garlic powder & onion powder next time.
Linda says
It sounds great, but is the cauliflower cooked well enough if added raw?
Amy says
I didn’t trust it, so I steamed the cauliflower in the microwave for 8 minutes first.
Cruella says
It was pretty crunchy, I like the concept so I will make again, toss cauliflower in olive oil and seasoning, then bake for 15 min, then add the ingredients and bake per instructions. I did a tsp cayenne but next time I'll do half cayenne half paprika, some onion and garlic pepper. Everything I add italian seasoning to creamcheese that's always a hit too, so I may try that.
Cruella says
It was pretty crunchy, I like the concept so I will make again, toss cauliflower in olive oil and seasoning, then bake for 15 min, then add the ingredients and bake per instructions. I did a tsp cayenne but next time I'll do half cayenne half paprika, some onion and garlic powder. Everything I add italian seasoning to creamcheese that's always a hit too, so I may try that.
Carrie Anciaux says
I really liked this recipe. Substituted diced roasted green chiles for the jalapenos. Used paprika and added a little garlic salt. Prepped the chicken breast using sous vide before shredding. Will make again.
Rachel says
Can you use frozen cauliflower?
Megan says
I haven't tried it, but others have used frozen cauliflower, and it's worked. A person left a comment on Pinterest saying they used a 20oz bag of frozen riced cauliflower, which they microwaved before baking.
Gina Tyra says
This packed flavor made according to these directions. The jalapeño’s didn’t add enough flavor or heat for me. I felt the cream cheese could have been half the amount and maybe mix with mascarpone or something similar to make it not so heavy. I mixed in chicken broth and added crushed pepper flakes which improved to my liking. Not bad but wouldn’t make it again.
Kerry says
I used shredded rotisserie chicken and Turkey bacon. It was a bit bland but I would make it again. I would add salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder.