Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole (Printable Version)

Hearty beef and cauliflower bake with creamy 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

→ 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

→ 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. Sauté onion and red bell pepper for 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet, 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. 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 fully incorporated.
08 - Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese and all mozzarella cheese uniformly over the top.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the kind of comfort food that actually keeps you light and energetic afterward
  • The cheese gets this gorgeous golden bubbly crust that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible
  • Leftovers reheat perfectly for lunch the next day, if there are any
02 -
  • Dont skip draining excess fat from the beef or the casserole will feel greasy
  • Frozen cauliflower rice releases more water so cook it a bit longer to avoid a watery final dish
  • Letting it rest for those 5 minutes seems minor but makes serving much cleaner
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for the best melt
  • Use fresh cauliflower rice and pulse it in your food processor for the perfect texture

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