This low carb cauliflower gnocchi casserole is your new comfort food staple. Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi roasted to golden brown then baked with bacon, broccoli and cheddar cheese sauce. This is bound to be a new family favorite.Â
Are you on the Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi bandwagon? For a while I had some serious FOMO because everyone was talking about it but my local store wasn’t carrying it. Once I finally saw it in stock I bought about 10 bags.
In all honesty, when I made my first batch according to package instructions, I was a bit underwhelmed. The texture was……not my fave.
Determined to make it work, I decided to cook it the way I would cook regular cauliflower:
Roast it.
I really, REALLY wanted this to become a carb substitute that The Hubs would like. He likes roasted cauliflower so I was hopeful he would learn to love this.
Roasting it turned out to be a dream! It definitely yielded the best result. Since it was frozen I had to roast it longer than regular cauliflower, but it turned out crispy and golden brown on the outside with a soft, pillowy center.
Absolutely delicious.
Roasted Cauliflower Gnocchi Casserole with Bacon and Cheddar
Once the gnocchi was cooked to perfection, I had to complete my mission of hiding vegetables so my nearly 40 year old husband wouldn’t complain.
I have listed my secret formula below.
Cheese+Bacon
Everything is better with cheese and bacon especially when it comes to The Hubs. I added some broccoli because if the carb-swap ruse worked, there is no way he’d believe I’d serve him anything without a vegetable. Total decoy moment.
I’m a sucker for any casserole, but I have to say, this Roasted Cauliflower Gnocchi Casserole with Bacon and Cheddar is heading to the front of the class for me. I love that it’s low carb, and the roasting of the cauliflower gnocchi makes for the perfect texture.
Oh yeah and the cheese sauce. The cheese sauce is delish!
Do you love casseroles? Do you have a family favorite that you’d like to adapt to be low carb/vegetarian/healthier/more nutritious? Definitely give this cauliflower gnocchi a try!
If you make this recipe, TAG ME! Tag @betsylife on Facebook or Instagram so I can see all your creations.
Be sure to check out these other great casserole recipes
- Make Ahead Cheesy Zucchini and Turkey CasseroleÂ
- Cheesy Sausage and Roasted Vegetable Casserole
- Chicken Posole CasseroleÂ
Roasted Cauliflower Gnocchi Casserole with Bacon and Cheddar
This low carb cauliflower gnocchi casserole is your new comfort food staple. Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi roasted to golden brown then baked with bacon, broccoli and cheddar cheese sauce. This is bound to be a new family favorite.
Ingredients
For the cheese sauce
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 cups milk
- 12 oz shredded cheddar cheese divided
For the casserole
- 1 lb broccoli florets
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon cooked and crumbled
- 24 oz Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi roasted (see notes)
Instructions
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In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Add flour and whisk for 2 minutes to toast the flour. Whisk in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Cook for 30 seconds more then whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil and turn the heat to low.
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Cook for 5 minutes, remove from heat and add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until smooth, cover and set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
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Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook for one minute. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
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In a large bowl combine roasted gnocchi, crumbled bacon, broccoli florets and cheese sauce. Stir to fully combine. Transfer mixture to a square baking dish and top with remaining shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until melted and bubbly.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread frozen cauliflower gnocchi in an even layer. Roast for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown.Â
**reduce cook time to 20-25 minutes if gnocchi is defrosted.Â
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