Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole (Print version)

Hearty beef and cauliflower bake with creamy cheesy topping, ready in under an hour.

# What you'll 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

# Method:

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 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
04 - Add ground beef, breaking apart with a spatula. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in oregano, basil, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly to distribute spices.
06 - Add cauliflower rice and baby spinach. Cook for 4-5 minutes until cauliflower is tender and excess liquid has evaporated.
07 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream and half the cheddar cheese until evenly combined.
08 - Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar and all mozzarella cheese over the top.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The cheese sauce creates the same comfort as traditional baked ziti without the heavy carb crash afterward
  • It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day, maybe even better than when it first came out of the oven
02 -
  • If using frozen cauliflower rice, thaw it completely and squeeze out any excess water before adding it to the skillet
  • The resting time isn't optional, it lets the casserole set so you get neat scoops instead of a mess on the plate
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded, it melts so much better without the anti-caking coating
  • Don't skip the smoked paprika, it's the secret ingredient that makes people think this cooked all day

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