Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole (Printable)

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

# Directions:

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 minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
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.
06 - Add cauliflower rice and baby spinach. Cook for 4-5 minutes until cauliflower is tender and liquid has evaporated.
07 - Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and half the cheddar cheese until well 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. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cauliflower rice soaks up all those savory beef juices and spices, so you honestly dont miss the pasta at all
  • Everything cooks in one skillet before baking, which means minimal dishes and maximum flavor
02 -
  • Patience during the vegetable sauté step really pays off, allowing onions and peppers to caramelize slightly instead of staying crunchy
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes seems optional, but it makes serving so much cleaner and neater
03 -
  • Squeeze thawed frozen cauliflower rice in a clean towel to remove excess water, preventing a watery casserole
  • Room temperature sour cream blends more smoothly into the hot meat mixture without any separation or clumping

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