This post is sponsored by Boiron. All opinions are my own and I only share products I personally love. Thanks for supporting the brands that make this site possible! This loaded roasted cauliflower salad recipe is a medley of smoky, creamy, and cheesy tastes… a lot like a loaded cauliflower casserole, but in salad form! It’s perfect as a side for summer grilling, but the hearty ingredients are also available all year round. Even though this creamy cauliflower salad is a total crowd-pleaser, I know there’s one reason why people might steer clear from cauliflower — the gas and bloating! Luckily, there’s a natural solution for it: Gasalia. With plant-based active ingredients and tablets that melt away without water, Gasalia is an easy solution to keep on-hand when you want to enjoy foods that can cause discomfort. And (my favorite part), it contains no artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives. Take it before or after meals, and start enjoying cauliflower again!
What Is Cauliflower Salad?
Like other conventional salads, salad with cauliflower includes fresh vegetables and a creamy dressing. The difference is that it uses cauliflower instead of lettuce! Plus, this loaded cauliflower salad recipe takes this dish one step further with smoky, tangy toppings – chopped bacon, shredded cheddar, and sour cream!
Loaded Cauliflower Salad Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this cauliflower bacon salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
For the cauliflower:
Cauliflower – Use a fresh head of cauliflower with densely packed florets and no blemishes or browning. Cut it into bite-sized florets.Olive Oil – I prefer extra virgin, but use whatever olive oil you have on hand, or even avocado oil.Salt & Pepper
For the cauliflower salad dressing:
Mayonnaise – Make your own mayo or use your favorite store-bought brand.Sour Cream – I prefer full-fat sour cream for better flavor, but any kind will work.Dijon Mustard – Look for a sugar-free one if you can, but any dijon variety works here.Garlic PowderSalt & Pepper
For the add-ins:
Cooked Bacon – You can make bacon in the air fryer, bake your bacon, or even microwave your bacon to cook it even faster!Cheddar Cheese – Get it pre-shredded to save more time.Green Onions – Sliced thinly, for that classic “loaded” flavor!
How To Make Cauliflower Salad
This section shows how to make cold cauliflower salad with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Prep cauliflower. Toss florets with oil and seasonings.
Roast. Arrange cauliflower evenly on a baking sheet and roast until tender and browned. Cool completely.
Make dressing. Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a bowl.
Mix. Add cooled cauliflower and add-ins to the bowl, and mix everything together. Enjoy immediately, or chill for at least 2 hours to let flavors develop.
Is cauliflower salad like potato salad?
It depends. Salads with cauliflower have many variations, but could mimic potato salad if they used other traditional ingredients like chopped celery, hard boiled eggs and paprika. This cold cauliflower salad with bacon is more akin to a baked potato than traditional potato salad. But if you’re looking for something more similar to a traditional potato salad, try cauliflower potato salad instead.
How to make cauliflower salad without mayo?
This cauliflower salad with mayonnaise dressing is the best way to serve it. If you must avoid mayo, full-fat Greek yogurt would be the best substitute.
Is cauliflower salad keto?
Not always! Some salads add sugar to the dressing or use higher-carb add-ins. However, this salad is a keto cauliflower salad because it uses naturally low carb ingredients and no sugar.
Storage Instructions
To store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.To meal prep: Chop cauliflower into florets, prepare dressing separately, and combine them with add-ins only when you’re ready to serve.Avoid freezing this salad, as flavors and textures will change too much.
What To Serve With Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This cauliflower cheese salad pairs perfectly with easy proteins — especially grilled ones!
Juicy BurgersGrilled Shrimp SkewersBacon Wrapped Hot DogsCrispy Baked Chicken LegsNew York Strip Steak
More Hearty Salad Recipes
Skip the lettuce and try these satisfying salads instead!
Cold Roast Vegetable SaladCreamy Cucumber Radish SaladKeto Broccoli Salad With BaconHoriatiki Greek SaladCucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
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