Who here loves a savory side dish? ME! Nothing better than having the right compliment to your meal or one that doubles as an anytime snack. I am a serious potato lover, but no so much a lover of all the starchy sugars that come with it. tsk. Don’t get me wrong, potatoes have a place for potassium, but I like to take a break from the staple to nourish my body in other ways. Today, I’m sharing one of our favorite recipes: Potatoless Twice Baked Potatoes (aka. savory cauliflower bake).
Before you run off screaming, “You can’t take away my potatoes!!” hear me out. I’m not saying all potatoes should be banned, but maybe scaled back a bit. Why? Those starches you’re consuming are basically sugars that are feeding the bad guys in your gut – your colony of flora you want to be all about helping you. In addition, even cancer feeds on sugar and we all know how prevalent that is in today’s world. sigh.
YUMMILICIOUS
Why not replace potatoes now and then with a fun alternative? A classic dish is the twice baked potato that offers a savory flair. You take your potato and bake it, mash it up and return it to the oven to bake again filled with cheese and yummilicious extras. Well, I’ve created these yummies to quench that craving and nourish at the same time.
The best part about these is that there are no rules (fix them how you like them!), they can be made ahead of time, and are perfect for your holiday meals or family gatherings. Ready to give them a try? They’re super easy and don’t require a whole lotta prep work.
Let’s get started! Feel free to print the recipe below and take a peek at all my other recipes in this collection here.
Potatoless Twice Baked Potatoes ~ Cauliflower Bake
Love a savory side dish, but want to skip the starches? Dig in with these potatoless twice baked potatoes. A cauliflower bake to tame cravings & nourish.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 head cauliflower (cut and stemmed)
- 6 small squash (trimmed, quartered, and cored)
- 3 green onions (prepared as shown)
- 2 cups cheese of choice (shredded, separated)
- 1.5 cups milk (raw is preferred )
- 1 pound bacon (nitrate/nitrite free) (cooked )
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- Wash all produce and prepare as noted in ingredients list. While bacon is cooking, steam the cauliflower for 10 minutes or until tender. note: Make sure to reserve the bacon drippings for later
- When cauliflower is done, remove from steamer and place in a large bowl. Set aside. Place the prepared squash (or peppers) in the same steamer and also steam for 10 minutes or until tender.
- While the squash is steaming, puree the cauliflower using a immersion blender or place in a food processor and pulse till blended. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix in your green onion, 1 cup of the cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Place steamed squash on baking sheet open side up.
- Scoop cauliflower by tablespoonful into each quarter of squash. Top with cheese and place in oven to bake for 10 minutes. At the end of ten minutes, broil for 5 minutes to brown the cheese.
- Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes. Top with green onions, bacon, and drizzle with bacon drippings (if desired). Serve warm and enjoy. note: Store any leftovers in a container in refrigerator up to one week.
The basic tools you’ll need to prep is a skillet, steamer basket, large pot, immersion blender (or hand mill / food processor), and oven. Simple enough, right?
GETTING STARTED
I like to keep the whole process streamlined, so while my bacon is cooking I prep the cauliflower. Be sure to save those bacon drippings!
While the cauliflower is steaming, I prep the squash. Feel free to use bell peppers or any other “container” if you’re not into squash.
Then while the squash is steaming, I prepare the other ingredients. Take note: if you save your steaming water and let cool to room temperature. It is wonderful to use to nourish your plants indoors and out. Pets love it too!
The entire process really can move fast if you want it to. This mama is always busy, and my kids help out all the time. It’s easy to prepare, so make it fun and get all the ages involved.
I like to make the most of all the parts of a plant too. The green onions for these potatoless twice baked potatoes are chopped to use it all. Top for toppings, bottom for filling, and compost the ends…or root them in a sunny window and replant them. They’ll grow anew!
NEXT STEPS
Then, once all prepping and cooking is complete, I simply use my immersion blender to whip up those cauliflower florets and milk to get the texture of mashed potatoes. Even in the kitchen my motto is still #toolsoverjewels. Tools for the win!
Next, fold in the rest and begin to get your appetite game on because these are gonna be soooo good!
Fill up the squash, top with cheese, and bake until browned and bubbly. Easy!
YUMMY
My kids love these potatoless twice baked potatoes because they not only taste good but are fun to make. Who can pass up bacon drippings drizzled over top? mmm… Before you think I’m also nuts for using that, do know that healthy fats from healthily prepared food help create a protective lining to your gut and feed your brain.
My hope that is that much like my DIY projects that you will be willing to give foods a try. You can ask my mother – she always said I was THE PICKIEST EATER on the planet. It’s amazing what information can do.
GIVEAWAY TIME
Time for some fun! I so eagerly want to encourage you to give the recipes I share a try. To do that I’m giving away a set of my ticking pot holders (trivets) and a #trashure campfire mug from my online store to one of you.
Easy entry – just complete the widget below as many times as you like. Open to U.S. residents 18 years of age or older. Also, winner will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to claim the prize.
Before you go, pin and share these potatoless twice baked potatoes to encourage others to step out of the potato box.
Up next week is Trash to Treasure Tuesday where my blogger friends and I have some trashure fun for you! Until next time!
While you’re at it, here are more recipes like my Potatoless Twice Baked Potatoes:
These look so tasty. They have everything I love and is a nice alternative to potatoes.
Thanks! They sure are a fun treat.
A great alternative to potatoes for sure as I’m not a potato eater.
Thank you for this giveaway opportunity.
I’m happy to hear it, Colleen. Thanks!
These look really good and I think my family would like them. I recently tried lettuce wraps and cucumber subs and was surprised at how good they both were. I didn’t miss the bread at all which surprised me.
You are making me hungry! I just love a good twist to an old classic.
I think I might have to try theses! Thank you, Larissa.
I’m happy to hear it! Thank you, Kim.
Sounds yummy! Thanks for the alternative to potatoes.
You bet!
Thanks for spreading the word about healthy fats!
Oh yes, we wholeheartedly believe in them. 🙂 Thanks!
Hmmm… maybe I can be brave enough to eat cauliflower! I am a potato girl, but I am well aware they’re not the healthiest. I might even cook this tonight! Thanks for a new recipe! ?
Errr! Maybe I. NOT maybe 16. Don’t know how that happened
No worries!
I NEVER liked it until I tried preparing it in different ways. Hope you like it!
I would love this dish but I can convert my husband! Thanks for writing.
Ya know, JC wasn’t sure about them either, but he actually requests cauliflower now! So cool.
This sounds very tasty! I love all veggies!
Mmm…me too. Some don’t love me though, but I try!!
I’ve been searching for more recipes like this, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yay!! You made my day, Teresa. Thanks!
Those sound wonderful, some of my favorite foods. I will need something besides the bacon as we don’t eat meat.
Thanks for sharing.
You can take this and tweak it to your heart’s content. My pleasure to share. 🙂
We have switched to sweet potatoes instead of white and have cut down on potato consumption altogether. Substituting other veggies to fill us up is key. Thank you!
You got it! Thank you, Linda.
These look soo delicious, can’t wait to try them. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so excited to share. Thanks!!
Thanks for sharing your recipes. I’ll check all of them out. But I’m going to try this one first! Cauliflower is a staple in our house. Bacon would be a treat. (Believe it or not, my kids asked me the other day, “What is bacon?”. I should let them try it.) I love that your recipes are kid tested and approved. Husband loves zucchini! He always wants several plants in the garden, and claims he will eat all of the squash. He does a good job of it; I just stay on picking them before they get too big. Too bad have to buy it this time of year, but our plants succumbed to the first below freezing night. But he loves them so much, he doesn’t mind when I buy them. (When I do, you’d think I brought home bacon! )
These potatos sound so good. The fact that other veggies are involved is great!!
They didn’t last long for our lunch that day. Kids wanted more! 😀
I always feel so much better if I cut the carbs. I actually already make something very similar, but only mash the cauli slightly with the back of a fork (no milk) and bake it all in a pan. I am going to have to try this version, I know it will taste great in the squash.
Yes, same for me. We eat cauliflower in so many ways and this is surely a favorite. Enjoy!
Favorite not from a box (forgot how you worded it): slice sweet potatoes and onions, smash some garlic cloves, put in long shallow dish drizzle with avocado or olive oil sprinkle salt. Cover with foil, roast about an hour. Remove foil at end if want more roasty. Could eat this everyday! Sometimes vary it with adding, just a few Yukon potatoes, cauliflower, zucchini, sweet red, orange yellow peppers, or anything else on hand. sometimes add spices: tumeric, cumin, paprika (use some coconut oil with that too). We always make extra, cause the leftovers are even better: heated up, or thrown in next night’s dinner, or make a new dinner out of it–like with coconut cream and made into a Thai soup or something something. (Hubs puts it in his salad for lunch cold–love how easy he can be!).
It sure sounds so yummy, especially on a cold winter day. mmm… I think leftovers are always the best!
These sound like a yummy alternative to potatoes. I love squash and cauliflower but never thought to combine them like this.
It is a fave of ours and we like to keep everyone happy. 😀
I am testing this recipe this weekend. Looks yummy!
Sounds good! I hope you enjoy.
We’ve tried doing that instead of potatoes a few times. Hubby is on a low carb diet, and this is the perfect alternative.
I hope you like it and hubby does too. 😉
I love cauliflower and this sounds like a great dish to try. Thanks. I love potatoes but do tire of them. Bacon- enough said!
Yes, they can get boring too. Fun to mix it up. And yes…BACON! 😀
These really do look good. I will probably send it to my daughter as she cooks for a family and I am just me most nights. We (my grown son lives here and cares for me but he works full time) love Southwest food over Mexican so we play around with recipes. We have just recently come up with a burrito recipe that is very easy and a big taco/southwestern casserole where I combined 2 other casseroles to make one we LOVE. We both like to add corn and black beans to any recipes with those taco.burrito like flavors and it works – plus, we like that we are getting a little veggies instead of so much cheese. Burritos are so low in calories and we use chicken instead of beef.
You could even knock the recipe down for one, it’s really easy. Sounds like your burritos are delish!
This looks so good! I like to make Sweet Potato hash instead of traditional hash.
Potatoes, especially veggies, make it so nice to mix it up. Endless! 🙂
Looks so yummy!
Thanks!
YUM!!! I can’t wait to try these, already put all the ingredients on my shopping list. lol ?
You go girl! 😀
I can not wait to try this recipe. My favorite out side the box recipe is this one I think.
yahoo!! That’s awesome to hear, Sandy. Thanks!
This looks yummy. We love zucchini and are always looking for new recipes that include them.
They are so very versatile. We love zoodles too!
oh yea! Trying these for sure. They look so yummy for munching while watching football on Sunday! I’ve already made your muffins and the no-knead bread. How could these be wrong??!!!
My husband said the same! hahaha…great minds snack alike. I’m so stoke you love my recipes. Thanks!
I’ll have to try your recipe. I’m not creative so I don’t have an outside of the box recipe.
Hope you enjoy it, Julie. 😀
Peanut butter bunny. Old recipe from Grandma. Gravy type thing on crackers. Love
Yummy!
Using squash in place of pasta in lasagna is our out of the pot cooking!!
We do that too! Love that dish.
I need convincing that these would tase good. Maybe you could fix these dishes for me. I could come to your house and try them. Is it a date?????
haha…sounds good!
Love Brussels sprouts and there are so many great recipes out there for them.
Yes, those are yummy too!
This bake looks so delicious!! I love the ingredients list, so I already know I’ll love the dish too. Thanks for posting it!
You’re welcome, Diego. Thanks!
This recipe couldn’t be more timely. Just the other night my son and his fiance offered to host a potluck Christmas dinner at their home this year. I’m in charge of the veggie dishes. Guess what I’ll be bringing! Pinned to reference on the 24th – thanks for the recipe, Larissa 🙂
Sweet! We actually just had steamed yellow squash filled with a lime salsa with cheese on top with our dinner. So yummy!!