You’ll love this baked extra cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Cauliflower Casserole recipe.
Who doesn’t like pizza? I love it.
Who doesn’t like cauliflower? I love it.
Cauliflower pizza casserole is born!
When I first found a great cauliflower pizza casserole recipe it called for pureed cauliflower, but pureeing cauliflower that we grew seemed like a absolute sin to me. I can’t give so much energy and love to our garden cauliflower and then just blend it up, that would be the saddest thing ever. If we were ever to sell produce commercially I would put on every single package a (cute) warning sign that says “YOU MAY NOT PUREE ME, IT WILL MAKE PAMELA VERY SAD, PLEASE LOVE CAULIFLOWER WHOLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH”. So in my recipe, we cut it into small bite size pieces. I prefer it this way as well as the cheese will get in all the nooks and crannies of the cauliflower. And who doesn’t’ like cheese? Especially with cauliflower. This is a absolute win situation.
Here’s your cauliflower. Mine happens to talk.
Here’s your cream, butter and garlic mixture. Pizza always needs a little garlic.
And here’s your pepperoni. I quartered each slice. Do this with scissors, a knife or just tear it apart with your hands.
This is step 1 of the casserole, your cauliflower/butter mixture/pepperoni are all mixed up.
Step 3: Add your cheese! Be brave, cover this sucker.
Step 4: Pepperoni time. Feel free to eat a few slices too, I won’t tell anyone.
Then into the oven it goes…
And out of the oven it comes! Mamma-Mia!
The cheese is melted, a little bubbly, a little brown. I have pure joy right now.
Then take a few whole basil leave and put it on top. I love pizza with fresh basil.
Cauliflower Pepperoni Pizza Casserole, it’s like having your own garden pizzeria! Major winner here – enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower head - cut up into small bite size pieces
- 4 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter - melted
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 15 slices of pepperoni - quartered
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For on top of the casserole
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 12 slices pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil to garnish
Instructions
- Chop your clean cauliflower into small bite size pieces. Steam for 2 minutes, drain. Put into casserole dish.
- In a bowl mix your butter, heavy cream and garlic.
- Pour butter mixture over cauliflower.
- Add quartered pepperoni slices, 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella on top of your cauliflower.
- Mix everything up so cauliflower is coated.
- Spread your pizza sauce evenly on top of your cauliflower.
- Pour your 1 cup shredded mozzarella evenly on top.
- Put your sliced pepperoni on top.
- Cook at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Garnish with basil when it comes out of the oven.
- Enjoy!
Tashina Knight says
Will definitely try this. I like pizza except for the crust – so I rarely eat it unless it’s the only option. But I love cauliflower. So this may be the perfect pizza for me. Pesto is my favorite type of pizza – wonder how that would be with cauliflower?
Pamela says
Pesto and cauliflower go together great!
Krystal says
My stomach does not take kindly to heavy cream, is there an alternative I could use and not ruin the recipe? I’m so excited to try this!
Lois says
The only person that has said this was good was the creator. While I believe it will be I would like to hear comments from people who have actually tried it and liked it. I see the picture and I already know it looks good. Maybe this is my problem as it says comments not reviews.
Michelle says
This is a great idea! Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
Pamela says
Thank you for stopping by Michelle!
Amy Tucker says
Well this looks like a lot of fun! Can’t wait to try. Found you via #foodiefriendsfridays!!!!
Pamela says
Thanks Amy!! It’s one of my favorite casseroles!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables. This is a pretty creative casserole. Excellent that it is low carb! Pinned!
Pamela says
Thanks Julie, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
gotasté says
Aw…this is exactly what I am searching for. a good cauliflower recipe. Just the way I like it 🙂
Pamela says
Hope you enjoy it!
CoffeeTableCookbook says
This is so playfull, I love it! Still in shock that you can meet three people in one weekend who DON’T like pizza. Insane.
Pamela says
I know, I think they should be required to wear anti pizza buttons so we can identify them quickly!
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
This is SUCH A GOOD IDEA!!! Cauliflower is like one of my favorite veggies…my husband doesn’t like it so i rarely make it, but maybe if I disguise it as pizza he would eat it. There’s a cauliflower pizza crust recipe going around the healthy living blogs…have you seen it? I think it first appeared on eatingbirdfood.com. It looks really good but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.
Pamela says
I think it’s a great way to disguise cauliflower as pizza.. who can say no to it then? 🙂
Miss Messy says
What a fantastic idea! This looks delicious!! 😀
Pamela says
Thanks Miss Messy!
Mr. & Mrs. P says
Great idea pam!! Need to try this… Looks delicious!
Pamela says
Thanks!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
I’m surprised there are people that doesn’t like pizza! {{{ Shock Face}}} Oh well, their loss. I do love the idea of a pizza casserole. Love that cheesy gooey goodness, YUM! 🙂
Pamela says
I know, crazy right? I guess that just means more pizza for us. 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
We eat a LOT of pizza in our house. Love this idea!
Pamela says
Ashley, you have a great house! 🙂
Sarah says
I love pizza, but I also love wearing my jeans. This is the best of both worlds!
Pamela says
Hahaha, good one Sarah. 🙂
Katie says
The word genius is so cliche, yet it is the only word that is coming to mind right now. I LOVE this idea and I’ve had a jar of pizza sauce in my pantry for months, without a plan for it. I can easily adapt this to make it non-dairy too. I’ve also been feeling this “pressure” to make a cauliflower pizza crust, but like you I am wary of pureeing or mushing vegetables like that (unless in dip form, as per my post today.) Can we just call this post permission to ignore that nagging guilt-inducing thought?
Thanks, let’s do that.
Pamela says
Katie, do it! Let me know how you like it. 🙂
jackie @ Marin mama cooks says
Ok, I love this post and I’m so trying this pizza! I love that you can just throw it together so quickly. It’s a great and healthy week night meal. So, quick question, how is the consistency of the cauliflower? Does it get soggy or is it al dente? I only ask because my kids will ask.
My daughter has a friend that doesn’t like pizza. I don’t get it either. I have always loved and will always love pizza. It has two of my favorite things, carbs and melted cheese! yummo! Ok, totally pinning this recipe girl and making it soon. xoxo, Jackie
Pamela says
I hope you make it and enjoy it! The cauliflower does not get soggy, it still has a slight crunch to it. I agree about the carbs and melted cheese… melted cheese makes everything better! 🙂
Sophie33 says
hahahahahahha,…You are so funny 🙂 I love those pizza stickers aka background: pretty cool & a pretty amazing dish as well!
Pamela says
Glad you like those stickers. 🙂
Sophie33 says
I made your tasty dish yesterday using fresh cauliflower from my father’s garden & he , my mom, my husband & I all loved it too! 🙂 xxx
Pamela says
I love that you used fresh cauliflower! So glad you all enjoyed it! 🙂
Pam says
What a clever and tasty idea! It looks great.
Pamela says
Thanks Pam!
Kelly says
I love this cauliflower pizza casserole, what a great dish! Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like pizza but I know this would be a great option for those that are watching their carb intake. Looks fabulous:) Pinned!
Pamela says
Thanks so much Kelly!
Suzanne says
Love this idea!! Perfect for my low carb lifestyle. I never thought to use cauliflower!! Brilliant.
Pamela says
Enjoy Suzanne, let me know if you try it! 🙂
Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says
doesnt like pizza?! That’s almost as sad as my coworker who HATES peanutbutter. Crazy people, right? This dish sounds crazy amazing — instead of pepperoni, I would definitely top with more veggies! Mmmm veggies!
Pamela says
Doesn’t like peanut butter? Oh my! I don’t know if I could work alongside someone with those views! 😉
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
My boyfriend would love this recipe. Pizza is his favorite food and he adds garlic to almost every savory dish I make him. (And if he’s in the kitchen with me, he’ll find a way to add the garlic himself. Crazy, I tell you.) This pizza sounds so good and I think I’ll make it for Brian sometime!
Pamela says
Let me know how you both like it! 🙂 Garlic… mmmmmmm!
Monica says
Pamela – you’ve got some kind of great lighting where you live! Great pictures.
Would you believe my 8-year old has a classmate or two who does not like pizza?! Seriously? I think they’ll come around eventually. I do like this alternative – I love cauliflower and need to try this pizza casserole.
Pamela says
Hi Monica, can you imagine a life without pizza? There goes 3 of my dinners in the past week! 😉