Cheddar Cauliflower Bacon Bites are the perfect healthier appetizer for all your holiday entertaining or an easy weeknight side for the family!
Entertaining during the holiday season can be a downfall when you're trying desperately to watch your weight and eat healthier. Forget trying to lose weight, I'm talking let's just maintain status quo, right? The biggest trouble I find is all the picky finger foods! I could eat my weight in those alone just by gabbing and grabbing. The next thing I know I'm full before the party begins or the sit down meal starts.
I've made this recipe quite a few times, changing it and tweaking it along the way for my family. I remember the first time I made them, they were more like fritters which I adapted from my Zucchini Fritter recipe. I thought it would be the only way to fool my kiddos into eating cauliflower.
And I was right! They never saw it coming.
Packed with scallions and bacon, the oldest, who's a teen said, "WHAT!! YOU GOT ME TO EAT CAULIFLOWER, NO WAY???? THESE ARE SOOOO GOOD MOM!"
SO I made them quite a few times as a fritter but wasn't quite happy with how hard it was too cook them in a saute pan and flip them over. Quite flimsy and difficult. I thought, if I'm having trouble flipping these babies no one else will like that either despite the fact the taste is outstanding. I tweaked the ratio of flours a bit, trying different kinds each time and reducing egg and cheese, it was a science experiment every time, but each time, my family ate them all up no matter how I made them.
I decided......well, actually, credit must go to the hubby on this one who said, "just bake them like you do with those zucchini bites you've made before." And he was right. Worked like a charm, no flipping, no frying, easy peasy easy! You might be able to sub the gluten free flour for quinoa as I did in my Broccoli Cauliflower Quinoa bites, although not sure if they would hold as well like the flour but it's worth a try.
These are a win for the family and a great alternative at the holiday appetizer table! You can eat 6 per serving for only around 200 calories, and gluten free as well. You could use regular flour if gluten is not an issue for you. Enjoy!!
Please note: I re-calculated my nutritional information as saw a difference in using Bob's Red Mill All purpose gluten free flour compared to their new 1 to 1 gluten free flour. The difference in one cup is 88 grams of carbs to 120 grams of carbs. Also the calories for the 1 to 1 are 520 in one cup and using the all purpose it is only 400. On 12/4/14, I readjusted the calculations using the regular all purpose gluten free flour instead of the 1 to 1.
UPDATE: I removed the gluten free flour and now use coconut flour, tastes just as good!
Cheddar Cauliflower Bacon Bites
Ingredients
- 4 cups cauliflower florets
- 6 ounces uncured nitrate free bacon cooked till crisp
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup scallions chopped
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Steam cauliflower until fork tender. Cool then add to food processor.
- Pulse until fine crumbs.
- Transfer to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir until combined.
- Grease a mini muffin tin.
- Fill mini muffin cups by adding a heaping tablespoon of batter and pressing into each cup. Fills 30.
- Bake 15 minutes and let cool about 10 minutes then remove from pan.
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
The Sugar-Free Mom Cookbook has been Released!! Hitting shelves in days and Amazon is selling it at a discount right now!
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Mattie
Could you substitute 1 to 1 with coconut flour? Way too many carbs for me otherwise. Thanks
Brenda
I don't think coconut flour would work, they might become super dried out, why not try almond flour.
Carol Layne
Just started gluten free diet. I did not know there was a gluten free flour. Where do I find it.
Brenda
I use Bob's Red Mill All purpose Gluten free flour, you can find it at most markets or online.
lynn
Love to try this recipe.
What would you suggest alternative other than bacon?
lynn
Love to try this recipe.
What would u suggest for alternative other than bacon?
My family doesnt eat bacon.
Brenda
You could leave it out and they would still be tasty!
Cyn A.
You could use ham, sausage, ground beef....the possibilities are endless!
Kellie+@+The+Suburban+Soapbox
Such a great appetizer! I would eat these for breakfast too. 🙂
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
Wonderful recipe... perfect appetizer for upcoming parties!
Kelsey+@+Snacking+Squirrel
mmm bacon
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel
the recipes on your blog are great and this one definitely is a good one!
Meseidy
These look great! Perfect appetizer!
Nutmeg+Nanny
Bacon and cauliflower? Sign me up 🙂
Kim+Beaulieu
These are wicked cool. And kudos for getting hooligans eating cauliflower. I hated it until I hit adulthood, now I love the stuff.
Lauren+@+Healthy+Delicious
OMG these look awesome - kind of like tater tots but way better.
Nikki+@+NikSnacks
Way to go, mom, for fooling the kids! Ha! Good job on these and I now I'll be making these soon to add a little variety to my side dish game at dinner time.
Susan
There is bacon and there is cheese, so add as many vegetables as you please. I'll still eat away!
Renee+-+Kudos+Kitchen
I can not wait to try these. They look so good. I adore cauliflower and appetizers. This recipe has my name written all over it!
Kim+(Feed+Me,+Seymour)
It's like you know me and my daily struggle to hide veggies wherever possible. I swear. The other day, I tricked my daughter into thinking carrots were sweet potatoes and just got over a battle of how all green vegetables are disgusting. I will definitely be making these for her (and for myself!).
Lora+@cakeduchess
I love cauliflower used in appetizers and your cheddar-cauliflower bacon bites are just fantastic! A great idea to whip up for the holidays:)
Heather+|+girlichef
Those husbands do come in handy sometimes, don't they ;). These look so tasty and pop-able! I'm guilty of filling up on appetizers, too...
Ginny+McMeans
I love trickin the kids. These look great and the kids in my life would love them.
Ashley+@+Wishes+&+Dishes
You had me at "bacon" 🙂 SO gonna try this for the holidays.
Lana | NeverEnoughThyme
I'm not sure I could stop at 6 of these! They sound completely delicious.
Martha+@+A+Family+Feast
Looks like a great appetizer for a holiday party!
Cookin Canuck
I am so intrigued by these little bites! Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables and I'm pretty sure I'd have to eat a least a dozen of these in one sitting.
Stephanie+@+Back+for+Seconds
So clever, and they sound amazing!
Paula+-+bell'alimento
Such a great party appetizer!