This is a bacon cheeseburger with the bun swapped for a thick slice of roasted cauliflower. The raw beef is pressed right onto the cauliflower, so its juices soak in as it bakes.
Everything cooks together on one sheet pan. You get a stack you eat with a knife and fork: tender cauliflower, a juicy patty, bacon and a cap of browned cheddar.
Bacon Cheeseburger Cauliflower Stacks
- Total
- 55 min
- Hands-on
- 15 min
- Makes
- 4 stacks
- Net carbs
- 7 g per serving
Ingredients
To serve (optional)
Steps
Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Stand each cauliflower on its stem and cut 2 thick (1-inch) steaks from the middle, through the core. Brush them with the oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Press a ball of beef onto each steak in an even patty, leaving a thin rim of cauliflower showing. Season the tops.
Lay 2 slices of bacon across each patty, then pile on the cheddar.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the beef reads 160°F (71°C) in the middle and the cheese is bubbling and browned.
Rest 5 minutes, add pickles and burger sauce if you like, and eat with a knife and fork.
Before you start
- Cut the steaks from the middle of the head, through the core. The core holds each steak together; the ends fall apart into florets.
- Precooked bacon saves a pan. If you cook your own, stop when it's just crisp.
- An instant-read thermometer is the only sure way to know the beef is done.
Nutrition per serving (estimate)
- Calories
- 620
- Fat
- 48 g
- Saturated fat
- 20 g
- Cholesterol
- 140 mg
- Sodium
- 760 mg
- Carbohydrates
- 10 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
- Net carbs
- 7 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Protein
- 38 g
Estimated on 28 October 2026 from USDA FoodData Central values for the ingredients as listed. Salt and pepper added to taste and optional toppings aren’t included, and brands vary, so check your labels if you count carbs for a medical reason.
Lazy Plate · thelazyplate.com/bacon-cheeseburger-cauliflower-stacks/
Tips
- Save the florets from the ends for cauliflower rice or soup.
- If the cheese browns before the beef is done, lay a sheet of foil loosely over the pan.
Swaps that work
- Ground turkey works; bake it to 165°F (74°C).
- Use pepper jack or American cheese instead of cheddar.
- Skip the bacon and top each patty with sautéed mushrooms and onions.
Leftovers
Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F (175°C) for about 15 minutes, until the center reads 165°F (74°C).
Questions
Do I need to cook the cauliflower first?
No. A 1-inch steak turns tender in the 30 to 35 minutes the beef needs. Thicker steaks may need 5 minutes more.
Can I use frozen cauliflower?
Not for this one. Frozen cauliflower comes as florets, and the stack needs a whole steak to hold the patty.
How many steaks do I get from one head?
Usually two good steaks from the middle of a large head. That's why the recipe calls for two heads.
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