Keto Loaded Cauliflower Tots

Cauliflower gets a bad reputation sometimes, but when you load it up with cheese, bacon, and seasonings, it turns into something really good.

That’s exactly what these keto loaded cauliflower tots are all about. Crispy little bites that are packed with flavor and completely low carb and keto friendly.

The trick to making them work is squeezing out all the water from the cauliflower. Once you do that, they hold their shape perfectly and get nice and crispy in the oven.

You only need a handful of ingredients, and the process is straightforward. No deep frying, no complicated steps.

They make a perfect snack or side dish, and even people who aren’t on a keto diet tend to love them. Let’s get into the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Loaded Baked Potato Flavor Without the Carbs – These tots taste like a loaded baked potato with bacon and cheddar but without all the starchy carbs.

They Actually Get Crispy – Unlike many cauliflower recipes that turn out soggy these tots bake up golden and crispy on the outside.

Perfect Snack for Keto – Finding crunchy and satisfying snack foods on keto is tough and these tots fill that gap perfectly.

Recipe Ingredients

• 3 cups Cauliflower Florets
• 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1/3 cup Almond Flour
• 1 Large Egg
• 3 slices Bacon, cooked and finely crumbled
• 2 tbsp Fresh Chives, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• Avocado Oil Cooking Spray

How To Make

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the parchment lightly with avocado oil cooking spray.

Step 2

Steam or microwave the cauliflower florets until just tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Let them cool slightly, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel. Wring out as much water as possible. This step is critical for crispy tots.

Step 3

Finely chop the squeezed cauliflower and place it in a large bowl. Add the cheddar, almond flour, egg, crumbled bacon, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until a cohesive mixture forms.

Step 4

Scoop out roughly one tablespoon of the mixture at a time and shape each portion into a small oval or cylinder, packing it tightly. Place each tot on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 5

Spray the tops of the tots lightly with avocado oil cooking spray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them over gently at the halfway point.

Step 6

Continue baking until the tots are golden and crispy on the outside. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before serving. They firm up perfectly as they rest. Serve with sour cream on the side.

Tips

Squeeze Out Every Drop of Water

This is the single most important step in the whole recipe. If you leave moisture in the cauliflower, your tots will be soggy and they won’t hold together no matter what you do.

After steaming, let the cauliflower cool just enough so you can handle it, then place it in a clean kitchen towel and wring it out hard. You’ll be surprised how much water comes out. Keep squeezing until nothing drips.

If you don’t have a sturdy kitchen towel, you can use a double layer of cheesecloth. Paper towels won’t work well here because they’ll tear apart from the moisture.

Chop the Cauliflower Small

After you squeeze out the water, don’t just toss the cauliflower into the bowl in big chunks. Take a minute to finely chop it so the pieces are roughly the size of rice grains.

Smaller pieces mix more evenly with the cheese and almond flour, which means the mixture binds together much better. Your tots will hold their shape when you flip them instead of crumbling apart on the baking sheet.

Pack the Tots Tightly

When you’re shaping each tot, really press the mixture together firmly in your hands. Think of how you’d pack a snowball. If you loosely shape them, they’ll fall apart during baking or when you try to flip them.

If the mixture feels like it’s not sticking together well, pop the bowl in the fridge for about 15 minutes. The cold helps the cheese firm up a bit, which makes shaping way easier.

More Recipes

• Keto Churro Chaffles
• Keto Peanut Butter Buckeyes
• Keto Peanut Butter Cups
• Low Carb Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
• Low Carb Fudgy Brownie Bites

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my cauliflower tots fall apart?

The number one reason is too much moisture in the cauliflower. After steaming, you really need to wring it out in a kitchen towel until barely any water comes out. If you skip this or rush it, the mixture will be too wet to hold its shape.

Also make sure you’re packing each tot tightly when you shape them. Press the mixture firmly in your hands so everything sticks together before placing them on the baking sheet.