Creamy Garlic Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower with Bacon

a photo of someone scooping out a bite of creamy garlic parmesan broccoli and cauliflower

This indulgent Creamy Garlic Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower with Bacon makes the most amazing side dish. It’s a one skillet recipe filled with tender cauliflower and vibrant broccoli simmering in a creamy garlic sauce topped off with gooey cheese and crispy bacon! I can’t wait for dinner!

Upgrade your vegetable game with this delicious and easy recipe for creamy garlic parmesan broccoli and cauliflower topped with crispy bacon. Perfect for an easy side dish or even as a meal on its own.

Ingredients for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower

There is so much flavor and creaminess packed into this dish, it almost seems like you aren’t even eating vegetables! Haha! Not that eating vegetables is bad! I love vegetables! But load them up with bacon and garlic and all sorts of cheese and even my picky kiddos eat them! Here is everything you need:

Bacon: I found thick bacon worked the best, but it adds a lot of grease so make sure you follow the recipe and remove some before adding the butter.
Butter: I prefer unsalted so that I can control the saltiness a little more.
Onions: Regular yellow onion is great.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Florets: The stars of the dish!
Garlic: adds flavor
Kosher Salt: adds flavor
Aleppo Pepper: Aleppo Pepper is a must on top. That tiny fleck of sweet heat takes this dish to a whole new level. It’s not spicy, but it adds that wonderful flavor like a spice would.
Heavy Cream: adds all the rich creaminess to the sauce
Lemon Juice: adds a pop of freshness that takes this dish to a new level
Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese: We tried other cheeses like monterey jack and cheddar but the flavor was off with the garlic.

How to Make Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower

Let’s walk through each step of making this indulgent vegetables dish…

Cook: Fry the bacon until crispy in an oven safe pan over medium heat. Once cooked, remove the bacon from the pan to a plate lined with paper towels. Drain most of the bacon grease.
Preheat: start the broiler
Sauté: Melt the butter in the skillet and add the onions. Cook it until transparent stirring occasionally.
Add: Place the broccoli, cauliflower and garlic and season with salt and pepper and toss everything together. Cook until the broccoli is bright green and fork tender.
Simmer: Pour the cream in and then reduce the heat to medium low and let it summer until the sauce thickens.
- NOTE: If the sauce doesn’t thicken, add a teaspoon of 2 of Sure Gel and it will thicken right up.
Squeeze: Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice and stir to combine.
Broil: Sprinkle both cheeses all over the top and place the skillet into the oven. Broil it until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
Garnish: Top the whole dish will the bacon and a pinch of aleppo pepper.

Keep scrolling down the end of the post for the complete recipe in the recipe card.

Pro Tip for Thickening

Simmering the heavy cream is essential for it to thicken up. Occasionally a heavy cream just won’t thicken as much as I’d like so I’ll throw in a teaspoon or two of Cornaby’s Ultra Gel. I love it because unlike cornstarch you can add it straight to the pot, no slurry with water needed!

Can I Substitute Another Vegetable for Cauliflower?

Yes! You could use all broccoli, green beans or brussels sprouts would be amazing!! If you’re a brussel sprout fan, try our creamy garlic parmesan brussel sprouts and broccoli.

Can I Freeze the Creamy Cauliflower and Broccoli?

Yes!! Let it cool completely and I prefer to freeze the bacon separate so it stays crisp. Creams don’t reheat exactly the same, but it’s still delicious!

For Our Utah Readers…

If you live in Utah try grabbing Toum at your local Harmons (or other stores in your area may have it as well) and use that instead of the cream and garlic. It is transformational in this dish!!!

Idea for Leftovers

Turn it into soup!

Got leftovers? Turn this dish into a broccoli and cauliflower soup! Just add it to a pot that has our base from our broccoli soup!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Flavor: The flavors of bacon, cream, parmesan and garlic all coating those delicious vegetables is just out of this world!
- PRO TIP: If you want to change the flavor up a little, try roasting the broccoli and cauliflower first in the oven before tossing it in to sauté it.
Quick: This side dish is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Texture: The contrasting textures of the crispy bacon, tender vegetables with the creamy sauce is so amazing!
Simple: The ingredients are few and easy to find! The steps are easy to follow and fail proof.
Low Carb: With only 4 grams of carbs, this is great low carb side dish option.
One Pan: Every part of this recipe is done in the one pan. No extra dishes to clean!

Storing and Reheating

Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 5 days.

Reheat this dish on the stove top over medium heat until heated through. Add a little more cream and buttermilk to keep it from drying out.

Indulge in this delicious and savory dish featuring creamy garlic parmesan broccoli and cauliflower topped with crispy bacon. Perfect for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

More Vegetable Side Dishes:

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower with Bacon

Course 200+ Easy Side Dish Recipes Every Mom Needs

Keyword broccoli, cauliflower, side, side dish, vegetables

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings

Calories 462kcal

Author Carrian Cheney

Equipment

Ingredients

8 oz Bacon roughly chopped
2 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 Onions diced
1 Head Broccoli Florets trimmed and stems discarded
1 Head Cauliflower Florets stems discarded
5 Cloves Garlic finely chopped
Kosher Salt
Fresh Black Pepper
1½ Cups Heavy Cream
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice fresh
3/4 Cup Mozzarella shredded
1/3 Cup Parmesan grated

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In an oven safe pan over medium heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.

8 oz Bacon
Drain most of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons.
Preheat broiler.
Melt the butter in the pan and add the onion, cooking until transparent, about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2 Tablespoons Butter, 1/2 Onions
Add the broccoli, cauliflower and garlic and season with salt and pepper and cook while stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes, or until bright in color and fragrant.

1 Head Broccoli Florets, 1 Head Cauliflower Florets, 5 Cloves Garlic, Kosher Salt, Fresh Black Pepper
Pour in the cream, reducing the heat down to medium low and allow to simmer for about 3-4 minutes or until the sauce thickens.

1½ Cups Heavy Cream
Squeeze in the lemon juice and stir again.

1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
Top with the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Place in the oven. Broil until cheese is bubbling and golden, about 2-3 minutes.

3/4 Cup Mozzarella, 1/3 Cup Parmesan
Top with bacon and a pinch of pepper.