Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is everyone’s favorite side dish, using cheddar cheese and Parmesan it’s the perfect side for any dinner.
Homemade Cauliflower Cheese
Skip store-bought and make homemade Cauliflower with cheese sauce instead! Steamed cauliflower smothered in an easy cheese sauce makes a delicious and family-friendly side dish.
Cauliflower cheese is a classic side dish and making it fresh it’s SO much better than frozen. The best part is, it’s so much simpler to make than you’d think! Serve this with Garlic Fresh Roasted Green Beans and Perfect Crispy Roast Potatoes and make it a meal! Your Vegetarian Friends will love it.
Why This Recipe Works
- Using steamed cauliflower ensures the casserole cooks at the same pace to create, a creamy, cheesy dish that’s out of this world.
- The Cheddar and Parmesan Cheeses work together to create a creamy, flavorful sauce.
Choosing the Best Cauliflower
- Look for cauliflower that’s white in color without marks or blemishes.
- Choose heads with tightly packed florets.
- Cauliflower should feel heavy for its size with bright, crisp leaves.
- Fresh cauliflower should have a mild scent. Stronger odors indicate the cauliflower is past its freshness.
How to make Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
This cheese sauce is super simple to prepare. It’s a combination of shredded cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan, flour, seasoning, and milk. That’s it!
Here’s how to make it:
Start with cutting the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
Steam the cauliflower for 5 minutes.
Add to a baking pan and set aside.
How to Make the Cheese Sauce
Start with melting the butter in a pan.
Once the butter is melted, add the flour and whisk into a paste (this is called a roux).
Slowly mix in the milk until smooth.
Add the grated Parmesan Cheese.
Add the Cheddar Cheese.
Mix until smooth. Add the salt and pepper.
Assembling the Casserole
Pour the sauce over the steamed cauliflower.
Top with Shredded Cheese
Bake until bubbly and golden.
Serve and enjoy!
Cook’s Tips
- When steaming the cauliflower, steam until slightly tender, but not soft. It will finish cooking in the oven.
- Have all your ingredients ready before you start the sauce. Things move fast when making the sauce. If you have to stop to grate cheese, it could end in disaster.
- When adding the milk, pour slowly while mixing it in at the same time. Stir until thick and smooth.
- Taste before seasoning this recipe calls for a teaspoon of salt, but taste your cheese. If it’s salty, add the seasoning at the end and taste as you go.
- For an extra kick of flavor, use mature cheddar.
FAQs
Can you freeze Cauliflower Cheese Casserole?
Yes. Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole freezes really well. I’ve been known to make a big batch and freeze it. It can be cooked from frozen in the microwave. If you plan to reheat it in the oven it’s best to defrost it overnight first.
Can Cauliflower Cheese Casserole be made ahead?
Yes, for best results, just make it as instructed, but put in the fridge instead of baking and bake before serving.
Other Indulgent Sides
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Let's Make
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 cup white cheddar grated
- black pepper Freshly ground to taste
- ½ cup cheddar cheese for the top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. Steam in a steamer or microwave until slightly tender (about 5 minutes).
- Add to an 8x8 baking dish and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan melt the butter and then mix in the flour to form a paste.
- While mixing constantly, slowly pour in the milk until smooth.
- Mix in the salt, and Parmesan cheese until combined.
- Mix in the cheddar until melted.
- Mix in the pepper.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the steamed cauliflower in the pan.
- Top with the ½ cup of cheddar
- Bake until cheese is melty and deeply golden, 30 minutes.
Tips + Notes
- When steaming the cauliflower, steam until slightly tender, but not soft. It will finish cooking in the oven.
- Have all your ingredients ready before you start the sauce. Things move fast when making the sauce. If you have to stop to grate cheese, it could end in disaster.
- When adding the milk, pour slowly while mixing it in at the same time. Stir until thick and smooth.
- Taste before seasoning this recipe calls for a teaspoon of salt, but taste your cheese. If it's salty, add the seasoning at the end and taste as you go.
- For an extra kick of flavor, use mature cheddar.
Nutrition Information:
Denise D says
Can i put this in the fridge and cook later
Erren Hart says
Sure! That would be fine.
Marcia Bathurst says
Since discovering your Cheesy Cauliflower recipe in March…I have made this recipe at least every other week and now it seems weekly my husband wants this so much. I use Balderson Canadian 2 year aged white cheddar and freshly grated parmesan. I also do a mix of Broccoli and cauliflower in a round casserole.. As long as everything is grated and veg is steamed, ready to go..it’s fairly easy.
Erren's Kitchen says
That sounds lovely Marcia, nothing wrong with a bit of experimenting 🙂
richard crosby says
Great recipe, thank you – delicious as side dish with beef pot roast and potatoes with fresh steamed veg
Erren's Kitchen says
Oh yes, that sounds delicious! It really is a versatile side dish 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.
Taylor says
So cheesy and delicious! Love that it’s vegetarian too!
Beth Pierce says
This was a great casserole for dinner last night! So full of flavor, and easy to make on busy nights!
Sara Welch says
This was just the cheesy dish I was looking for! The best comfort food, indeed!
Melanie Bauer says
So simple yet incredibly delicious! Definitely comfort food at it’s finest, need to make this soon!