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.
Phylis Geller says
I loved the taste, but my consistency was way off…much too watery. What did I do wrong?
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Phylis did you use skim milk? (this could affect the consistency) or maybe frozen cauliflower? Sometimes cauliflower has a lot of moisture in it that can leak out. I’m glad you liked the flavor, I’m sorry I can’t be of any more help 🙂
Chels says
Very tasty dish. I made an individual sized portion, thankful I did because it would be hard to walk away from the full serve! First recipe of yours that I’ve made and won’t be the last, thanks Erren!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Molly Pomeroy says
I loved this recipe!! The cheese sauce was excellent and the cauliflower were cooked perfectly! A great side dish!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Molly, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Kyla Sordino says
Smooth cheese sauce. Cauliflower was perfectly cooked. Delicious!!!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Kyla, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂