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Home » recipes » Dinner » Cheesy Cauliflower

Cheesy Cauliflower

20 minutes
cauliflowergarlic
Posted:10/22/21
Updated:11/11/22
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Keep dinner simple tonight with this quick and easy Cheesy Cauliflower! Blanched cauliflower is mixed with a homemade stovetop cheddar cheese sauce to create the most comforting, low carb, and kid-friendly side dish.

cheesy cauliflower on wooden spoon.

Easy cheesy cauliflower recipe

There’s no arguing that cheese sauce makes everything better. It can be a real life-saver when you’re trying to feed your family vegetables too. Just like my Cheesy Broccoli and Cheesy Brussels Sprouts, this Cheesy Cauliflower side dish will save the day and rescue you from picky eaters!

Cauliflower florets are blanched in boiling water before you take a few minutes to whisk the cheddar cheese sauce together on the stove. Combine the two together and voila! You have a perfectly savory and comforting cheesy side dish that’s so much better than storebought.

The simple ingredients in this recipe are budget friendly, flexible, and easy to find. It’s bound to become one of your new favorite go-to sides! Enjoy this easy cheese-covered cauliflower with more family favorites like Salisbury Steak, Meatloaf, and Chicken and Gravy Sandwiches.

cauliflower with cheese in large pot.

How to boil cauliflower

Cook the cauliflower first so you can just throw it into the finished cheese sauce. It’s a really easy process:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add the cauliflower florets and turn the heat down. Cook until the florets are fork tender.
  3. Drain the cooked cauliflower and set it aside while you make the cheese sauce.
steamed cauliflower in pot.

How to make homemade cheese sauce

This simple homemade cheese sauce comes together in a few minutes using just 5 ingredients. It’s ready to eat after a few simple steps:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute the garlic until it’s fragrant.

Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Next, whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth.

whisk stirring cream sauce in pan.

Add the shredded cheese and stir until it’s completely melted.

shredded cheese in pot with whisk stirring it.

To finish the cheesy cauliflower, add the blanched cauliflower to the pot with the cheese sauce, stir to coat, then serve!

cheesy cauliflower in pot, ready to be served.

Tips and substitutions

  • Easily double or triple the recipe if to feed a crowd!
  • This recipe is just as delicious with frozen cauliflower as it is with fresh.
  • Cooking the cauliflower – Instead of boiling the cauliflower, you can steam or roast the florets instead.
  • Cheese – Not a fan of cheddar? No problem! Use any shreddable melting cheese you love, like mozzarella or white cheddar instead.
  • Add-ins – You can make this using only cauliflower or add even more veggies, like green beans, carrots, corn, or broccoli.
  • Storing – Leftover cheesy cauliflower stores well in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 or 3 days.
  • Freezing – To freeze cheesy cauliflower, let the leftovers cool before transferring them to freezer bags. Let the frozen cauliflower defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat for dinner the next day.
spoon serving cheesy cauliflower.

What to serve with cheesy cauliflower

Cheese sauce and cauliflower are delicious on the side of more family-friendly meals, like turkey casserole, rotisserie chicken, and shepherd’s pie. It even makes a great holiday side dish next to the Thanksgiving turkey and potato stuffing. Yum!

More cheesy cauliflower recipes to try

  • Mozzarella Cauliflower Casserole
  • Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
  • Pizza Casserole with Cauliflower
  • Cauliflower Grilled Cheese
  • Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
  • Creamy Pasta with Cauliflower

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Keep dinner simple tonight with this quick and easy Cheesy Cauliflower! Blanched cauliflower is mixed with a homemade stovetop cheddar cheese sauce to create the most comforting, low carb, and kid-friendly side dish.
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5 from 3 votes

Cheesy Cauliflower

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Keep dinner simple tonight with this quick and easy Cheesy Cauliflower! Blanched cauliflower is mixed with a homemade stovetop cheddar cheese sauce to create the most comforting, low carb, and kid-friendly side dish.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 large head cauliflower chopped up into florets, about 6 cups
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pieces of cauliflower, reduce heat to medium and boil for 8-12 minutes, or until a fork easily slides into the cauliflower. Drain cauliflower.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat melt butter with garlic. Stir in flour, salt and pepper and mix for 1 minute. Add milk in and whisk until smooth. Add shredded cheese and mix, until cheese is completely melted and creamy, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the cauliflower florets into cheese sauce and stir to fully coat them. Cook for 3 more minutes. Serve and enjoy this cheesy cauliflower!
Course:Side Dish
Cuisine:American
Keyword:cheesy cauliflower
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

Similar Recipes

  • Cauliflower Casserole with Mozzarella Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese Cauliflower Casserole
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
  • Cauliflower Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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  1. Daren D says

    October 22, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    Such a great recipe, and so easy!

    I like to pour the cheese-coated cauliflower into a casserole dish, sprinkle with some more grated cheese, maybe some sliced tomato depending on mood, and then broil until lightly browned on top. Just adds a little ‘fanciness’ to the dish.

    Anyway, love this – Thanks!

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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