Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake/Cauliflower Cheese is one of our favourite sides. In this recipe, cauliflower is cooked in butter with garlic, cayenne and smoked paprika and then roasted in the oven with double cream and cheese.

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Cauliflower Cheese is the side that everyone loves. Not even just as a side. As the main. It’s that good.

I make it quite a lot. It started when my brother was on Keto and was desperate for a meat free meal.

I made 2 dishes of this Cauliflower Cheese and went down the next morning to find that the whole lot had gone. I was as surprised as he was!

This version of Cauliflower Cheese is different to other versions in that the cauliflower is sliced finely (usually broken off into florets and then baked or boiled) and par cooked on the hob in butter first.

Next Cream is added to the cauliflower (usually there is a béchamel sauce), then it is topped with cheese and baked till it is deliciously golden brown.

How do you make Cheesy Cauliflower Bake?

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake is simply roasted cauliflower, covered in cream, topped with cheese and then baked.

Roasting the cauliflower before baking enhances the flavour and makes it so much more delicious then using steamed or boiled cauliflower.

There should be no water left in the pan!

What Cheese is best for Cheesy Cauliflower Bake?

I love strong cheese in this recipe or a mixture of a few cheeses. My recommendations are Manchego, Red Leicester, Mature cheddar, Gruyère and Parmesan.

• Roasted Veggies such as Roast Vegetables with Feta and Pine Nuts, Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
• As a side to any Meat or Fish dish such as Buttermilk Roast Chicken, Spiced Baked Buttermilk Chicken, Salmon and Vegetable Traybake with Coconut Rice, One Tray Greek Chicken and Potatoes, Chicken and Rice One Pot.
• With baked Potatoes such as this Sweet Potato. 

Make Ahead

Assemble a day ahead and then bake as per instructions below. (Keep in the fridge overnight).

How to store and reheat Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Fridge

Store leftovers, covered in for up to 2 days in the fridge.  Reheat in the microwave or oven until hot all the way through.

Freeze

Cauliflower Cheese freezes well in an airtight container for 3 - 4 months. 

**If you make this recipe, please rate/comment/dm. We love to hear from you. Safira x

5 from 1 vote

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Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake/Cauliflower Cheese is one of our favourite sides. In this recipe, cauliflower is cooked in butter with garlic, cayenne and smoked paprika and then roasted in the oven with double cream and cheese.

Course Appetizer, Lunch, Sides

Cuisine American, british

Keyword Cauliflower Cheese, Cauliflower Cheese Bake, Cauliflower Cheese Casserole

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4 as a side

Calories 452 kcal

Author Safira

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Oil
• 3 tbsp Butter
• ½ large Cauliflower sliced into 1/2 cm florets
• 1½ tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 tsp Garlic Granules
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• Salt and Pepper
• 225 g Double Cream
• 75 g Mature Cheddar Grated
• 2 tbsp Parmesan Grated, Optional

Instructions

1. Add oil and butter to a pan over medium low heat. Once bubbling, add the Cauliflower and stir.

2. Add Smoked Paprika, Garlic Granules, Cayenne Pepper, Salt and Pepper and mix through. Saute for 2 - 3 minutes.

3. Pour in double cream, mix through and remove from the heat.

4. Remove to a casserole dish.

5. Top with cheese and bake under the grill until golden brown. This will take around 5 - 7 minutes. Or add to a preheated oven at200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Roast for 10 - 15 minutes, or until tender and starting to brown.

Recipe Notes

What Cheese is best for Cheesy Cauliflower Bake?

I love strong cheese in this recipe or a mixture of a few cheeses. My recommendations are Red Leicester, Mature cheddar, Gruyère and Parmesan.

Tips to make the best Cauliflower Cheese

• Slice the cauliflower and then roast in a pan very quickly with butter, garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. You can roast it instead.
• Use a strong cheese for the best flavour.
• There should be no water left in the pan once the Cauliflower has sauteed.

Variations

• This recipe also works with Broccoli.
• You can add a teaspoon of mustard into the cream before baking. 
• You can add other herbs if you prefer.
• You can half the cream and replace with milk instead.

What to serve with Cauliflower Cheese 

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake makes a great side to a Sunday Roast and is perfect as a side for Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb or Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb.

 

It is also great with:

• Roasted Veggies such as Roast Vegetables with Feta and Pine Nuts, Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
• As a side to any Meat or Fish dish such as Buttermilk Roast Chicken, Spiced Baked Buttermilk Chicken, Salmon and Vegetable Traybake with Coconut Rice, One Tray Greek Chicken and Potatoes, Chicken and Rice One Pot.
• With baked Potatoes such as this Sweet Potato. 

How to store and reheat Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Fridge

Store leftovers, covered in for up to 2 days in the fridge.  Reheat in the microwave or oven until hot all the way through.

Freeze

Cauliflower Cheese freezes well in an airtight container for 3 - 4 months. 

Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 452 Calories from Fat 396

% Daily Value*

Fat 44g68%

Saturated Fat 23g144%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 121mg40%

Sodium 286mg12%

Potassium 424mg12%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 1874IU37%

Vitamin C 51mg62%

Calcium 231mg23%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.