Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole Bake Recipe

This delicious, easy cheesy cauliflower casserole bake recipe is a no brainer for your next gathering.  The best part is you can freeze the leftovers to use on those busy weeknights!

This  Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole Bake Recipe brings back memories of my grandma.  Truth be told, she was good at making 2 things, snicker doodles and cheesy cauliflower.  All of her other dishes we were never quite sure what we would get.  She grew up in Australia during the depression and she sure knew how to make food stretch.  That included her “French Chili” where she added raisins in instead of beans.  Let’s just say we were all a little shocked when we bit into that one. However, when she would say she had made her famous cheesy cauliflower with the cheesy sauce we were all in.  Secretly hoping she had made a double batch! This truly is the best way to eat cauliflower.

I took  what I had learned from her and turned it into a casserole.  You still use the basic ingredients you would for cheesy cauliflower, but by grating the cauliflower it almost turns it into a cauliflower mac. It is so good that you could easily use it as a vegetarian main course. It also makes a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

Getting to the Cheesy Stuff

As always, there are certain ways to prepare this cauliflower cheese recipe and one of the steps not to skip on if you want extra creamy sauce is the hand shredded cheese. When you buy cheese pre-shredded from the store there are usually preservatives (anti-caking agents) and it doesn’t melt nearly as well. The other important step is grating fresh cauliflower.  If you buy frozen riced cauliflower there can be extra water in it. If this is the route you want to go, be sure to thaw the cauliflower first and then squeeze out and extra moisture. There are also lots of health benefits in cauliflower- vitamin c, k, folate as well as fiber. So let’s get to cookin’!

Ingredients:

• Olive oil (to grease dish)
• 1 head of cauliflower (grated)
• 1 onion (grated)
• 2 TBSP. butter
• 2 TBSP. einkorn flour
• 2 c. milk
• 2 cloves pressed garlic
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups grated white cheddar
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 green onion chopped

Making the Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole Bake Recipe

To begin, grease a baking dish like the one here with the olive oil. grate the cauliflower and

onion in a large mixing bowl. For the cauliflower, it is okay to have some small pieces. It gives it a really nice texture. In a small bowl grate the gruyere cheese and parmesan cheese. Having these steps completed ahead of time makes for a quick and easy recipe creation.  Set aside and move on to creating the béchamel sauce sauce.

In a large sauce pan over medium heat add in the butter and swirl around until melted.  Once the butter is melted add in einkorn flour (or all purpose flour) and make a paste.  Next, pour in the milk, one half cup at a time.  After the first half cup add in the Each time it gets warm and thickens add another half a cup of milk until a creamy sauce is formed.  At this point add in the white cheddar cheese to make a creamy cheese sauce.

Pour in the riced cauliflower and onion and stir to combine. Add in the sour cream and stir again until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. To finish this recipe off sprinkle the panko bread crumbs, the parmesan cheese and the green onions on top.  Cover the top with foil and bake in the oven at 350 f for 25-30 minutes. At this point turn the oven to 400f and remove the foil.  Bake for another 15 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

Variations:

You can swap for frozen cauliflower, but be sure to thaw first and then squeeze out excess water with a paper towel.  If you wanted to make it taste like a loaded baked potato you can easily add in some bacon bits.  For a spicy jalapeno popper style omit the thyme and add in 2 finely chopped jalapenos and 4 slices crispy bacon chopped up.  This is a great way to get vegetables into even your picky eaters. So if you are tired of the classic side dish at your family gatherings add this one to the menu- you low carb diet guests will thank you!

The next time you want to bring a delicious side dish to your gathering, make this cheesy cauliflower side dish.  With the ooey-gooey cheese sauce and added health benefits of cauliflower it is an easy way to balance out a meal.  The onions bring in the best flavor that helps soften the cauliflower taste.  With all of the different ways this side can be prepared it is an easy vegetable dish that the entire family will love.

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Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole Bake Recipe

Cheesy and delicious this casserole topped with panko bread crumbs and green onions is loaded with flavor. It can easily be made ahead so when guests arrive you can do more socializing and less cooking.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best side dish, cheesy cauliflower

Equipment

• 1 9x9 baking dish
• 1 small bowl
• 1 large saucepan

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil to grease dish
• 1 head of cauliflower grated
• 1 onion grated
• 2 TBSP. butter
• 2 TBSP. einkorn flour
• 2 c. milk
• 2 cloves pressed garlic
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups grated white cheddar
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 green onion chopped

Instructions

• Grease a baking dish like the one here with the Extra virgin olive oil. Grate the 1 head of cauliflower and 1 onion in a large mixing bowl.
• In a small bowl grate the 3 cups grated white cheddar and 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese.
• Set aside and move on to creating the béchamel sauce sauce.
• In a large sauce pan over medium heat add in the 2 TBSP. butter and swirl around until melted.  Once the butter is melted add in 2 TBSP. einkorn flour (or all purpose flour) and make a paste.
• Pour in the 2 c. milk, one half cup at a time.  After the first half cup add in the Each time it gets warm and thickens add another half a cup of milk until a creamy sauce is formed. Add in 2 cloves pressed garlic, 1/4 tsp. thyme, 1/2 tsp. salt,
• At this point add in the white cheddar cheese to make a creamy cheese sauce.
• Add in the 1/4 cup sour cream and stir again until combined.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. To finish this recipe off sprinkle the 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese, and the 1 green onion chopped on top.  Cover the top with foil and bake in the oven at 350 f for 25-30 minutes. At this point turn the oven to 400f and remove the foil.  Bake for another 15 minutes until the top turns golden brown.

For other side dishes try these:

Make Ahead Green Beans Almondine

Balsamic and Feta Roasted Carrots