Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
This Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake makes hosting dinner parties and holiday events stress-free! This fragrant garlic-rosemary cauliflower is roasted until tender, then drenched in a creamy, thick mozzarella-cheddar cheese sauce that’s so good, I wiped the pan clean with bread. It’s a super simple vegetarian side dish I love making for hosting company. It’s a labor of love, but everyone enjoys the creamy, cheesy bites.
Easy Cozy Baked Cheesy Cauliflower
Let’s make a super cheesy, creamy cauliflower bake. This recipe was requested so many times after posting this vlog, I had to share! The cauliflower dish takes around 30 minutes or so. This is another one of those dishes where the oven really gets to work its magic. I first roasted the cauliflowers, then drizzled on that decadent creamy sauce on top before baking again. The result is a beautiful golden crust that I can’t wait to break into!
This dish was part of my dinner spread for our holiday dinner with Yvonne and Andrew. I’m cooking around four dishes or so. They’re all really easy, but they’re also all labors of love that take a longer time to prep. Our dinner includes a Pineapple Glaze Barbecue Ribs, this cheesy cauliflower bake, mashed potatoes, as well as a super easy burrata salad.
Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1.5 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1-1 1/4 cup cream or milk
- 1 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (for topping)
- 1 tbsp chives, chopped fine
Garlic Rosemary Cauliflower
I’m starting this cheesy bake with some roasted garlic rosemary cauliflower. Cauliflower is high in fiber and vitamin C, K, folates, and antioxidants. But, it’s also low in calorie and carbs, and super affordable.
Cauliflower’s natural flavors are pretty mild, but it soaks up other seasoning very well. To add some deep flavors and aromas to these veggies, I’m adding a mix of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary. After roasting, it develops a slight smokiness with a nutty-sweet, caramelized flavor.
The BEST Creamy Cheese Sauce
While the cauliflower is in the oven, let’s make the best cheese sauce ever. Honestly, the cheese sauce is so good, we ended up dipping the bread straight into the pan. This sauce starts with a simple roux of butter and flour, which helps the sauce thicken and prevents it from separating. Then, add in some cream or milk for richness.
The heart of this sauce is tons of shredded cheese. I love using a mix of mozzarella and cheddar for that perfect stretch, richness, and slightly golden color. Finally, I’m seasoning the sauce with garlic powder, black pepper, and mustard for some savory acidity and heat to balance out the flavors.
Instructions For Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
- Place cauliflower florets in a 8×8 baking dish, drizzle on olive oil, and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary.
- Roast uncovered for about 10 minutes at 425F.
- While the cauliflowers roasting, melt the butter in a pan on medium high, then stir in flour to create a roux. Slowly pour in milk or cream, mixing it really well until the sauce has thickened.
- Once it is smooth, add in freshly shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and mix until it’s glossy.
- Finally, finish off a little bit of mustard. Mix well.
- Then, pour the sauce all over the roasted cauliflower.
- Pop it back into the oven and bake for another 20 minutes at 350F.
- Once everything is bubbly, cheesy, and golden, top with even more shredded cheese and broil on high for 2-3 minutes or until it creates a beautiful crust.
- Top with chopped chives and serve.
Host Impressive Dinner Parties with These Easy Dishes
Creamy Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
By Tiffy Cooks
Equipment
Ingredients
Garlic Rosemary Cauliflower
- 1 head cauliflower Large head, cut into florets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1.5 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
Creamy Cheesy Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1-1 1/4 cup cream or milk
- 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese for topping, I used a mix of cheddar and mozzarella
- 1 tbsp chives chopped fine
Instructions
- Place cauliflower florets in a 8×8 baking dish, drizzle on olive oil, and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary.
- Roast uncovered for about 10 minutes at 425F.
- While the cauliflowers roasting, melt the butter in a pan on medium high, then stir in flour to create a roux. Slowly pour in milk or cream, mixing it really well until the sauce has thickened.
- Once it is smooth, add in freshly shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and mix until it’s glossy.
- Finally, finish off a little bit of mustard. Mix well.
- Then, pour the sauce all over the roasted cauliflower.
- Pop it back into the oven and bake for another 20 minutes at 350F.
- Once everything is bubbly, cheesy, and golden, top with even more shredded cheese and broil on high for 2-3 minutes or until it creates a beautiful crust.
- Top with chopped chives and serve.
