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Cheesy Baked Cauliflower, part of a spread for hosting and holiday meals

Creamy Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

By Tiffy Cooks

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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.
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Cook Time:35 minutes
Total Time:35 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Keyword: cauliflower, easy holiday recipe, holiday recipe, hosting, oven baked, Party Dishes, Side Dish
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 483kcal

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 8x8 baking dish, drizzle on olive oil, and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary.
    Add oil and seasonings to cauliflower for roasting the 1st time for Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
  • Roast uncovered for about 10 minutes at 425F.
    Freshly roasted cauliflowers for Creamy cheesy Cauliflower bake
  • 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.
    Mixing roux and cream for cheesy cauliflower bake
  • Once it is smooth, add in freshly shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and mix until it's glossy.
    Adding shredded cheese to cheesy sauce to add to Creamy Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
  • Finally, finish off a little bit of mustard. Mix well.
    Adding mustard to creamy cheese sauce for Creamy Cauliflower Bake
  • Then, pour the sauce all over the roasted cauliflower.
  • Pop it back into the oven and bake for another 20 minutes at 350F.
    Baking creamy cauliflower bake in the oven
  • 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.
    Shredded cheesy topping for creamy cheesy cauliflower bake
  • Top with chopped chives and serve.
    Cheesy Baked Cauliflower perfect for hosting and holiday meals

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 22gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 578mgPotassium: 675mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 856IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 519mgIron: 1mg
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