Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

glorious baked cheese cauliflower

(19 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Kelly Williams
Forked River, NJ

My hubby doesn't care for cauliflower, so I get to make a small casserole dish of this all for myself! I have this when he has his peas (ugh). I think he got the short end of that deal! This is simply wonderful, and when having company, even the kids enjoy it. (Gotta be the cheese!) Hope you enjoy it too.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Kelly named her recipe glorious baked cheese cauliflower... glorious indeed! Tender cauliflower is cooked in a thick homemade cheese sauce. On top are wonderful buttery bread crumbs. This side dish is perfect for any cauliflower lover. Enjoy for a special occasion or a cheesy weeknight side dish.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(19 ratings)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For glorious baked cheese cauliflower

  • 1 lg
    head of cauliflower, cut into florets
  • SAUCE
  • 4 Tbsp
    butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1/4 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1/8 tsp
    pepper
  • 2 c
    milk
  • 1/2 - 1 Tbsp
    regular or Dijon mustard, to taste
  • 1 1/2 c
    extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (6 oz. block)
  • TOPPING
  • 1 c
    soft fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 Tbsp
    fresh chopped parsley
  • 1/2 tsp
    paprika
  • 2 Tbsp
    melted butter
  • pinch
    salt

How To Make glorious baked cheese cauliflower

Test Kitchen Tips
We made our soft bread crumbs by running a few pieces of bread in a food processor until it resembled bread crumbs.
  • Steaming cauliflower.
    1
    Boil or steam cauliflower in water until just tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Greased casserole dish on a preheating oven.
    2
    Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350 F.
  • Stir flour into melted butter.
    3
    In a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium heat. Add flour. Stir until smooth and just bubbly.
  • Add salt, pepper, and milk.
    4
    Add salt, pepper, and milk.
  • Cooking until sauce is thickened.
    5
    Cook the sauce, stirring, until thickened and bubbly.
  • Adding mustard and cheese.
    6
    Add the mustard and cheese. Continue cooking, stirring, until the cheese is melted.
  • Cauliflower added to the sauce.
    7
    Combine the cauliflower with sauce.
  • Cauliflower poured into the baking dish.
    8
    Spoon into the prepared baking dish.
  • Topping ingredients in a bowl.
    9
    Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the cauliflower mixture.
  • Baking the cheesy cauliflower.
    10
    Bake in the lower half of the oven so the top doesn't over brown. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is browned.
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