Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
One of my all-time favorite side dishes as a kiddo was Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce. And for some weird reason, I never made it for myself or my family once I grew up. But all that has changed in the last 6 months or so when something triggered my memory, and I had to make it again. Man, we’re glad I did because this dish is now on permanent rotation.
Creamy cheese sauce cooks up together with tender cauliflower to a rich tangy casserole. Pair it with any of your favorite entrée such as oven-fried chicken or even these meatball subs. There’s no wrong dish to pair with this recipe.
It’s now a family favorite and will definitely be on our Thanksgiving and Christmas table from now on. Yes, it is that good, try it, I bet you’ll love it too!
What You Need to Make Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
Nothing but the basics are needed to make this recipe.
- cauliflower
- butter
- all-purpose flour
- milk
- sharp cheddar cheese
- salt
- pepper
What kind of cheese do I need?
You can use any cheese you like or have on hand. I like to use sharp white cheddar and sharp cheddar together. But I’ve also used medium or mild if that’s all I have.
The one kind of cheese I don’t recommend is pre-shredded cheese. It has some preservatives on it that keep it from clumping up in the bag. And it doesn’t make a smooth sauce as the cheese doesn’t really melt well. You can use it, it will work, but it’s not the best use of that cheese.
What About Leftovers?
Well, if you have leftovers, then you’re in luck! Because this makes perfect leftovers. You can even enjoy it cold. But if you reheat it, it’s just as good as the first night!
Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cauliflower if whole, cut in bite-size pieces
- 2 TBSP butter
- 2 TBSP flour
- 1 cup milk
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar
- 2 ounce white cheddar
- salt
- pepper
- pinch of nutmeg opitonal
Instructions
- cook the cauliflower in hot salted water
- preheat oven to 375°
- lightly butter a 1 1/2 quart baking dish
- melt the butter
- when the butter is melted add the flour
- cook and stir for two minutes
- when the cauliflower is knife tender drain it well, and leave it to drain until you need
- once the butter and flour are cooked add the milk
- whisk until the milk is mixed it, and the sauce starts to thicken up
- save back 1/4 cup of cheese and then using a wooden spoon stir in the remaining cheese
- once the cheese is melted turn off the heat
- taste for salt and pepper add as needed
- add a pinch of nutmeg as desired
- stir the drained cauliflower into the cheese sauce
- taste again and add more salt and pepper as needed
- spoon the cauliflower into the prepared baking dish
- sprinkle with the reserved cheese
- bake at 375° for 35-45 minutes or until the top is browned
- you can also serve it without baking it in the oven, it's ready to go after the cauliflower is stirred in
FYI step 1 is to Preheat oven to 350 degrees, but step 18 is to bake at 375 degrees…. ??
Yes, just a mistake. I fixed it.