I’m always looking for new ways to dress up ordinary veggies. Some of my favorite options include sauteed brussels sprouts, honey roasted carrots and this loaded cauliflower casserole.
Tips For The Perfect Cauliflower Casserole
I recommend shredding your own cheese for this dish. The pre-shredded cheese in bags at the grocery store is often coated in preservatives and anti caking agents and does not melt smoothly. I have made this casserole with both fresh and frozen cauliflower, and either works just fine. If you’re using frozen cauliflower, be sure to thaw it and remove any excess water before proceeding with the recipe. This dish can be assembled up to 8 hours before you plan to bake it. Cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to put it in the oven. You can use different colors of cauliflower like green, orange or purple! You could even make this dish with Romanesco!
Flavor Variations
This cauliflower casserole dish is fabulous as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes. Try this casserole for the Thanksgiving or Christmas and enjoy it with a spiral ham, Cajun turkey or honey glazed ham. If you’re making a holiday meal, don’t forget the pecan pie cheesecake for dessert!
Cauliflower: Cauliflower is the heart of this dish so you want to find nice fresh cauliflower with an even white color without brown spots or blemishes. You want firm cauliflower that is not soft or mushy. Avoid cauliflower that has a strong smell. Butter: I use butter for this dish to make a roux and give a rich flavor to the cheese sauce. Cheese: The cheese sauce is what makes this dish so wonderful. I use cheddar cheese to build the base of the cheese sauce with parmesan cheese to give the sauce a little extra salty, savory flavor. Green Onions: Look for green onions that are a nice green color and firm. I think green onions with a smaller width tend to chop better and hold up better in this casserole. Bacon: You will need cooked and crumbled bacon for this casserole. I typically use cooking shears to cut raw bacon into small squares and then cook those squares in a pan until crisp.
Blanch: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4 minutes or until just tender. Drain the cauliflower and place it in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Pat dry, then proceed with the casserole. Steam: Heat 1 inch of water to boiling salted water in a shallow pan. Add the cauliflower in a single layer. Cover the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes or until cauliflower is just tender. Remove the cauliflower from the pan. Roast: Heat your oven to 425 degrees F. Coat the cauliflower florets with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the florets on a greased sheet pan in a single layer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until tender.
Next, prepare a cheese sauce by mixing together butter, garlic and flour to make a roux. Add milk and whisk constantly until the sauce mixture thickens. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese. Toss your cooked cauliflower with the cheese sauce. Add some cooked bacon bits and green onions, then pour the cauliflower mixture into a prepared casserole dish. Add a layer of shredded cheese, then bake until golden brown. The finishing touch is an additional sprinkle of bacon and green onions. All that’s left is to serve and enjoy!
Protein: Make this a main course by adding diced cooked chicken, diced cooked steak or sliced smoked sausage. You can also swap out the bacon for cubes of ham. Cheese: Use your favorite type of cheese for a cheesy cauliflower casserole! Some great options include Monterey Jack cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, pepper jack cheese, Colby Jack cheese or mozzarella cheese. Veggies: Instead of cauliflower, try broccoli or diced cooked potatoes. You can even do a combination of vegetables to add extra flavor. Toppings: Feel free to add more toppings such as buttered panko breadcrumbs, fresh chives or French fried onions. Creamy: Add 1/2 cup of sour cream or cream cheese when you stir in the cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.
This cauliflower casserole is easy enough to put together on a busy weeknight, but is elegant enough to earn its place on a holiday meal table. You just can’t go wrong with this one!
Cauliflower Casserole Video
