Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
I’ve been making this easy Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Bake as a dinner side dish for years.
My British mum used to make it when I was a child and still makes it when I visit home.
Although I enjoyed hanging out with my father in the garage, “fixing” things but also hung out with my mum and cooking.
Now, you know who taught me to cook and why I enjoy cooking and creating recipes.
I hope you enjoy this simple creamy cauliflower cheese bake side dish with your family.
Table of contents
Memories Of Cauliflower Cheese Bake
I remember the smell of the house when this Cauliflower bake was in the oven.
The pungent smell of the strong cheese would make your mouth water.
Who doesn’t like cheese, right?
Some people can’t eat cheese, and I would be heartbroken, as cheese does make everything better.
I’m not a fan of cheese whiz, so I would never buy that, although some people don’t mind the taste.
Besides the cheese cost, this is a frugal side dish that is elegant enough to be served at any gathering.
Traditional British Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Believe it or not, Mrs. CBB has never had a Cauliflower Cheese Bake.
It was my turn to whip up another traditional British family recipe in our Canadian home.
Technically you could substitute the cauliflower if you didn’t like it and make a cheesy broccoli bake or cheesy potato bake.
Make a cheesy broccoli potato bake, and add some bacon to jazz it up.
You can mix and match all sorts as long as you can make the cheesy sauce.
Canadians Love Casseroles
Although interchangeable, you can call this a casserole instead of a bake.
Some of my Facebook fans know I laugh when they post that they’ve made a casserole for dinner.
Since I moved to Canada and asked, “What’s for Dinner” on my Facebook page, there will be a casserole.
I’ve officially renamed them CASAROLL “Eh,” to feed the Canadians of this country.
Mrs. CBB, like myself, loves cheese, but she “really” loves it.
If you let her, she can pack chunks of Parmigiano cheese on crackers, so I have to lock the cheese drawer. Haha, I was kidding.
Types Of Cheese
I used an old cheddar cheese from the Zehrs deli for this recipe.
However, I would suggest you get a strong cheese like an extra-old cheddar or a strong Asiago, or both is better.
If you prefer pizza mozzarella, add it to the old cheddar cheese.
Whatever cheeses melt and you will make this dish tasty for you.
On top, I sprinkle real Parmigiano Reggiano, but it must be real cheese from Italy.
It’s worth it, and a little bit goes a long way.
I don’t find cheese in Canada as strong, especially cheaper brands such as Black Diamond.
However, I do find the lactose-free bar cheeses to have a richer old-cheddar flavor.
Use that instead if you can fit a pricier cheese in your grocery budget.
Cauliflower Cheese Bake Side-Dish
Last night we made the Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Bake with baked breaded pork chops and fennel fruit salad with a ginger-lime dressing.
We’ve also served this with homemade sloppy joes for an easy weeknight meal.
Cauliflower Cheese bake is an easy holiday recipe that you can make for Christmas, Easter, or any special occasion.
If you are like some people who have no idea what to do with cauliflower except to dip it, add it to a salad, or steam it, check this recipe out.
Discussion: What other types of bakes or casserole CASAROLL “Eh” do you make?
Tools Needed For Recipe
- Baking Pan/sheet
- 8×11 cm deep casserole dish
- Pots for boiling
- Measuring cups
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Large Serving Spoon
- Cheese grater
How To Make Cauliflower Cheese Bake Recipe
- Yield: 4-6 servings
- Time: Prep for 20 minutes, Bake for 30 minutes
- Oven Temp: 350 degrees
Ingredients
- One large head of cauliflower
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 2 cups of 2% milk
- 1 cup of old or extra old cheddar or Asiago
- 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmigiano regianno
- One teaspoon of salt for boiling water
- 1 teaspoon salt for the cheese sauce
Preparation
- Cut the cauliflower into florets and put them in a pot of salted boiling water until tender but not mushy; drain.
- Pour the drained cauliflower florets into an 8x11cm casserole dish.
- In a medium-sized pot, melt your butter, and stir until it is completely melted.
- Add the flour and stir; you are making a rue.
- Pour in the milk and stir until creamy.
- Add the cheese and salt, then stir until creamy.
- Pour over the top of the cauliflower florets.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the peaks are golden.
- Take out of the oven and sprinkle with Parmigiano Regianno cheese.
- Put back into the oven under broil for 3 minutes to melt the cheese and brown.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve.
Easy Cauliflower Cheese Bake
My British mum's easy creamy Cauliflower Cheese Bake Recipe as a side-dish for any meal or holiday table.
Ingredients
- One large head of cauliflower
- 1/4 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 2 cups of 2% milk
- 1 cup of old or extra old cheddar or Asiago
- 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmigiano regianno
- One teaspoon of salt for boiling water
- 1 teaspoon salt for the cheese sauce
Instructions
- Wash and cut the cauliflower into florets and put them in a pot of salted boiling water until tender but not mushy; drain.
- Pour the drained cauliflower florets into an 8x11cm casserole dish.
- In a medium-sized pot, melt your butter, and stir until it is completely melted.
- Add the flour and stir; you are making a rue.
- Pour in the milk and stir until creamy.
- Add the cheese and salt, then stir until creamy.
- Pour over the top of the cauliflower florets.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the peaks are golden.
- Take out of the oven and sprinkle with Parmigiano Regianno cheese.
- Put back into the oven under broil for 3 minutes to melt the cheese and brown.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve.
You know, as a “single” its hard to make great recipes for feeding only one… however with this one, I can make it but divide it into FOUR rows: cauliflower / brocolli / potatoes / green beans…. then it becomes a full meal for dinner with a salad and left overs for lunch the next day! I have a small casserole that I’d make it in, thus there would be extra sauce, but I’d freeze it for the next time I make it!
That sounds like a brilliant idea Patricia. Now you sound very resourceful in the kitchen. I know what you mean about it being hard to cook for one but it takes some good planning and things work out well. Thanks for dropping in.
I think I want to try this one! Adding bacon sounds good!!
Oh that would be lovely Pat. I really do enjoy this recipe and it goes well with so many dishes. Let me know what you think. Mr.CBB
This looks absolutely delicious! I will have to try this but I may have to lower the fat in the cheese just a little or save this for my Man Food nights!
Yes you can lower the fat content no problem but I would use a stronger cheese though so you still get the flavour. Less is more when you use a pungent cheese. Cheers Karen!
Looks delicious! You had me at cheese….! 🙂
Ha, that’s my saying! Cheers mate.
Cauliflower cheese is a quintessentially traditional British food and as can be seen in this recipe, so easy, and versatile – it appears throughout British food in various guises; an essential side dish at Sunday lunch, a delicious filling for a baked potato and sometimes, even encased in pastry as a pasty or quiche. Cauliflower Cheese makes the most of great British cauliflowers which are not only cheap, nutritious and also available almost year round.
oh dear god that looks delicious. I mean you totally had me at cheese…
British Classic indeed mmm
oh the things I miss mate….
British Classic indeed – looks yummy sir!
Looks tasty – I love cauliflower, but this looks much better than the way I make it.
I think if I make it, I will go with your suggestion and add bacon, it just makes every meal that much better!
I basically made this for dinner earlier this week! I was really disappointed that I didn’t have any nutritional yeast to make it though, it really steps up the flavour (and the protein content!). I finally have some again and need more cauliflower to go with 🙂
What is nutritional yeast?
Hippie food, haha. It’s a yeast that’s sold in powder or flake form, that tastes nutty and cheesy. It’s a complete protein, has a bunch of vitamins and is often fortified with B12 and iron. It’s really delicious, despite the name. It’s very common in vegan food and also in vegetarian food, though not quite as much.
I tried to reply on my phone, but it doesn’t look like it posted.
It’s hippie food! Nutritional yeast comes in flakes or powder form and is a non-active yeast, not resembling bread yeast or brewer’s yeast at all! It tastes cheesy and nutty and is delicious. It’s a really good source of protein and vitamins, vegans use it a tonne and vegetarians sometimes. When it’s fortified it also has that pesky B12 and iron.
It’s often used in situations that people would use parmesan, such as making pesto, or topping pasta. Give it a shot sometime, my spouse even eats it without objection! My grocery stores can be limited in selection, but thankfully there are several natural food stores around that carry it.
I did get the post where you said it was hippie food. It was just interesting as I’ve never heard of it. We take alot of vitamins here like B12.Vit D, and Vit C in our water…What type of cost is there on it?
You probably have access to it for less where you live. The stuff I bought the other day was $7.95 for a container the size of a large yogurt. It lasts (me) quite a long time.
I eat an almost vegetarian diet and can’t drink milk, so I have to make sure to get B12 into my diet. The yeast has most of the B vitamins when it is not fortified, so it’s even better when it is 🙂
Hey Anne,
Interesting, I’m going to head out and see if I can find it next week.
I just had cauliflower last night for the first time in a long time, but it didn’t look like that! Yum!
Ya, it can be bland and boring so I jazz it up. I only eat it once in a while so when I do I want to eat the way I like it and that’s cheesy! Cheers mate, hope all is well. Mr.CBB
What is the recipe for your lime-ginger dressing? On Nov 11, 2012 12:52 PM, “Canadian Budget Binder” wrote:
> ** > Canadianbudgetbinder posted: “[caption id="attachment_5562" > align="aligncenter" width="387"] Mr.CBB”s Cauliflower Cheese with Pork > Chops[/caption] I’ve been making this easy Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Bake > for years now because my mum used to make it when I was a child. I enjoyed > h”
I haven’t posted the recipe for the Fennel Fruit Salad. It’s simply juice half a fresh lime, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped ginger, 2 cloves minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup, salt, pepper, mix. That’s it! Mr.CBB
Wow!!! Something I think I’ll make!! Looks awesome!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shocking, isn’t it lol… cheers Jen