This creamy and rich cauliflower casserole can be a showstopper at any family occasion or dinner party. It’s a delightful way to enjoy a vegetable that’s versatile and packed with health benefits.
By incorporating ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, and a variety of cheeses, you can create a cheesy goodness. This casserole can either be a robust main dish or a complementary side, making it versatile for any meal.

What Is A Cauliflower Casserole?
A creamy and cheesy cauliflower casserole is a comforting dish that combines tender cauliflower florets with a rich, cheesy sauce. Originating as a way to make vegetables more palatable, this casserole draws inspiration from classic French gratins. Its main components include steamed or roasted cauliflower, a creamy sauce made from milk or cream, and a generous amount of melted cheese. Sometimes breadcrumbs or bacon are added for extra texture and flavor. This dish is baked until golden and bubbly, offering a delicious, hearty side or main dish perfect for family meals.
Why I Love This Cauliflower Casserole recipe
- Rich flavor. I love how the creamy and cheesy sauce transforms cauliflower into a rich, flavorful dish that’s hard to resist.
- Easily adaptable for anyone. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing me to customize it for different dietary preferences without sacrificing taste.
- Great meal for any occasion. The dish is always a crowd favorite at gatherings. Seeing an empty dish by the end of the night is so rewarding.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
With a few essential ingredients and the right equipment, you’ll have a comforting dish that’s perfect for any occasion.

- Cauliflower: I use a large head of cauliflower, cut into florets.
- My Creamy Sauce: A tablespoon of butter, heavy cream, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese make a cheese blend. You might also like to mix it up and use a keto queso creamy version.
- Binding Agents: A bit of cream cheese or vegan butter can help to bind the ingredients together.
- Flavor Enhancers: Salt, pepper, onion powder, and minced garlic add depth. Sliced green onions or red onions and parsley give a fresh kick.
- Crunch Factor: For the topping, a sprinkle of panko breadcrumbs. Fresh buttery breadcrumbs mixed with a tablespoon of olive oil also creates a lovely crisp texture.
How To Make A Cauliflower Casserole
Creating a delicious cauliflower casserole involves a straightforward process: preparing the cauliflower, making a rich and creamy cheese sauce, and then baking everything to perfection.

- Cooked Cauliflower: Gently wash and cut the cauliflower into florets. I steam these florets until they’re tender but not mushy and drain them well.
- Make The Sauce Mixture: Sauté the bacon until golden brown, then set it aside. In the same pan, melt butter, cook garlic briefly, and combine heavy cream, cream cheese, spices. Vegetable broth until smooth, then stir in cheese, chives, and the cooked bacon.
- Combine & Top With Cheese: Once my sauce is done, I combine it with the remaining cauliflower florets, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- Bake Till Golden & Bubbly: I transfer the cauliflower and cheese mixture into a lightly oiled casserole dish and bake until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use a mix of cheeses: Combining sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan gives your casserole rich, layered flavors and extra creaminess.
- Add a thickener: To achieve a silky sauce, blend in cream cheese or a roux (butter and flour) to thicken the cheese mixture.
- Broil for a crispy top: Finish the casserole under the broiler for a few minutes to get a bubbly, golden cheese crust.
Variations of Cauliflower Casserole
- Add protein: Mix in cooked bacon, grilled chicken, or crumbled sausage for a heartier dish.
- Spice it up: Add jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce to give the casserole a spicy kick.
- Make It Vegetarian: I blend soaked cashews with seasonings and vegetable stock for a creamy cheese sauce, then mix it with steamed cauliflower for extra creaminess and coat the remaining cauliflower florets thoroughly.
- Easily Vegan: You can bake steamed cauliflower and potatoes with a homemade cashew cheese sauce made from soaked cashews, water, nutritional yeast, and seasoning with vegan shredded cheese until golden and crispy.
- Herb boost: Mix in fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or chives for a burst of fresh flavor.


Serving Suggestions
Serve your creamy and cheesy cauliflower casserole as a comforting side dish alongside roasted chicken, grilled steak, or baked fish for a complete meal. It also pairs well with a crisp green salad or sautéed veggies for a lighter contrast. For a hearty vegetarian option, serve it with a side of garlic bread or quinoa. To elevate the dish, garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives and a sprinkle of extra cheese or crispy breadcrumbs for added texture.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
To store creamy and cheesy cauliflower casserole, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the casserole in individual portions or as a whole, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, or microwave for a quicker option.
More Casserole Recipes
Cauliflower Casserole
Equipment
- Baking casserole dish
- Large pot
- Saucepan
- Knife and Cutting Board
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower - cut into florets
- 6 slices crispy cooked bacon finely chopped or 100 g of chicken mince
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup sharp shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs - optional
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic powder finely chopped
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper - optional
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives
- Fresh parsley or fresh chives - chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Cook the Cauliflower
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the cheese sauce or mixture.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sauté your chicken mince or bacon till golden brown and set aside.
- In the same saucepan add your garlic and allow to cook for 1 minute.
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and vegetable broth. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 3- 4 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in chives and the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Bake and Serve
- Place the cooked cauliflower florets in the greased baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the cauliflower.
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, bacon, and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or chives before serving.
Notes
- Skip the bacon and chicken mince, or use plant-based bacon to make the cauliflower casserole vegetarian.
- Skip the breadcrumbs for a low-carb version, and for a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- To store: Tightly wrap up the leftover cauliflower casserole and keep it in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
- To reheat: Reheat the casserole in the oven at 375F, covered with foil, until the whole casserole is heated.
- To freeze: Use a freezer-safe container and tightly seal your cauliflower casserole. Freeze for up to 3 months
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed and personalised calculations.