Loaded Cauliflower Casserole or Cheesy Cauliflower Bake is a classic and rich side dish where tender cauliflower is tossed in a cheesy and creamy sauce loaded with mushrooms. People are going to come for second servings and maybe even more. A total rockstar at your dinner table.
This is a vegetarian casserole that is the best side dish for your Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas dinner. But feel free to add crispy bacon bits if desired.
Recipe card
Best Loaded Cauliflower Casserole | Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
Equipment
- 1 Baking pan 7-inch by 8-inch was used
Ingredients
- 1 Cauliflower Medium-sized, cut into florets
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 10 Mushrooms finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Creamy Cheesy White Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 1 tablespoon Garlic finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon All-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups Milk
- 150 + 50 grams Cheddar cheese, divided 2 cups
- 75 grams Cream cheese 3 oz
- ¼ cup Spring onions or use Chives, finely chopped, keep more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon Salt adjust to taste
Instructions
Blanch Cauliflower
- Add cauliflower florets to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes on medium-high flame. Drain and keep it aside.1 Cauliflower
Saute the Mushrooms
- Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped mushrooms and saute on a medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes or until they become light golden in color. Add salt to taste and mix well.1 tablespoon Oil, 10 Mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Switch off the flame and keep it aside for use later.
Making of Creamy, Cheesy White Sauce
- Melt butter in a pan. Add garlic and saute until aromatic.2 tablespoon Butter, 1 tablespoon Garlic
- 2 tablespoon All-purpose flour
- Add 1 cup of milk and mix/whisk well so that there are no lumps. Continue to cook till the sauce thickens.1 ½ cups Milk
- Add cheddar cheese (reserve ½ cup for garnish), cream cheese, and remaining milk, and mix.150 + 50 grams Cheddar cheese, divided, 75 grams Cream cheese
- Add the blanched cauliflower, half of the sauteed mushrooms, spring onions, and salt to taste, and mix well. Switch off the flame.¼ cup Spring onions, ½ teaspoon Salt
Baking Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease your baking dish and keep it ready.
- Transfer the prepared cauliflower mixture to the baking dish. Top it with spring onions. Add the remaining cheese and sauteed mushrooms.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the top becomes golden and bubbly.
Video
Notes
- You can add nutmeg and cayenne or Italian seasonings for additional flavor.
- Mushrooms can be substituted with bacon.
- Instead of using only cauliflower, you can add half broccoli and some potatoes too.
- Cheddar can be substituted with any melting cheese of your choice.
- Use any fresh herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary of your choice.
Nutrition
About the best dinner casserole
We make mac and cheese and cauliflower potato gratin for holiday dinner. This year, instead of making two separate dishes, I wanted to make just one.
I planned to combine the cheesiness and creaminess of mac and cheese with the unique flavors of cauliflower and mushrooms in one casserole. It turned out so good that it got over in no time. Please give it a try; I am sure you and your family will also love it. This casserole is not a light side dish as it is cheesy, but definitely, it is low in carbs.
Just make sure to blanch the cauliflower florets for 2 to 3 minutes in boiling water until they are tender yet crispy. Blanching cauliflower florets ensures they get cooked perfectly when baked for 20 to 30 minutes.
Mushrooms are a perfect meat substitute that even die-hard meat-eaters will love. I have used sauteed mushrooms to give the dish that earthy and meaty flavor. If you want, you can replace sauteed mushrooms with crispy bacon bits.
Ingredients
Cauliflower: Key ingredient. Cut into florets. Instead of using only cauliflower, you can even add broccoli florets for color and flavor.
Mushrooms: This is a vegetarian casserole, and I have loaded it with mushrooms instead of bacon.
White sauce: To make the creamy and cheesy white sauce you need butter, garlic, flour, milk, cheddar cheese or any melting cheese, cream cheese, fresh herbs.
How to make cheesy cauliflower casserole?
First, blanch the cauliflower florets by cooking in boiling water for 3 minutes. Then drain and keep it aside. Saute mushrooms until they become light golden in color. Season to taste and set aside.
To make the creamy, cheesy sauce, melt butter in a pan and saute chopped garlic until aromatic. Add flour and saute until light golden to make a roux. Add milk and whisk so that there are no lumps, and cook until the sauce thickens. Follow this with cheese and cream cheese, and mix until everything comes together. Then add the blanched cauliflower, half of the sauteed mushrooms, and freshly chopped spring onions, and check for seasoning.
Transfer the prepared cauliflower mixture to a prepared baking dish. Top it with spring onions, more cheese, and some sauteed mushrooms. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 minutes or until the top becomes golden and bubbly.
Recipe tips and substitutes
- You can add nutmeg and cayenne for additional flavor.
- Mushrooms can be substituted with bacon.
- Instead of using cauliflower alone, you can add half broccoli and some potatoes too.
- Cheddar can be substituted with any melting cheese of your choice.
- Use any fresh herbs of your choice.
Store and Make-ahead instructions
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave until heated through.
- Make ahead: You can boil the cauliflower until just tender, saute the mushrooms one day in advance, and store them in the refrigerator separately in airtight containers. The next day, prepare the sauce and bake.
- Alternatively, you can blanch the cauliflowers, sautee the mushrooms, prepare the cheesy sauce, toss everything in the sauce, add to the baking dish, cover the casserole dish with cling film or a lid, and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake the next day. Thaw for 30 minutes at room temperature before baking.
Holiday dinner menu ideas
If you are planning your Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinner menu, then you are at the right place.
Check out our Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes, Thanksgiving Side Dishes, and Best Thanksgiving Desserts.
Also, for your Christmas Eve, check our Best Christmas Food Ideas and Bread Recipes.
Recipe FAQs
Cauliflower casserole goes well with almost anything from chicken, pork, and turkey to mushroom burgers, black bean burgers, and even steamed rice.
Do not add frozen cauliflower directly to the recipe. Thaw the cauliflower for 30 mins at room temperature, and then boil for 2 to 3 minutes until tender yet crispy. Finally, mix with the cheese sauce and bake as instructed in the recipe.
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Asparagus, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, pumpkins, etc., are some vegetables that pair well with cauliflower.
Broccoli, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut squash, Pumpkins, etc., can be used as partial or complete substitutes for cauliflower.
Yes. This dish is low in carbs, and cauliflower and mushrooms are keto friendly. The cheese and cream cheese are rich in fat and protein, thus making this a perfect keto-friendly dish.
Any melting cheese is suitable for this dish. I prefer to use Cheddar, Gruyere, Gouda, Swiss cheese, etc. I sometimes also love to add good quality Parmesan cheese for its nuttiness.
More casserole recipes
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Note: We originally posted this cheesy loaded cauliflower casserole bake recipe in Nov 2021 for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. It has now been modified in Nov 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.
Louise
Cauliflower cheese has never tasted so good! Perfect with a big Sunday roast dinner.
Andrea
This cheesy loaded cauliflower casserole looks and sounds fantastic. My family will really love it.
Holley
One of my favorite go-to recipes! Meatless Mondays or even the holidays, the family loves this dish!