Best Loaded Cauliflower Casserole | Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
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.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Course: Dinner, Side Dish, sides
Cuisine: Canada, North America
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Servings: 8
Calories: 154kcal
- 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
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
To this, add flour and continue to saute until it becomes light golden, and aromatic. 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.
- 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.
Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 504mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg