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Cauliflower Cheese

Tender cauliflower florets baked in a creamy, rich Cheddar cheese sauce until golden brown and bubbling. A quintessential savory British side dish perfect for any meal.

40 minEasyServes 4340 cal/serving

BritishSideStovetop and OvenVegetarianLow CarbHalal-friendlyKosher-styleNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SugarAlcohol-FreePork-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
  • 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

  2. 2

    Boil water in a saucepan and cook 2 lbs cut into florets cauliflower for 5 minutes until tender-crisp, then drain thoroughly.

  3. 3

    Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour for 1 minute.

  4. 4

    Whisk in 2 cups whole milk continuously until sauce thickens and bubbles.

  5. 5

    Stir in 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, and half of the 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese off the heat.

  6. 6

    Transfer drained cauliflower to a baking dish, pour sauce over, top with remaining sharp Cheddar cheese, and bake for 20 minutes until bubbling.

Questions

Can I make Cauliflower Cheese dairy-free?

Not cleanly. Here the dairy (4 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 cups whole milk, 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated) is the backbone of the dish, and plant-based substitutes change both its texture and its flavor. If you need strictly dairy-free, start from the dairy-free side collection instead.

Can I make Cauliflower Cheese gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Cauliflower Cheese keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Cauliflower Cheese?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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