This golden and bubbly cauliflower casserole with creamy parmesan sauce and crispy topping is so scrumptious that it's sure to get everyone to eat their veggies!
Cauliflower Casserole, a Creamy and Cheesy Take on Cauliflower
If you were to ask me which cruciferous veggie I cook with most often, I would tell you that it's definitely cauliflower.
Delicate in flavor and easy to work with (not to mention inexpensive), I use cauliflower in everything from making low-carb cauliflower rice, to cauliflower poppers, to macaroni and cheese, to a hot dip, to vegetarian steaks.
I love how versatile it is, and how wonderfully it either blends into a dish, or becomes the star!
And because cauliflower is such a stellar veggie, it makes perfect sense to combine it with a creamy parmesan sauce, sprinkle over a combination of parmesan and panko breadcrumbs, and bake this scrumptious concoction until hot, bubbly and golden-brown.
It's how humble cauliflower becomes spectacular cauliflower casserole, a wonderfully cheesy and creamy side dish sure to make everyone ask for seconds on their veggies!
Simple Ingredients for Easy Cauliflower Casserole
This cauliflower casserole recipe has three basic components: the cauliflower, the sauce, and the crisp topping.
For convenience, I like to use pre-packaged cauliflower florets. They're already pretty much the perfect size, and make things a breeze!
I make my creamy sauce using a little butter, flour, milk, garlic, and parmesan.
The crisp topping, or gratin, is simply a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and some parmesan cheese, plus a little sprinkle of paprika for color, and a bit of melted butter for extra flavor—this offers some savory crunch, and that pretty golden-brown top!
How to Make Cauliflower Casserole
Preparing cauliflower casserole is just a matter of having the components ready, and then combining everything and baking off this scrumptious side dish.
It's almost hard to believe that such a relatively small handful of ingredients can create such a richly flavorful veggie dish!
Here's a little overview of my recipe:
- I begin by preparing my parmesan cheese sauce, and set that aside to keep warm.
- Next, I combine the ingredients for the crispy panko breadcrumb topping.
- Then I blanch the cauliflower florets in salted, simmering water for about 4-5 minutes, or until they are slightly tender yet still crisp/firm. When done, I drain them and pat them dry.
- To assemble, I spread a little of the sauce on the bottom of my baking dish, add in the blanched cauliflower florets, season them a bit, and top with the rest of the sauce.
- For the crispy topping I sprinkle over top my panko and parmesan mixture, bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly, then serve!
(My full recipe is below...)
Tips & Tidbits for Cauliflower Casserole:
- Pre-packaged florets for ease: While you can certainly use a head of cauliflower for this recipe and cut it into florets, I recommend pre-packaged florets as they'll save you little time, and some cleanup!
- A quick blanching: You'll want to take just a little of the raw crunch out of the cauliflower, so a 4-5 minute blanching in salted, simmering water will do the trick.
- Cheesy sauce: I like the savory flavor of parmesan for this creamy sauce, but you can substitute different cheeses such as cheddar, gruyere, or a four-cheese blend.
- Crisp breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are my crumb of choice, but you can use fresh breadcrumbs or traditional crumbs, whichever you prefer.
- Make ahead for easy cauliflower casserole: You can simplify things if you blanch your florets, prep your parmesan sauce, and mix your breadcrumb topping the day before you want to serve this side. You could even allow things to cool, then combine the sauce with the florets in the baking dish, and wrap in plastic. Simply top with the breadcrumbs before baking!
Feast your eyes on these, or just jump to the recipe:
Recipe
Cauliflower Casserole
by Ingrid Beer
Print RecipeCategory: Side
Cuisine: American
Yield: Serves 8
Nutrition Info: 273 calories
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
• 4 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, divided use
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 4 ½ tablespoons flour
• 2 ½ cups milk (I use 2%)
• 1 ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided use
• Salt
• Black pepper
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• 3 pounds cauliflower florets, or cauliflower head, cut into florets
• ¼ teaspoon granulated onion
• ½ cup grated fontina cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, for garnish
-Preheat the oven to 375° and have medium-large baking dish ready on hand.
-To prepare the parmesan sauce place a medium-sized pot over medium heat; add in 2 ½ tablespoons of the butter, and once it has melted, add in the garlic, and stir until aromatic.
-Sprinkle in the flour evenly, and stir to create a roux, or a paste-like consistency; then, pour in the milk, whisking all the while to avoid lumps.
-Cook the mixture for about 5-6 minutes (whisking often), or until it comes to a vigorous simmer and thickens up.
-Whisk in a pinch or two of salt (I used 1 teaspoon total) and a pinch of pepper, and remove the sauce from the heat; add in 1 cup of the grated parmesan cheese, and whisk that in until well blended; set aside to keep warm.
-Prepare your panko topping by mixing together the panko breadcrumbs with the remaining ¼ cup of the parmesan, plus the paprika; melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and drizzle that into the mixture, mixing it together with a fork; set aside.
-Blanch the cauliflower florets in salted simmering water for about 4-5 minutes, or until slightly tender yet still crisp/firm; drain and pat dry very well.
-To assemble the cauliflower casserole, spread about 1 cup of the parmesan sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish; add in the blanched cauliflower florets, and sprinkle over them the granulated onion.
-Pour the remainder of the parmesan sauce over the seasoned cauliflower evenly, smoothing it out, then sprinkle over the fontina cheese.
-Sprinkle over the panko breadcrumb topping evening, then bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden-brown and crisp on top.
-Garnish with chopped parsley and serve!
Could you come up with a vegan version of this recipe, please? I would like to include a couple who are vegans to an upcoming dinner party and have no idea how to cook for them ????
Hi JJ, there are certainly tweaks that can make it vegan, but I honestly don't know if I'd recommend it with this particular recipe, as it heavily depends on the cheese. The cheese is what thickens things up, and makes things extra creamy and flavorful; and without the cheese, it simply is not the same.
But here are some adjustments if you still want to go ahead with this recipe:
Substitute some type of nut milk or soy milk. I personally like to sub almond milk, but you have to be certain to choose unsweetened and unflavored (!), otherwise it will taste terrible! 😉
You can also sub a non-dairy "butter" such as Earth Balance to use during the process you make the roux (thickener).
Because you'd be leaving out all the cheese, you'd need to add more flavor elsewhere, and so I'd add more garlic (double it).
To be completely honest with you, if you're wanting to prepare this particular recipe, prepare it as is. I'd make something completely different for them, something that doesn't rely heavily on the cheese component for texture/flavor.
I have many sides that are free of dairy, etc. Roasted vegetables, roasted carrots, asparagus...you'd be able to search in our menu.
I also have a mushroom stroganoff recipe on the site (with this you can more easily sub non-dairy ingredients/versions), or a stuffed acorn squash where you can leave out the meat and cheese (at least in their portions, or use a non-dairy cheese...).
Hope this helps you somewhat, whichever direction you choose to go in!
I am making this vegan by just subbing out the cheese for Vegan shredded cheese. There are so many options in store these days that its easy to swap out familiar ingredients with vegan versions!
Hi Lauren, hope you enjoy your vegan version!
Where in the recipe do you add the fontina?
Hi Karen!
You'll see that particular direction in the 9th step of the actual recipe. It will be added after you pour the sauce over the cauliflower, before you sprinkle over the panko crumbs. Hope you enjoy!
Do you have the nutritional values for this casserole?
Hi Deb, we provide the calories per serving, which can be found in the recipe portion near the yield, cook time, etc.
The calories for this recipe are 273 per serving.
Can you make this recipe a day ahead? How would you change it?
Hi Carrie, please see the "Tips & Tidbits" section in the middle of the post for that info—it's the last tip (number 5). 😉
Hope you enjoy!
Oh my! I need this in my life. Must print your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
This dish was Delicious! That said, while the primary ingredient, cauliflower, ranks low on the glycemic index and Panko and skim milk are healthier ingredient options, the amount of cheese in this recipe seemed excessive (i.e., scratching my head over a recent high-cholesterol test result). However, this recipe is now in my cooking wheelhouse. In future, I will likely dial-down the amount of cheese, consider a flour alternative, add-in some ground flax seed and finely sliced green onion.
Thanks again for sharing this recipe. You elevated cauliflower, and I successfully made this dish. My recent attempts at making cauliflower pizza crusts...no so much.
Hi Tru, glad you enjoyed the recipe so much, and have an idea of how you'd like to tailor it to your personal needs next time. 😉
Always love to know that something—especially a veggie—has been "elevated" for someone! Thanks for sharing.
Oh my this is good! I used primarily Jarlsberg because that’s what I had on hand, but I did use Parmesan in the topping. Otherwise, I followed directions exactly. I’ve tried a lot of cauliflower with cheese recipes over the years, and this one is absolutely the best. Plenty of flavor, creamy, and a nice crunchy topping. It came out perfect. Thank you for posting it.
Oh, I'm so happy to read that, Debbie! I'm honored that you find this recipe to be the best that you've tried. 😉
We made this for our Christmas dinner and oh-my-goodness, it was loaded with lots of good flavors and so delicious! I steamed a large, whole cauliflower and not too much was leftover after 8 people enjoyed it. This will probably be added to our list of must-haves.
Thanks, Ingrid - loved this one.
Roseanne, I'm thrilled this was a hit for you! So glad it was enjoyed by all. Much love!
I made this for the first time for Chrismas dinner and received rave reviews and requests for the recipe. I thought it was worth it to use fontina.
Thank you for taking some time to share your experience with the recipe! So glad it was enjoyed by all.
Can I substitute broccoli? That’s all I have on hand right now! Thanks in advance! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Julia, I don't see why not! I haven't tried it with broccoli, but I can't imagine it wouldn't give a little "oomph" to it with the cheesy sauce and topping!
Hope you enjoy!
This was delicious. Instead of adding granulated onion I just sliced up some cooking onion and mixed it in with the cauliflower before pouring the sauce over top. Will definitely make this again. Very tasty.
Hi Maureen, so glad you enjoyed. Your onion addition sounds very tasty as well, and I'm happy it worked out for you!
Thanks for commenting, and happy cooking to you!
Hello when you say grated Parmesan cheese are you talking about the powdered cheese from the can or thinly shredded Parmesan because I see some bags that say grated but it looks like shredded
Hi Logeni, phenomenal question/observation!
I do not use the powdered version (such as Kraft brand, etc that are typically next the dry pastas), but the freshly grated in the refrigerated section. It actually looks like the one from the can, that more "powdery" consistency, but it's freshly grated. I typically purchase the Whole Foods Market brand that's in the fridge in a larger square container, labeled "grated parmesan", and get organic.
So not the larger, more "shred" looking ones, but the more powdery-yet-freshly grated version. Hope that helps!