Baked cauliflower with cheese is a delicious and flavorful vegetable side dish perfect for serving with any weeknight family dinner! Cauliflower florets are tossed with olive oil and seasoning, then baked in the oven to tender perfection with cheddar cheese! Once you try it for yourself, you'll have a new favorite way to enjoy cauliflower!
Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Recipe
Baked cauliflower with cheese is the ultimate comforting side dish that will satisfy your cravings for something cheesy and delicious! Cauliflower is coated in a flavorful mixture of herbs and spices, then baked until golden brown and topped with a generous amount of melted cheese.
The cheesy goodness combined with the nutty flavor of the cauliflower will leave you craving more. So get ready to fall in love with cauliflower all over again and make this easy side dish for family dinner today!
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🥘 Baked Cauliflower With Cheese Ingredients
It only takes a handful of basic ingredients to make a vegetable dish that is so delicious! Plus, you might even have some (or most) of these ingredients already!
- Cauliflower - 2 heads of cauliflower (*see notes).
- Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin).
- Garlic Powder- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Dried Parsley - ½ teaspoon of dried parsley (or you can use a dried parsley substitute).
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of each, salt & pepper (to taste).
- Cheddar Cheese - 1 cup of cheddar cheese (shredded, sharp cheddar is best, or use Colby).
- Mozzarella Cheese - ½ cup of mozzarella cheese (shredded, or use Swiss cheese or Monterey Jack).
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Baked Cauliflower With Cheese
Baked cauliflower with cheese is a beginner-friendly vegetable side dish that only takes 10 minutes of prep work! To get started, take out a 9X13 baking dish, a large mixing bowl, and some measuring utensils.
This tasty baked cauliflower recipe will make around 6 servings! There's plenty for everyone to have a portion for dinner.
- Preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
- Prep cauliflower. Wash the 2 heads of cauliflower heads and pull or chop them into florets. Place the cauliflower in a large mixing bowl and add the 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and seasoning (1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper).
- Season. Toss the cauliflower with oil and seasoning until the florets are evenly coated, then transfer it into your prepared baking dish. Arrange the florets so that they make an even layer.
- Bake. Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 20 minutes, then remove the dish and stir the cauliflower florets to turn them for even cooking. Top the partially cooked cauliflower with 1 cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup mozzarella cheese, then return to the oven.
- Serve. Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes more or until the cauliflower reaches your desired level of tenderness. Remove from the oven when done, and serve immediately.
One of the best things about cauliflower is its versatility! You can easily pair this cheesy vegetable side dish with any of your favorite proteins, like baked boneless chicken breasts, baked chuck steak, or baked monkfish! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- The average medium-sized head of cauliflower is approximately 4-6 pounds and yields about 3-4 cups of florets.
- For a nice golden brown cheesy layer, broil on high for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time.
- Let the cauliflower cool for a few minutes before serving to prevent the cheese from sliding off, if desired.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Place your leftover baked cauliflower in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
Allow your baked cauliflower to cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe container. Store in your freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the reheating instructions.
Reheating Baked Cauliflower With Cheese
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place your leftovers in a baking dish and reheat in the oven for 5-10 minutes (if not frozen), 20-30 minutes (frozen), or heated through to your liking.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You can use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh if you'd like. Allow the cauliflower florets to completely thaw and drain them thoroughly before they are ready to start cooking.
Yes! You can prepare this recipe ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2-3 days until you're ready to bake it! Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before baking so that your cauliflower cooks evenly. Also, it's important to note that cauliflower may release some moisture as it sits, so you might need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Of course! You can add other vegetables to this recipe to customize it to your liking. Broccoli, carrots, and zucchini are all great options that pair well with cheese!
😋 More Tasty Cauliflower Recipes
- Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower - This easy cheese sauce is a great way to transform all of your favorite vegetables into an irresistible side dish!
- Cauliflower Ham Pasta Casserole - Any time you have some leftover ham that you need to use, go ahead and make this easy and delicious casserole!
- Microwave Cauliflower - Steaming cauliflower in the microwave is the best way to get a quick side dish going for your busy weeknight dinners!
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese - All of your favorite mac and cheese flavors are in this recipe; only it's made with cauliflower florets instead of pasta!
- Creamy Cauliflower Ham Soup - This creamy and delicious cauliflower ham soup is perfect for those chilly fall and winter evenings!
- Red Miso Roasted Cauliflower - Red miso roasted cauliflower is a tasty Asian-inspired side dish that's ready to serve in 30 minutes!
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📖 Recipe Card
Baked Cauliflower With Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 heads cauliflower (*see notes)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded, sharp cheddar is best, or use Colby)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded, or use Swiss cheese or Monterey Jack)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
- Wash the cauliflower heads and pull or chop them into florets. Place the cauliflower in a large mixing bowl and add the extra virgin olive oil and seasoning (garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and ground black pepper).
- Toss the cauliflower with oil and seasoning until the florets are evenly coated, then transfer into your prepared baking dish. Arrange the florets so that they make an even layer.
- Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 20 minutes, then remove the dish and stir the cauliflower florets to turn them for even cooking. Top the partially cooked cauliflower with the cheese and return to the oven.
- Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes more or until the cauliflower reaches your desired level of tenderness. Remove from the oven when done, and serve immediately.
Notes
- The average medium-sized head of cauliflower is approximately 4-6 pounds and yields about 3-4 cups of florets.
- For a nice golden brown cheesy layer, broil on high for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time.
- Let the cauliflower cool for a few minutes before serving to prevent the cheese from sliding off, if desired.
- To store: Place your leftover baked cauliflower in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
- To freeze: Allow your baked cauliflower to completely cool then place it in a freezer-safe container. Store in your freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the reheating instructions.
- To reheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place your leftovers in a baking dish and reheat in the oven for 5-10 minutes (if not frozen), 20-30 minutes (frozen), or heated through to your liking.
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