• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bake It With Love

  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Sauces

Last Updated: Feb 14, 2023 by Angela Latimer · 4 Comments

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Jump to Recipe
Pin image with text of cauliflower covered with cheese sauce.

This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!

Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe

If you're looking for a way to get your picky eaters to actually enjoy their veggies, my homemade cheese sauce for cauliflower is the one for you! It's rich and flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the creamy cheese texture will have everyone wanting seconds!

This super easy sauce will definitely take all of your favorite vegetable side dishes to the next level! All you have to do is mix a handful of common ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low heat until the cheese melts.

Square image of cauliflower covered with cheese sauce.
This tasty cheese sauce for cauliflower is easy to whip up and ready to serve in 15 minutes!
Jump to:
  • Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe
  • 🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower
  • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients

This ingredient list is full of common items that you may already have in your refrigerator and pantry! Always make sure to use grated cheese over cubed cheese for the best results.

Tall image showing ingredients needed for cheese sauce.
  • Butter - 2 tablespoons of butter.
  • All-Purpose Flour - 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
  • Whole Milk - 1 cup of whole milk.
  • Cheddar Cheese - 1 ¼ cup of cheddar cheese (grated).
  • Parmesan Cheese - ½ cup of Parmesan cheese (grated).
  • Onion Powder - ¼ teaspoon of onion powder.
  • Salt & Pepper - each, salt & pepper (optional, to taste).

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Cheese sauce for cauliflower is incredibly easy and quick to prepare! To begin, take out a medium-sized saucepan, a silicone whisk, and some measuring spoons.

This homemade cheese sauce recipe yields around 8 servings! There is more than enough for dinner, plus you might even have some left over to enjoy for lunch the next day!

Process image 1 showing butter melting.
Process image 2 showing added flour.
Process image 3 showing whisking roux.
Process image 4 showing adding milk.
Process image 5 showing adding seasoning.
Process image 6 showing adding cheese.
  1. Melt butter. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.
  2. Mix. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.
  3. Add milk. Add the 1 cup of milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.
  4. Add ingredients. Reduce the heat to low then add in the 1 ¼ cups of cheddar cheese, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, and ¼ teaspoon of onion powder.
  5. Stir mixture. Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.
  6. Serve. Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Cheese sauce for cauliflower tastes amazing on my microwave cauliflower! I like to also pour it over baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, air fryer asparagus, or on top of some nachos. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
Wide image of cauliflower covered with cheese sauce.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the refrigerator.

You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months.

Thaw your frozen cheese sauce overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

Why Is My Cheese Sauce Not Creamy?

If this is happening, it's most likely because you have the heat turned up too high. Cheese sauce should never be rushed and needs to be cooked on low heat. If the heat is too hot, you can run into the sauce splitting and having a grainy texture.

Can I Use Other Cheeses For This Cheese Sauce Recipe?

Absolutely! There are many other choices that would taste delicious too. Gruyere, fontina, and Havarti cheese all melt very well, or you can try a flavored cheddar cheese like habanero or garlic herb! In place of the Parmesan cheese, you could use Asiago or Romano!

Why Does My Cheese Sauce Taste Like Flour?

Your sauce tastes like flour because the roux didn't cook long enough before adding in the milk. Next time, try cooking the butter and flour mixture until it starts turning a golden color, then start adding in the milk.

Tall image of cauliflower covered with cheese sauce.

😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes

  • Blue Cheese Steak Sauce - This sauce is full of rich and bold flavors that will complement your favorite cut of steak!
  • Big Mac Sauce - My homemade Big Mac sauce is a tried and true recipe that is perfect for burgers, fries, and salads!
  • Mild Buffalo Sauce - If you love mild wings, then you'll love how easy and delicious this recipe is!
  • Burger Sauce - Take your burgers to the next level with this sauce that is made with mayo, mustard, ketchup, sweet pickles, and seasonings!
  • Sweet & Sour Sauce - This sauce has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors that will pair well with tempura-fried chicken, pork, or shrimp!
  • Cajun Dipping Sauce - My homemade Cajun sauce has a flavorful kick from a dash of hot sauce and Cajun seasonings!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Wide image of cauliflower covered with cheese sauce.
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
4.93 from 27 reviews

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 146kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 15 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 ¼ cup cheddar cheese (grated)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (optional, to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (optional, to taste)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.
  • Pour in the all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.
  • Add the milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.
  • Reduce the heat to low then add in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and onion powder.
  • Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.
  • Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
  • To store: To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the container.
  • To freeze: You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
  • To reheat: Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg (11%) | Sodium: 248mg (11%) | Potassium: 67mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 363IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 237mg (24%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Condiments, Sauces
Cuisine American
« Pan Seared Wahoo Saku Block
Sous Vide Lamb Chops »

Share This Recipe!

  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.93 from 27 votes (24 ratings without comment)

    Thanks for coming! Ask anything - or let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Tammy Miller says

    February 03, 2025 at 8:52 pm

    5 stars
    Easy recipe. Very, very good.

    Reply
  2. Jackie says

    March 24, 2024 at 7:22 pm

    3 stars
    My sauce was not grainy, it had a cheesy flavor. But it was too thick. I followed the recipe exactly.

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      March 25, 2024 at 7:59 am

      Drizzle a small amount of milk or cream in and stir or whisk to combine. Adjust to your preferences as needed. Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Sue Armbruster says

    February 25, 2024 at 12:48 pm

    5 stars
    This was terrific. I'll never buy a can of cheddar soup again.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Author bio photo with cake.

Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

More About Me ->

Grilling Recipes

  • Tasty, easy cookout food ideas to make and feed a crowd this summer.
    Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout

  • Square image of sliced Arrachera steak on a cutting board.
    Arrachera (Mexican Steak for Tacos)

  • Square image of sliced Denver steak on a cutting board.
    Denver Steak

  • Square image of grilled ostrich steaks.
    Grilled Ostrich Steaks

  • Square image of grilled pineapple.
    Grilled Pineapple

  • Square image of sliced grilled skirt steak.
    Grilled Skirt Steak

See more Grilled →

Tasty Dinner Ideas

  • A square collage of four images showing easy summer crockpot meals including tender London broil pot roast, green beans and potatoes, grape jelly meatballs, and pork carnitas tacos.
    Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas

  • Panda Express honey sesame chicken copycat recipe plated with rice and garnished with more white sesame seeds.
    Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken

  • A square image showing a bowl of tender wok fried marinated chicken with celery, onions, and black pepper sauce.
    Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken

  • Best leftover lobster recipes page image featuring four favorite dishes in a square collage.
    Leftover Lobster Recipes

  • Square collage image featuring 4 tasty recipes using leftover hard boiled eggs.
    Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes

  • Spider taco ring on baking sheet with taco toppings in the body and sliced olives for eyes.
    Spider Taco Crescent Ring

See more Main Dish →

Footer

As Seen On

As seen on these popular sites: Mashed, Tasting Table, Parade, MSN, Yahoo, Delish, The Pioneer Woman, Today, Taste of Home, and more.

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet The Team
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Accessibility Statement

Recipes

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Breakfasts
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Videos
  • Articles

AI-Free

Everything on Bake It With Love is created by me, where I share my experiences, with help from my team members and family.

I promise that BIWL is 100% free of AI content.

Get Social

Visit us on your favorite social media platforms!

Copyright © 2016-2025 Bake It With Love

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.