Cheesy cauliflower is the best low carb side dish. Cauliflower florets are baked with homemade cheese sauce until golden brown ton top. Perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner or the holidays!

cheesy cauliflower casserole in a white baking dish

Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables and is a fantastic low carb star that can take on many flavors.

Some of our favorite ways to eat it include cauliflower alfredo sauce, roasted frozen cauliflower, orange cauliflower, and cilantro lime cauliflower rice.

This homemade cheesy baked cauliflower is so incredibly delicious that even kids will eat their veggies!

First you start out with roasted cauliflower, then top it with a homemade easy cheese sauce, and top with a little more cheese on top to get that incredible browned cheese at the end!

spoon scooping cheesy cauliflower from the dish

Ingredients to make cheesy cauliflower

cauliflower: fresh cauliflower is best here. Frozen would not work the same way.
milk: the recipe calls for 2% milk, but whole milk would work also.
mozzarella
cheddar
cornstarch: to thicken the cheese sauce
spices (garlic, onion, basil, oregano, paprika, salt)

How to make cheesy cauliflower

Step 1: chop up one head of cauliflower into bite sized florets. Place the cauliflower into a small baking dish, and spray with olive oil spray. Bake the cauliflower at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

cauliflower florets in a white baking dish

Making the cheese sauce

Step 2: while the cauliflower is baking, it is time to make the homemade cheese sauce.

This recipe is made with cornstarch which allows it to thicken without a roux! It’s a method that we also use to make homemade cheddar cheese sauce and nacho cheese sauce.

To make the cheese sauce, simply add the milk, cornstarch, cheddar cheese, and all spices to a saucepan.

Stir with a spoon or whisk over medium heat for 5 – 10 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.

Step 3: Once the cheese sauce is done and the cauliflower has finished baking for 10 minutes, remove it from the oven. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower florets. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese and the shredded mozzarella cheese.

This extra cheese on top is what will give us those yummy browned cheesy bits on top.

collage image showing the cheese sauce poured over the cauliflower, then the shredded cheese placed on top

Step 4: Bake the cheesy cauliflower casserole at 400 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and begins to brown. Serve immediately!

If you struggle to get your kids to eat their veggies, this is a great recipe to try.

My very picky 4 year old had seconds of this and in his own words “didn’t even want to stop eating it.”

This cheesy casserole would also make a great different side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday.

More veggie side dishes

Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan
Roasted Carrots
Brussel Sprouts Gratin

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Yield: 6 servings

Cheesy Cauliflower

Name: Cheesy Cauliflower
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; ¼ teaspoon basil; ¼ teaspoon oregano; ¼ teaspoon paprika; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup 2% milk; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 8 oz block of fresh grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided; ½ cup shredded mozzarella

Easy homemade cheesy cauliflower casserole is a delicious low carb side dish for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup 2% milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
8 oz block of fresh grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
½ cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions

Place cauliflower florets in a baking dish and spray with olive oil spray
Bake the cauliflower at 400 degrees for 10 minutes
While the cauliflower is baking, make the cheese sauce.
Add the garlic powder, onion powder, basil, oregano, paprika, salt, milk, cornstarch, and 2 cups of cheddar cheese to a medium sized saucepan (you will use all of the cheddar in the sauce, except for ½ cup saved for the top of the dish)
Cook the cheese sauce over medium heat for 5 - 10 minutes, whisking or stirring often, until thickened
After the cauliflower has cooked for 10 minutes, remove it from the oven and pour the cheese sauce over the top.
Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese over the top
Bake the cheesy cauliflower at 400 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown on top and is bubbly

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 414mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 14g