Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 10 min
  • Active: 35 min
This recipe is definitely not my mom’s boiled cauliflower! Cauliflower gets a major flavor upgrade, cloaked in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with panko breadcrumbs and baked until it is hot and bubbly, for a delicious side that everyone is sure to enjoy!
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Ingredients

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 7 cups)

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 cup freshly grated pepper jack cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bring a pot of water to a boil.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add a generous pinch of salt and the cauliflower. Cook until tender but still slightly firm, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside. Mix the Parmesan, panko and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the butter to a large, high-sided pan and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the flour and whisk to incorporate the flour into the butter. Cook, whisking continuously, until the mixture is nutty smelling, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly add the milk to the pan, whisking continuously. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Whisk to combine and cook until slightly thickened and simmering. Add the pepper jack cheese and whisk to melt the cheese into the sauce. Turn the heat off.
  4. Add the drained cauliflower to the cheese sauce and stir to completely coat. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower to a 9-inch square baking dish and top with the panko mixture.
  5. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake until the cauliflower is tender and the top is slightly browned in places, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Gina W.

This was good but I had to add more seasoning as the listed amount was a little on the bland side for my taste. I didn't have pepper jack but I did have a bag of shredded ghost pepper cheese that is currently selling for a limited time at Walmart. I mixed a bit of that (and I do mean a bit) with a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and I had homemade pepper jack. I added with a few finely sliced scallions and I think that this dish could be a main with chicken added and if you substitute the cauliflower with broccoli. I'm sure I will make this again.

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