Best Cauliflower Casserole
This Cauliflower Casserole recipe is creamy and cheesy with a buttery, crispy breadcrumb topping. It turns cauliflower into a crave-worthy side dish, done in 30 minutes.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 8 cups cauliflower florets (2 lbs, about large head)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar divided
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne optional
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 slices cooked bacon crumbled, optional
- 1 finely sliced green onion optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly grease an 8×11 or 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook 3 to 4 minutes until just tender. Drain well and let steam dry in the colander.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Sprinkle in flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, 1 cup cheddar, Parmesan, Dijon, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using.
- Fold in cauliflower and pour into the baking dish, or add cauliflower to the dish and fold sauce in there. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.
- Stir panko with olive oil and remaining 1 cup cheddar. Sprinkle over top.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until bubbling and golden. Rest 5 minutes. Top with bacon and green onion if using.
Notes
Let florets dry in the colander for a few minutes after boiling so the casserole stays creamy, not watery.
Freshly grated cheese melts smoother than pre-shredded.
For extra crunch, broil 1 to 2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
If the cooking water was not well salted, add a pinch of salt to the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 623IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 369mg | Iron: 1mg