Cauliflower Casserole

Cauliflower is one of my all time favorite vegetables. It’s inexpensive, available year round, packed with nutrition, and pairs will with so many different flavors. This cauliflower casserole has it all – fork tender vegetables, smoky bacon and plenty of cheese.

Try this casserole for the Thanksgiving or Christmas and enjoy it with a spiral ham, Cajun turkey or honey glazed ham. If you’re making a holiday meal, don’t forget the pecan pie cheesecake for dessert!

Cauliflower Casserole Ingredients

To make this delicious cauliflower casserole you will need cooked cauliflower florets, butter, minced garlic, flour, whole milk, grated parmesan cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, green onions, salt and black pepper.

• Cauliflower: Cauliflower is the heart of this dish so you want to find nice fresh cauliflower with an even white color without brown spots or blemishes. You want firm cauliflower that is not soft or mushy. Avoid cauliflower that has a strong smell.
• Butter: I use butter for this dish to make a roux and give a rich flavor to the cheese sauce.
• Cheese: The cheese sauce is what makes this dish so wonderful. I use cheddar cheese to build the base of the cheese sauce with parmesan cheese to give the sauce a little extra salty, savory flavor.
• Green Onions: Look for green onions that are a nice green color and firm. I think green onions with a smaller width tend to chop better and hold up better in this casserole.
• Bacon: You will need cooked and crumbled bacon for this casserole. I typically use cooking shears to cut raw bacon into small squares and then cook those squares in a pan until crisp.

How To Cook Cauliflower

You’ll need to cook your cauliflower for this casserole, and there are a few different techniques you can use. I typically just blanch my cauliflower, but any of these methods will work just fine. Keep in mind that the cauliflower will continue to cook as it bakes in the casserole, so be careful not to overcook it initially!

• Blanch: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4 minutes or until just tender. Drain the cauliflower and place it in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Pat dry, then proceed with the casserole.
• Steam: Heat 1 inch of water to boiling salted water in a shallow pan. Add the cauliflower in a single layer. Cover the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes or until cauliflower is just tender. Remove the cauliflower from the pan.
• Roast: Heat your oven to 425 degrees F. Coat the cauliflower florets with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the florets on a greased sheet pan in a single layer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until tender.

How Do You Make Cauliflower Casserole?

To make this cauliflower casserole recipe, first make sure you have cooked cauliflower and bacon then preheat your oven.

Next, prepare a cheese sauce by mixing together butter, garlic and flour to make a roux. Add milk and whisk constantly until the sauce mixture thickens. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese.

Toss your cooked cauliflower with the cheese sauce. Add some cooked bacon bits and green onions, then pour the cauliflower mixture into a prepared casserole dish. Add a layer of shredded cheese, then bake until golden brown.

The finishing touch is an additional sprinkle of bacon and green onions. All that’s left is to serve and enjoy!