Easy Cauliflower au Gratin Recipe
Cauliflower gratin has everything I want in a great side dish — it’s quick to assemble, can be made with pre-chopped bags of cauliflower florets for even easier prep, and it’s packed with two types of cheese. It’s a hearty casserole disguised as an elegant side dish. I mean, it’s essentially baked cauliflower with a creamy cheese sauce that’s presented in a pretty way. Not that I’m complaining whatsoever! Any recipe that gets my whole family to eat their vegetables and takes just 15 minutes of active prep time to whip up is wonderful by me. It’s a great weeknight dinner side especially when the weather turns chillier. But it’s also a wonderful side dish to add to your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinner! As written, the recipe comfortably feeds six people as a side dish, but you’re welcome to double the recipe if you’re expecting additional company this holiday season.
What Is Cauliflower au Gratin?
Cauliflower gratin is essentially a baked cauliflower cheese casserole that’s made with fresh cauliflower florets tossed in a creamy homemade cheesy sauce and covered with a crispy panko breadcrumb topping. The term “au gratin” is French for “with a crust”. Generally speaking, any dish with the label “au gratin” attached to it means it’s been topped with breadcrumbs and / or cheese and then baked. Because I can’t resist cheese, and because I like to think of this as more of a special occasion side dish, I topped this easy cauliflower gratin recipe with both Gruyere AND Parmesan cheese.
Cauliflower Gratin Ingredients
Don’t let the “au gratin” title fool you into thinking this cauliflower cheese bake is in any way complicated or requires special ingredients. It’s actually the complete opposite! You’ll need the following easy-to-find ingredients to make this recipe:
Cauliflower florets Olive oil Seasoning salt – If you don’t have seasoning salt on hand, I would use 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt plus 1/2 to 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Butter All-purpose flour Milk (whole milk is best) Salt Fresh thyme Grated nutmeg Gruyere cheese (or Swiss cheese) Panko breadcrumbs – AKA Japanese breadcrumbs; Do NOT use regular Italian-style breadcrumbs Grated Parmesan cheese
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Cauliflower Gratin
This is a straightforward recipe, but there are few different steps to it. The cauliflower has to be roasted before being coated in the homemade creamy cheese sauce and then baked again together. Here’s an overview of how this recipe comes together:
More Easy Holiday Casseroles:
Creamed Corn Casserole — 🌽😋💛 The EASIEST holiday side dish you’ll ever make! This CREAMY corn casserole is a simple stir-and-bake affair that can be made in advance! In the freezer: I don’t think the casserole would freeze well since it’s made with a cheese sauce and then you will have to contend with the potential mushy nature of frozen-and-thawed cauliflower. To reheat: I reheat leftovers in the microwave, but you can also warm servings in a 350ºF oven in about 10 minutes. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Cheesy Funeral Potatoes — This casserole is creamy, CHEESY, and topped with crunchy Corn Flakes! Just 10 minutes of active prep time make this one of the EASIEST casseroles ever! The Best Green Bean Casserole — A fresher take on classic green bean casserole! No processed soups nor canned ingredients and instead made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, red onions, and a cheesy crispy breadcrumb topping that will have the whole family going back for seconds! Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing — Nothing frilly or trendy in this recipe. It’s a classic, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!! Simple ingredients with stellar results! It’ll be your new go-to recipe!! Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping — This is the BEST sweet potato casserole ever!! The sweet potatoes are tender and creamy, while the streusel topping adds a delightful buttery crunch thanks to the pecans!
