Cauliflower Cheese (Roast Dinner Side Dish)

Cauliflower cheese is the perfect side dish for any roast dinner! It's easy to make, and it's a great way to get your family to eat their vegetables. We will show you how to make cauliflower cheese step-by-step.

Our homemade cheese sauce, made from scratch, really takes this classic vegetable side up a notch. Making it extra cheesy, creamy and bold in flavour.

It is also a great way to use leftover cheeses from a cheese board or Christmas cheeses.

Check out the video to see how to make cauliflower cheese step-by-step. Serve a meal that your entire family will enjoy. 

Or jump straight to what you need to know to make homemade cauliflower cheese. We also have a similar cauliflower and broccoli cheese recipe you may like to try.

Jump to:

• History
• Ingredients
• Optional Extras
• Instructions
• Cooking Time
• Equipment
• Serving Instructions
• 📖 Step by Step Recipe
• Storage Advice
• FAQs
• More Roast Dinner Side Dishes
• More Cheese Recipes
• 💬 Reviews

History

Cauliflower cheese is an iconic British side dish or vegetarian main meal. It first appeared in cookbooks as early as the 17th century. It has since been popularized throughout Europe.

The cauliflower cheese dish typically consists of cauliflower florets cooked in a cheese sauce. It is typically served as a side dish for roast beef, air fryer chicken or roast pork. Or with the traditional British Christmas dinner, Roast Turkey.

Ingredients

The ingredients for cauliflower cheese include cheese, cauliflower florets, butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper to taste.

We like to add mustard, nutmeg and breadcrumbs too, but these are optional.

The ingredient measurements needed for this recipe are included in the recipe card.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is the star of this delicious cauliflower cheese recipe.

It is a versatile vegetable that can be cooked and served in many ways, including steaming, boiling and roasting.

While cauliflower may not have the same tasty appeal as other vegetables. Its mild taste and crunchy texture make it excellent for adding a cheesy sauce to.

White sauce

You can buy a white sauce packet mix. But making your own white sauce is quick and easy using the following ingredients.

Butter

Butter is important in creating a roux for white sauce when making cauliflower cheese.

A roux is a thickening agent made with equal parts of fat and flour, which is used to create the velvety smooth cheese sauce that cauliflower cheese calls for.

Flour

Plain flour is added to butter to create a roux.

Milk

Milk is added to the roux to create a smooth, creamy sauce.

Cheese

The type of cheese used will vary depending on your personal preference and what you have available.

Using two different kinds of cheese to create a thick sauce for cauliflower cheese can take this side dish up a notch and make it extra flavourful and creamy.

We suggest using a strong-flavoured cheese such as mature cheddar for its intense, nutty, salty flavour, and a softer cheese like gouda for its smooth texture .

The ultimate combination of these two kinds of cheese in your sauce will give you an incredibly rich and creamy texture.

The sharpness of the cheddar balancing out the mellow sweetness of the gouda. 

If you prefer something milder, try combining mild or medium cheddar cheese with parmesan.

Gruyere is another fantastic melting cheese with a nutty, earthy flavour. Swiss cheese such as Emmental, will give you an even nuttier depth of flavour.

Red Leicester will add a lovely colour to the topping. If you like blue cheese, this will add a fantastic strong salty taste.

You can change the cheeses to suit your preferences. Its also a great way to use up some of your leftover Christmas cheeses.

Optional Extras

Here are a few extra optional ingredients to make this recipe even better!

Mustard

Adding mustard to the cheese sauce gives cauliflower cheese a wonderful kick of flavour. While also providing a delicious contrast to the sharpness of the cheese.

The creamy, yet tart and slightly sweet flavours of dijon mustard are perfect for adding complexity to the dish without overwhelming it.

You can try other mustards like English mustard for a more fiery kick or mustard powder for a milder taste.

Breadcrumbs

For an extra layer of texture, you can add some breadcrumbs to the topping, which also adds a nice crunch and a golden brown crumb to this cheese fest. You can use dried breadcrumbs or make your own. We used panko breadcrumbs.

Herbs and Spices

Consider adding some herbs or spices to the sauce or sprinkled on top of the cauliflower cheese to give an aromatic boost.

Nutmeg

A pinch of ground nutmeg in the sauce will add a subtle aromatic taste to cauliflower cheese.

Basil

Adds a sweet yet savoury fresh flavour to cauliflower cheese, add fresh chopped leaves once cooked.

Thyme

Gives a herby lemon flavour with a slightly minty taste, can be added to the sauce or sprinkled on top.

Parsley

Freshens up the cauliflower cheese topping and adds a lovely pop of colour.

Chives

An onion-flavoured herb that gives cauliflower cheese a little delightful zing, sprinkle some on top or add to the sauce.

Garlic

A strong and pungent herb that adds depth to the cheese sauce.

Cayenne Pepper

A spicy yet sweet spice that is perfect for cauliflower cheese. Adds a little heat to the sauce while also tempering the sharpness of the cheese.

In short, there are many different ways you can enhance cauliflower cheese with various ingredients and spices.

Instructions

To make cauliflower cheese, chop up a head of cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Prepare Cauliflower

Boil cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for about 5 minutes. Until they are tender but still a bit firm. Drain and allow to air dry.

Preheat the oven 200°C/ 220°C/ 425°F/Gas Mark 7.

How to make a Cheese Sauce

Prepare your cheese sauce by melting butter in a large pan over medium low heat. Once melted, whisk in flour small bits at a time stirring constantly, to form a roux (smooth paste). Cook for a minute, do not allow it to turn brown.

Gradually add the milk, little splashes at a time constantly whisking between each addition to remove lumps.

Once all the remaining milk has been added add any flavouring you wish to the sauce (sauces, herbs or spices). We added dijon mustard and a pinch of nutmeg.

Bring the mixture to a boil until it thickens slightly. Reduce heat to a simmer and add your chosen cheese, stirring it in until it melts.

Mix in salt and black pepper to taste.

Place the drained boiled cauliflower into a baking dish and pour the cheese sauce over the top until evenly coated.

Cauliflower Cheese Topping

Top with a generous amount of grated cheese and breadcrumbs (if using).

Cooking Time

Pop the cauliflower cheese into the oven at 200°C/ 220°C/ 425°F/ Gas Mark 7 for about 25 minutes, the cheese on top will melt, turning golden brown and bubbly.

Equipment

For this cheesy vegetable recipe, you will need a large saucepan or pot for cooking the cauliflower and a strainer or colander to air dry it once cooked.

Use a whisk or wooden spoon to make the sauce in a large pan, and a 10 inch (26cm) round baking dish to bake the cauliflower cheese in the oven.

Serving Instructions

Serve hot as a side dish for your next roast dinner, or alongside vegetables and bread as a vegetarian main meal.

Whether you’re looking for a recipe to serve alongside your roast lamb, turkey crown, Saddle of Lamb, rolled rib of beef or honey roast gammon, cauliflower cheese is a perfect choice.

Seen here served with red cabbage, beef brisket, air fryer carrots and roasted baby potatoes. Why not make some sage and onion stuffing and homemade Yorkshire puddings.

📖 Step by Step Recipe

Check out this close-up of our creamy, cheesy Cauliflower Cheese.

Storage Advice

Cauliflower cheese can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days, though it is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven.

To reheat, simply pop it back in the oven at 200°C/ 220°C/ 425°F/ Gas Mark 7. Until bubbly and golden brown.

Alternatively, you can also microwave cauliflower cheese on medium heat (on a microwaveable plate) for a few minutes until warmed through.

FAQs

More Roast Dinner Side Dishes

Looking for more side dishes that are perfect for roast dinners. Some popular options include mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. Or check out some of the below.

Whether you're cooking cauliflower cheese as a side dish for your next roast dinner, or making it as a hearty vegetarian main meal. This simple and delicious recipe is sure to become a family favourite.

More Cheese Recipes

With its rich and creamy cheese sauce, this classic dish is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters! So why not try making cauliflower cheese for your next family dinner?