Cauliflower au Gratin with Pepper Jack Cheese is an easy-to-make savory side dish. You can put together this fantastic dish with tiny effort.
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Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
Cauliflower is an excellent vegetable that is hearty and one that most everyone loves. I have been taking classes to become a chef this spring. Gratins are a dish that we make a lot of.
I wanted to update a classic French dish and make it with just a bit of spice. Pepper Jack cheese adds just a little bit of heat with the peppers that are in the cheese.
If you do not like Pepper Jack cheese you could use cheddar or Swiss cheese as either will work very well.
I like to make this baked cauliflower gratin and serve it with a roast. I also use it as a side dish with chicken, pork, turkey, or ham. I think it holds up well to a hearty meat dish.
Cauliflower au Gratin is low carb and keto friendly.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cauliflower
- Salt
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Pepper Jack cheese
Baked Cauliflower Gratin is Easy to Make
I think you will be amazed at how easy it is to make this easy side dish. You could use this same technique to make potato gratin or any other vegetable side dish.
How to Make Cauliflower au Gratin
If you have never made a gratin before, it is a very easy dish to make.
- Cut the cauliflower into florets.
- Cook the cauliflower in boiling salted water until it is tender but firm.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
- Add the flour and cook it for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring as it cooks.
- Slowly add milk, stirring as the milk is added.
- After the milk is added, add half of the cheese. Stir until it has melted.
- Place the cooked cauliflower in a casserole dish.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over the cauliflower.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned.
Enjoy Cauliflower? Try these recipes!
Favorite Side Dish Recipes
- Baked Red Potatoes
- Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Copper Pennies Recipe
- Cornmeal Mush
- Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
- Green Bean Bundles
- How to Cook Cabbage
- How to Cook Dried Black Beans
- Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Check out more of my easy side dish recipes and the best low carb dinner recipes here on CopyKat!
Cauliflower au Gratin with Pepper Jack Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 pounds cauliflower
- salt for cooking cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 8 ounces Pepper Jack cheese (divided use)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut cauliflower into florets.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add cauliflower and cook until it is tender but firm, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, start the cheese sauce.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan.
- When the butter has melted completely, add the flour.
- Cook the flour for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring or whisking as it cooks.
- Slowly begin to add milk, whisking or stirring as the milk is added. The sauce should thicken with each addition of milk.
- After the milk is added, add 4 ounces of cheese. Stir until it melts completely.
- Place the cooked cauliflower in a large casserole dish.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower.
- Sprinkle remaining 4 ounces of cheese over the cauliflower.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. The gratin is done when the cheese is slightly browned.
Deb
Looks great! Have been looking for a recipe for cauliflower and this looks delicious! I will try it for sure. Thanks you!
Melissa
Just made this. It was delish and with 30 Calorie Almond Milk. Just wish there was some nutrtional facts.
Stephanie
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. I’ll see what I can do about adding nutritional facts at some point in the future.
Stacey
This sounds amazing! Sharing on Facebook tomorrow. 🙂
Platt College
This dish is a great alternative for potatoes o’graten. Love the recipe! Low carb too!
Langshaw Lifestyle
My twin and I love unique recipes using cauliflower. I might try this using my unsweetened Almond Milk. Thanks for sharing!
Best,
G
Stephanie
Thank you for your suggestion.
Shana J.Eaton
For RAW cauliflower, it will take more than 2-3 minutes. If you use frozen cauliflower, for when you’re in a hurry, it takes less time.
Stephanie
Great tip 😉 I am typically buy bags of it at Costco if I don’t bread down a head.
Emily
This looks so good! I think even my kids would eat this! It is so hard to get them to eat vegetables, but this looks really yummy!
Stephanie
Well that is quite a compliment. I know kids can be pretty picky.
Tonya C
You had me at cheese! What a great way to get my kids to eat cauliflower! Thanks for the idea.
Stephanie
Pepper Jack adds just the right amount of heat!
Claudia Krusch
I would love this! Pepper jack is one of my favorites!! I wonder what meals I could pair it with….we don’t eat enough cauliflower!
Latasha
This was so good and easy. I used frozen cauli and it worked perfectly. Love that I didn’t need to dirty the food processor for this. Thanks for sharing Stephanie!
Autumn
I posted a request for cauliflower recipes today so this is perfect. I can’t wait to make!
Liz Mays
Mmm, I think I’d like this! Pepper jack is one of my favorites. I wonder what meals I could pair this with!
Alicia
Wow – this looks fabulous! My husband loves cauliflower. I’ll be making this often, I’m sure!
PAM
GONNA FIX THIS SOON. SOUNDS DELICIOUS!! THANKS!
PAM
Lois Alter Mark
This looks so good! And it’s a delicious way to eat your veggies!
Eileen Ross
Hi Stephanie!
You remind me so much of my daughter, Tracy. Same beautiful red hair, smile, etc. Loveya, but love her a wee bit more!
Eileen Ross
Helene Cohen Bludman
Yum! I bet my family would enjoy this.
Tamara
Gorgeous, and healthy! I love pepper jack cheese. I usually just use butter, but you have convinced me to take it up a notch.
Ashley @Irishred02
I love anything cheesy. This looks great, I am going to make this later!
Jeanette Schmidt
This makes me wish I still did cheese…Whoa,wait a minute. I still do from time to time, don’t I? I am so making this! 🙂
Stephanie
You could omit the cheese, and flavor the sauce with some fresh herbs. Of course that assumes you still do dairy in general.