Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 3 Comments

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This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!

Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe

If you're looking for a way to get your picky eaters to actually enjoy their veggies, my homemade cheese sauce for cauliflower is the one for you! It's rich and flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the creamy cheese texture will have everyone wanting seconds!

This super easy sauce will definitely take all of your favorite vegetable side dishes to the next level! All you have to do is mix a handful of common ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low heat until the cheese melts.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (1)
Jump to:
  • Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Recipe
  • 🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

🥘 Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower Ingredients

This ingredient list is full of common items that you may already have in your refrigerator and pantry! Always make sure to use grated cheese over cubed cheese for the best results.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2)
  • Butter - 2tablespoons ofbutter.
  • All-Purpose Flour - 2tablespoons ofall-purpose flour.
  • Whole Milk - 1cup of whole milk.
  • Cheddar Cheese - 1 ¼cup ofcheddar cheese(grated).
  • Parmesan Cheese - ½cupof Parmesan cheese(grated).
  • Onion Powder - ¼teaspoon ofonion powder.
  • Salt & Pepper - each, salt & pepper(optional, to taste).

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Cheese sauce for cauliflower is incredibly easy and quick to prepare! To begin, take out a medium-sized saucepan, a silicone whisk, and some measuring spoons.

This homemade cheese sauce recipe yields around 8 servings! There is more than enough for dinner, plus you might even have some left over to enjoy for lunch the next day!

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (3)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (4)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (5)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (6)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (7)
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (8)
  1. Melt butter. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.
  2. Mix. Pour in the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.
  3. Add milk. Add the 1 cup of milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.
  4. Add ingredients. Reduce the heat to low then add in the 1 ¼ cups of cheddar cheese, ½cup of Parmesan cheese, and ¼teaspoon of onion powder.
  5. Stir mixture. Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.
  6. Serve. Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Cheese sauce for cauliflower tastes amazing on my microwave cauliflower! I like to also pour it over baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, air fryer asparagus, or on top of some nachos. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (9)

🥡 Storing & Reheating

To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the refrigerator.

You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months.

Thaw your frozen cheese sauce overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

Why Is My Cheese Sauce Not Creamy?

If this is happening, it's most likely because you have the heat turned up too high. Cheese sauce should never be rushed and needs to be cooked on low heat. If the heat is too hot, you can run into the sauce splitting and having a grainy texture.

Can I Use Other Cheeses For This Cheese Sauce Recipe?

Absolutely! There are many other choices that would taste delicious too. Gruyere, fontina, and Havarti cheese all melt very well, or you can try a flavored cheddar cheese like habanero or garlic herb! In place of the Parmesan cheese, you could use Asiago or Romano!

Why Does My Cheese Sauce Taste Like Flour?

Your sauce tastes like flour because the roux didn't cook long enough before adding in the milk. Next time, try cooking the butter and flour mixture until it starts turning a golden color, then start adding in the milk.

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (10)

😋 More Tasty Sauce Recipes

  • Blue Cheese Steak Sauce - This sauce is full of rich and bold flavors that will complement your favorite cut of steak!
  • Big Mac Sauce - My homemade Big Mac sauce is a tried and true recipe that is perfect for burgers, fries, and salads!
  • Mild Buffalo Sauce - If you love mild wings, then you'll love how easy and delicious this recipe is!
  • Burger Sauce - Take your burgers to the next level with this sauce that is made with mayo, mustard, ketchup, sweet pickles, and seasonings!
  • - This sauce has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors that will pair well with tempura-fried chicken, pork, or shrimp!
  • Cajun Dipping Sauce - My homemade Cajun sauce has a flavorful kick from a dash of hot sauce and Cajun seasonings!

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📖 Recipe Card

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (11)

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4.92 from 25 reviews

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower

This cheese sauce for cauliflower is a quick and easy condiment that transforms vegetables into an irresistible side dish! Cheddar and Parmesan cheese are combined with whole milk, butter, and seasoning for a delightfully rich and creamy texture. Plus, it's the perfect way to convince picky eaters to try their veggies!

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 146kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 ¼ cup cheddar cheese (grated)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (optional, to taste)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat on your stovetop.

  • Pour in the all-purpose flour then use a silicone whisk and mix to create a roux. *The roux should start to become thick.

  • Add the milk in small increments at a time and continue mixing until all of the milk is in the mixture. Whisk until it reaches a smooth consistency and there are no longer any clumps present.

  • Reduce the heat to low then add in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and onion powder.

  • Stir the mixture until the cheese is completely melted, then remove your saucepan from the heat. Mix in the optional salt & pepper to taste, if using.

  • Immediately serve over your prepared cauliflower.

Notes

  • This recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
  • If you'd like to add some heat to this sauce, you can add in some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • You can substitute the cheddar cheese for any of your favorite white cheeses if you desire. Make sure that the cheese is grated (not cubed) so that it will melt quickly.
  • To store: To store your leftover cheese sauce, pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the fridge for up to 7 days. Allow the sauce to completely cool before you put it into the container.
  • To freeze: You can either store your cheese sauce in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag (with no excess air) in the freezer for up to 6 months. For the best flavor and texture results, enjoy within the first 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
  • To reheat: Reheat the cheese sauce in a saucepan over low heat until it is heated through to your liking. If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg (11%) | Sodium: 248mg (11%) | Potassium: 67mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 363IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 237mg (24%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Best Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower, Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower, cheesy sauce, easy cheese sauce

Course Condiments, Sauces

Cuisine American

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (12)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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Comments

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  1. Jackie says

    Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (17)
    My sauce was not grainy, it had a cheesy flavor. But it was too thick. I followed the recipe exactly.

    Reply

    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      Drizzle a small amount of milk or cream in and stir or whisk to combine. Adjust to your preferences as needed. Thanks!

      Reply

  2. Sue Armbruster says

    Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (18)
    This was terrific. I'll never buy a can of cheddar soup again.

    Reply

Cheese Sauce For Cauliflower: A Quick, Easy, & Tasty Condiment Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why does my cauliflower cheese sauce go watery? ›

Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if its in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery.

What enhances cheese sauce? ›

Try putting a bit of mustard powder in it . A sprinkling of turmeric to make it a deeper yellow colour and a pinch of white pepper and salt . And if you can a small piece of blue vein cheese will give it some kick . If you make your cheese sauce with roux, milk and then grated cheese, then this might help.

What is cheese sauce made of? ›

Classic cheese sauce begins with béchamel — a simple white sauce made of butter, flour, milk, and a few seasonings. Cheese is then added to the white sauce to create cheese sauce (called a Mornay sauce in French cuisine).

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling. Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

How long does it take to cook cauliflower? ›

Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower). For both cooking methods, test regularly with the tip of a knife to make sure they don't overcook.

What is the flavor of cauliflower before cooking? ›

Here's the thing about cauliflower. You like it raw because it has a great, crunchy texture. Also, the volatile oil - the same one occurs in cabbage, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts - changes in flavor from a pleasantly pungent bite in the raw vegetable to a persistent and annoying odor in the cooked versions.

Why does cauliflower cheese sauce split? ›

Cook your cauliflower cheese at the right temperature, otherwise your cheese sauce can split. If your cheese sauce splits before that, it can be down to leaving it out too long, or you've boiled the sauce. If this happens, add a splash of milk or cream and whisk vigorously and it should come back to life.

How do you keep cheese sauce gooey? ›

Cheese sauce can be kept from congealing by applying enough heat to keep it semi-liquid but not enough to scorch it or dry it out. A candle or an electric heat source can be used for this. A fondue pot is one type of vessel commonly used for the process.

What to do if your cheese sauce won't thicken? ›

Egg Yolks. Egg yolks can be a magical thickener. Whisk some of the thin sauce into an egg yolk in a separate bowl, then whisk the egg yolk mixture back into the sauce over low heat to let it do its thing. This method is called tempering—it prevents the egg yolk from curdling when stirred into a sauce over heat.

Why doesn't my cheese sauce taste cheesy? ›

Cream is heavy and mutes the flavor of cheese. Add a dash of garlic powder, dry mustard, and smoked paprika to the roux while it cooks. Honestly, this combo tastes cheesy even before you add the cheese.

What makes tasty cheese tasty? ›

WHAT IS TASTY CHEESE? Alex Prichard, head chef at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Bondi, said tasty cheese is a cheddar that's been aged longer than usual. “A tasty cheese is just above average cheddar in terms of aging,” he said. “Extra bitey mild cheddar is usually aged for three to four months.

What condiment goes with cheese? ›

Popular cheese condiments include chutney, honey, preserves and mustard-based items.

What is the flavor profile of cauliflower? ›

Raw cauliflower has a subtly sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It is delicate and mild with a hint of pepperiness. Cauliflower's crisp texture yields a pleasing crunch when included in salads or used as a vessel for dips.

What is the white curd of cauliflower? ›

An annual plant that reproduces by seed, the cauliflower head is composed of a (generally) white inflorescence meristem. Cauliflower heads resemble those in broccoli, which differs in having flower buds as the edible portion. Typically, only the head is eaten; the edible white flesh is sometimes called "curd".

Can you eat cauliflower cheese as a main meal? ›

Cauliflower cheese is a traditional English dish. It can be eaten as a main course, for lunch or dinner, or as a side dish. Cauliflower cheese consists of pieces of cauliflower lightly boiled and covered with a milk-based cheese sauce, for which a mature cheese (such as cheddar) tends to be preferred.

How many carbs are in cauliflower and cheese sauce? ›

Cauliflower, with cheese sauce (0.5 cup) contains 6.1g total carbs, 4.2g net carbs, 7.6g fat, 5.3g protein, and 110 calories.

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