Baked Cauliflower With Cheese

Is this recipe keto-friendly?

Yes, this easy recipe is keto-friendly. The main ingredients of this side dish, namely cauliflower and parmesan cheese, are both staples in a low-carb diet. So, you can totally indulge in this cheesy and healthy dish even if you’re strictly monitoring your carb intake.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

With its rich seasoning flavors and cheese covering each cauliflower floret, this cheesy cauliflower bake is already irresistible. But there are more reasons why you will love this recipe.

• This side dish is a very quick and easy recipe. Simply prepare the ingredients for a couple of minutes, and you can let the oven handle the rest!
• It is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Serve this cheesy cauliflower dish on any occasion, and it will surely be gone in no time.
• This is a healthy but delicious dish. A recipe like this allows you to enjoy more vegetables in your meal since it’s packed with flavors while still being rich in fiber and vitamins. 

If you love cheesy side dishes and appetizers, don’t forget to check out my Easy Savory Cheese Appetizers.

🥘 Ingredients

The ingredients in this recipe prove that you don’t need a lot to make a delectable oven-baked dish that anyone can enjoy. 

• Cauliflower: Use a fresh cauliflower head with no brown spots for optimal results.
• Olive oil: This ingredient will help the roasted cauliflower achieve that golden brown color while adding a smooth texture and a rich, fruity flavor. 
• Minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic’s pungent and savory taste will give the dish a robust, aromatic flavor.
• Salt and pepper: These two seasonings will also enhance the overall taste of the dish. The pepper will add a bit of heat, while the salt will balance out the flavors. 
• Grated parmesan cheese: Of course, we can’t skip the cheese to achieve the cheesy flavor and crunchy texture of roasted cauliflower.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

Cauliflower: You may use broccoli as an alternative, as cauliflower and broccoli have similar textures and flavors. 

Olive oil: Neutral-flavored cooking oils like canola oil or vegetable oil can be used as substitutes for olive oil. 

Minced garlic: You may use garlic powder as an alternative if you don’t have any minced or fresh garlic. Just use a quarter of the original amount of minced garlic, as the powder’s aroma and flavor is stronger. 

Grated parmesan cheese: You can make this recipe using pecorino romano as a substitute for parmesan cheese. This cheesy goodness also has a nutty flavor and is very easy to grate.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

This recipe may be simple, but don’t be surprised that there’s much more you can do with this cauliflower recipe.

• Kid-Friendly Cheesy Cauliflower: To make this even more kid-friendly, try using your kid’s favorite cheese type. I personally love using shredded cheddar cheese sometimes, as children are very familiar with this flavor.
• Crunchy Topping: Enjoy this dish with an additional crunch by mixing panko breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese and olive oil. Cover the cauliflower with this mixture, bake, and then hear the added crunchiness! 
• Spicy Cheesy Cauliflower: Savor a bit of a kick in this recipe by adding a dash of pepper flakes or cayenne pepper all over the cauliflower before baking it. 

Whenever your vegan friends come over, you can always transform this dish into a Cheesy Baked Vegan Cauliflower.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

These simple tools will help ease the cooking process for this recipe.

• Baking sheet: This tool is essential for baking the dish, and it will ensure that the cauliflower is cooked thoroughly.
• Large mixing bowl: It will help you easily toss the cauliflower and mix the other ingredients.

🔪 How to Make Baked Cauliflower With Cheese

An easy dish like this only requires a few easy steps. Let me walk you through the process so you can immediately enjoy this cheesy cauliflower bake.

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Prepare the oven and preheat it to 400°F.

Step 2: Prepare the cauliflower

Cut the cauliflower into florets and add them to the mixing bowl. Drizzle the cauliflower cuts with olive oil and toss well to coat every floret evenly.

Step 3: Add the seasonings

Season the cauliflower with minced garlic, pepper, and salt. After doing so, toss again to distribute the seasoning.

Step 4: Add cheese

Stir in the grated fresh parmesan cheese until it is well combined with the cauliflower. 

Step 5: Place cauliflower on baking sheet

Once the cauliflower florets are fully coated with seasoning, place them on the baking sheet. Make sure to avoid overcrowding. 

Step 6: Roast the cauliflower 

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. After the first round of baking, flip the cauliflower florets and then continue baking for another 5-10 minutes until the cauliflower is well golden.

Step 7: Serve and enjoy

Have your plates ready, and serve this dish immediately for everyone to enjoy its comforting and decadent flavors!

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Baked Cauliflower With Cheese: