Cauliflower Au Gratin Recipe
This Cauliflower Au Gratin recipe combines tender roasted broccoli and cauliflower florets smothered in a creamy, cheesy white cheddar sauce, topped with a crunchy, seasoned Ritz cracker crust. It’s a comforting and flavorful side dish perfect for dinners or special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 large cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 1/4 cups shredded white cheddar
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Salt & pepper to taste
Topping
- 20 Ritz crackers
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat and Roast Vegetables: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a large baking dish with nonstick baking spray, then spread the broccoli and cauliflower florets evenly. Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until they are very lightly browned and tender.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: While the vegetables roast, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook for 90 seconds, whisking constantly to eliminate lumps. Gradually whisk in the milk and chicken broth, alternating between the two, then reduce heat to low. Add the shredded white cheddar gradually, whisking frequently until the sauce is melted, smooth, and creamy. Season with a pinch of nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine and Top: Pour the cheese sauce over the roasted broccoli and cauliflower in the baking dish. In a food processor, pulse the Ritz crackers until crushed. Add the dried oregano, onion powder, and melted butter, pulsing a couple of times to combine. Sprinkle this breadcrumb topping evenly over the cheese sauce.
- Bake to Finish: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is a light golden brown and crisp, and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Use reduced-fat cheddar to lower fat content.
- Make sure to whisk constantly when adding flour to avoid lumps in the sauce.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow the sauce to thicken slightly before serving.
- Roughly chopping but keeping some small chunks of broccoli and cauliflower helps retain texture.
Keywords: Cauliflower au gratin, cheesy cauliflower bake, broccoli and cauliflower casserole, comfort food side dish, creamy vegetable gratin
Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/cauliflower-au-gratin-recipe/
