Cauliflower Cheese Sinful Recipe

Elevate your classic British cauliflower cheese with this irresistible recipe! We're roasting the cauliflower first for an unbelievably flavorful and aromatic experience. Imagine the rich, nutty notes of roasted cauliflower perfectly complemented by a creamy, cheesy sauce. This isn't your grandma's cauliflower cheese – it's a symphony of textures and tastes, bursting with herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley. Double the roasting time for extra-crispy florets, and fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that will have everyone begging for a bite! Inspired by recipe #106251.

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 80 mins

Calories 186.9 kcal

Protein 6g

Rating Be the first

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Cauliflower Cheese Sinful

1 large head cauliflower
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus generous grind for topping
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups for sauce, 1/2 cup for topping)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Cauliflower Cheese Sinful? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Cauliflower Cheese Sinful

Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C).
Prepare Cauliflower: Cut one large head of cauliflower into florets.
Roast Cauliflower: In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 cloves minced garlic. Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
Roast for 20 minutes, then toss and roast for an additional 10 minutes. (Optional: Double the roasting time for extra crispy cauliflower).
While cauliflower roasts, prepare the cheese sauce:
In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour until smooth.
Gradually whisk in 2 cups milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens (about 3 minutes). Add more milk if needed to reach desired consistency. The sauce should be thick but pourable.
Stir in 2 cups grated cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Arrange roasted cauliflower florets in the prepared baking dish.
Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the cauliflower, ensuring all florets are coated.
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup extra grated cheddar cheese and a generous grind of black pepper.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and golden brown.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

19 g

Sugar

Fat

27g

Carbs

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Sweets & Sides Side Dishes European Vegetarian Gluten Free Fall Recipes Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation Occasion Side Dishes Vegetables Oven European English Dietary Comfort Food Cauliflower Taste Mood Equipment Presentation Served Hot 4 Hours Or Less

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Cauliflower Cheese Sinful?

Cauliflower Cheese Sinful takes about 100 minutes from start to finish — roughly 20 minutes to prepare and 80 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Cauliflower Cheese Sinful?

Cauliflower Cheese Sinful has approximately 186.9 calories per serving, with about 6 g protein, 2 g carbohydrates and 24 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Cauliflower Cheese Sinful?

The key ingredients for Cauliflower Cheese Sinful are Cauliflower, Garlic Cloves, Fresh Rosemary, Salt, Black Pepper, Olive Oil. See the full list with measurements above.