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This Cheesy Cauliflower Side Dish is one of those easy vegetable recipes that always surprises people. Tender cauliflower is coated in a creamy Miracle Whip and mustard sauce, topped with cheddar cheese, and baked until warm and melty. It is simple, quick, and the kind of side dish that makes everyone want a second scoop.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“What a wonderful surprise this delicious dish was!! I made it as a side dish, but was told “This is the main dish!” Absolutely terrific! I am making sure I do not lose this recipe!!” – Kathleen
“Had this tonight! Absolutely delicious!!” – Mallorie
“I grew up on this. Except we kept the cauliflower whole and put some freeze dried onion in the mayo mustard mix.” – Gottimmers
Why I Love This Side Dish
This cheesy cauliflower side dish is so GOOD. Growing up, my mom made this all the time, and it was one of the few vegetable dishes we all got excited about. I know it sounds funny to say kids were fighting over cauliflower, but we really did. My mom had to make sure everyone got equal portions because it always disappeared fast.
Now I make it for my own family, and it still has that same comfort food feeling. It is creamy, cheesy, a little tangy from the mustard, and so easy to throw together with ingredients I usually already have. I love that it feels like a cozy casserole, but it still works as a quick vegetable side dish for a regular weeknight dinner.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cauliflower: Use one fresh head of cauliflower cut into bite-sized florets so it cooks evenly and is easy to serve.
- Miracle Whip: This gives the sauce a creamy texture with a little sweetness and tang.
- Mustard: Yellow mustard gives this dish its classic flavor, but Dijon mustard also works if you want a slightly sharper taste.
- Cheddar cheese: Medium or sharp cheddar has the best flavor and melts beautifully over the cauliflower.
- Salt and pepper: A little seasoning brings out the flavor of the cauliflower and cheese.
- Chives: These are optional, but they add a pretty pop of color and a mild onion flavor on top.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Mayonnaise: You can use mayo instead of Miracle Whip, but Miracle Whip is sweeter and tangier. If using mayo, you may want to add a tiny pinch of sugar to get closer to the original flavor.
- Mustard options: Yellow mustard keeps it classic, while Dijon gives the sauce a little more depth.
- Cheese options: Sharp cheddar is my favorite, but medium cheddar, Colby Jack, mozzarella, Swiss, or Gruyère can all work. For the best flavor, use at least some cheddar.
- Extra seasonings: Garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, or a pinch of cayenne can be added if you want more flavor.
- Onion: A little freeze-dried onion, minced onion, or sautéed onion can be mixed into the sauce.
- Bacon: Cooked crumbled bacon makes this more of a loaded cauliflower casserole.
- Broccoli: You can use half cauliflower and half broccoli for a cheesy broccoli cauliflower side dish.
- Frozen cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower can work, but cook it just until tender and drain it really well so the dish does not get watery.
- Gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as your Miracle Whip, mustard, and shredded cheese are gluten-free. Always check labels to be safe.
How to Make this Cheesy Cauliflower Side Dish
- Prep the cauliflower. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets and remove the leaves and tough stem.
- Steam the cauliflower. Add about ¼ inch of water to a large skillet. Add the cauliflower, season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then cover and cook for about 3 minutes. Drain well.
- Make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the Miracle Whip and mustard until smooth.
- Coat the cauliflower. Add the drained cauliflower to the sauce and gently stir until the florets are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
- Add the cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Add a little extra salt and pepper if needed.
- Bake and serve. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the cauliflower is hot. Sprinkle with chopped chives before serving, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Serve it right away. This cheesy cauliflower side dish is best hot from the oven while the cheese is melted and creamy.
- Do not overcook the cauliflower. It should be just tender before it goes into the oven. If it gets too soft, the finished dish can turn watery.
- Drain the cauliflower well. After steaming, let the florets sit in a colander for a minute so extra water can run off.
- Cut the cauliflower evenly. Similar-sized pieces cook more evenly and make the dish easier to scoop.
- Use sharp cheddar for more flavor. Since this recipe has only a few ingredients, the cheese really matters.
- Shred your own cheese if you can. Pre-shredded cheese works, but freshly shredded cheese usually melts smoother.
- Taste the sauce before baking. If you like more tang, add a little more mustard. If you want it creamier, add a little more Miracle Whip.
- Bake uncovered. This helps the cheese melt nicely without trapping too much steam in the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, frozen cauliflower can be used, but fresh cauliflower gives the best texture. If using frozen, cook it according to the package directions until just tender, then drain it very well. Too much extra moisture can make the dish watery.
The biggest trick is to avoid overcooking the cauliflower. Steam it just until it starts to soften, then drain it well before adding the sauce. If the cauliflower is too soft or still holding water, it can release moisture while baking.
Yes, mayonnaise works as a substitute. The flavor will be a little less sweet and tangy, so you can add a small pinch of sugar or a tiny splash of vinegar if you want it closer to the Miracle Whip flavor.
Sharp cheddar is my favorite because it has the most flavor. Medium cheddar, Colby Jack, mozzarella, Swiss, or Gruyère also melt well. If you use a mild cheese, I like to combine it with cheddar so the dish still has plenty of flavor.
Yes, this recipe should be gluten-free as written, but check the labels on the Miracle Whip, mustard, and shredded cheese to be sure. Some packaged ingredients can have added starches or seasonings.
Yes, you can keep the cauliflower in larger pieces or even make it with a whole steamed head of cauliflower, but I prefer florets because they are easier to coat with sauce and serve evenly.
I have not tested this recipe in the Crock Pot, and I think the oven gives the best texture. A slow cooker can hold in a lot of moisture, which may make the cauliflower softer and more watery. If you try it, keep the cook time short and serve it as soon as the cheese is melted.
Yes! We usually serve it as a side dish, but readers have mentioned that it is filling enough to be the main dish. I like it with some sliced grilled chicken or steak on top, or over brown rice for an easy vegetarian meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make Ahead: You can steam the cauliflower and mix the sauce a few hours ahead of time. For the best texture, store them separately, then combine, top with cheese, and bake right before serving.
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I do not recommend freezing this recipe if you can avoid it. Cauliflower and creamy sauces can release water after thawing, so it tastes best made fresh.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave in short intervals until warmed through, or place in an oven-safe dish and bake at 350 degrees until hot. Add a little extra cheese on top if you want to freshen it up.
Pairing Ideas
This Cheesy Cauliflower Side Dish goes so well with simple family dinners. Serve it with Chicken Fried Chicken, Instant Pot Pot Roast, Crock Pot Pork Chops, steak, Crockpot Spiral Ham, or Roasted Turkey. It is also great next to brown rice for a simple vegetarian meal, or with holiday favorites like baked potatoes, dinner rolls, and a green salad.
More Side Dish Recipes
- Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
- Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Oven Roasted Green Beans
- Honey Glazed Carrots
This Cheesy Cauliflower side dish is creamy, comforting, and so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. If you try it, leave a comment and rating below. I would love to hear what you think!! 💛
Cheesy Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- ½ cup Miracle Whip
- 1 Tablespoon mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheese, I prefer sharp cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper
- chopped chives for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Chop cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
- Add ¼ inch of water to a large skillet and then add cauliflower, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and cook for 3 minutes. Remove cauliflower florets from the skillet and drain.
- In a small bowl, combine Miracle Whip and mustard.
- Stir Miracle Whip mixture together with cauliflower until all the cauliflower is evenly coated with the mixture. Place the cauliflower mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Top with shredded cheese, salt and pepper.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chives if desired.
Notes
- Drain the cauliflower well after steaming so the finished dish does not get watery.
- Do not overcook the cauliflower before baking. It should be just tender.
- Sharp cheddar gives this recipe the best cheesy flavor.
- Mayonnaise can be used instead of Miracle Whip, but the flavor will be less sweet and tangy.
- Frozen cauliflower can be used, but it needs to be cooked just until tender and drained very well.
- This recipe is best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended because the cauliflower and sauce can release extra moisture when thawed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Can this be made ahead and frozen?
You could, but I feel like this one will taste better made fresh.
I love this! Can I make it in a crockpot??
We haven’t made this in a Crock Pot before so I can’t say for sure. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!
What a wonderful surprise this delicious dish was!! I made it as a side dish, but was told “This is the main dish!” Absolutely terrific! I am making sure I do not lose this recipe!!
Had this tonight! Absolutely delicious!!
Yummy! This is one of my favorites!
I grew up on this. Except we kept the cauliflower whole and put some freeze dried onion in the mayo mustard mix.
I really liked this, but not all my kids liked it. I might have to make some adjustments to fit their tastes but it is great the way it is.
Thanks for the recipe!
That looks absolutely delicious. Pinned and can’t wait to try it!!
You can bake it in the oven in a casserole dish or you can melt the cheese in the microwave! Either way works! I have done it both ways.
This is so good! Do you bake it in the oven to melt the cheese?