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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Cauliflower Cheese with Bacon

    Published: Feb 2, 2021 · Modified: Jan 28, 2021 by Daniela Apostol · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Close-up shoot of a dish with cauliflower cheese and bacon

    Cauliflower Cheese with Bacon, a classic side dish with a twist. The cauliflower is baked in a delicious white sauce with bacon until golden and bubbling hot. A winner with the whole family, this is a recipe for every occasion.

    Close-up shot of a dish with cauliflower cheese with bacon

    Cauliflower might have once been seen as a less-interesting-than-broccoli veggie, but now it enjoys immense popularity due to the low-carb diet. It can be cooked in endless ways, it's healthy, and, I must add, really tasty too.

    But one dish remains extremely popular with all ages - the one and only cauliflower cheese. If the title confuses you a bit, it's actually cauliflower florets baked in a bechamel sauce until bubbling hot and golden.

    Now, that's the classic version. But the basic recipe can be tweaked in so many ways to cater for all tastes and ages. Add any meat you like: bacon, chicken, ham, leftover meat, and the list is so long, or combine it with broccoli for a cauliflower and broccoli cheese recipe.

    And surprisingly, my girls loved it too, I didn't actually expect them to. They aren't really fussy, but to kids it might seem less appealing than the colourful veggies kids love. Let's see how to make it!

    Overhead shot of a white plate with cauliflower cheese and another dish with more

    HOW TO MAKE CAULIFLOWER CHEESE WITH BACON

    Before the cauliflower florets can be smothered in the cheese sauce, it is best to boil them for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften, but they still hold their shape well.

    Otherwise they won't have time to become tender in the oven, resulting in crunchy cauliflower cheese. Not that I mind crunchy veggies, but in this particular recipe it is best if they are tender, they go a lot better with the hot cheesy sauce.

    QUICKLY BOIL THE VEGGIES

    • break the cauliflower head into florets, and add them to a pan with salted water
    • boil for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften, but they still hold their shape well
    • drain and set aside

    Collage of 9 photos to show how to make cauliflower cheese with bacon

    THE SAUCE

    • to make the sauce, start by cooking the bacon lardons in a pan set over a medium heat
    • when cooked, remove from the pan and set aside
    • in the same pan, add the butter, and allow it to melt
    • add the flour and whisk well to a smooth paste, then pour in the milk and whisk until it thickens
    • add the cheese, dijon mustard, and black pepper and mix well
    • transfer the cauliflower florets into a buttered ovenproof dish, top with the bacon lardons, and pour over the sauce
    • top with grated cheese and bake at 200 degrees Celsius (390 Fahrenheit) for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling hot

    It really is an easy recipe that can se served as a side dish to any roast, at every occasion, be it a nice Sunday roast, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other celebration. Do give it a go, it's lush!

    Cauliflower cheese in an oven-dish

    If you’ve tried this CAULIFOWER CHEESE WITH BACON or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

    4.75 from 4 votes
    Close-up shot of a dish with cauliflower cheese and a spoon
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    Cauliflower Cheese with Bacon
    Prep Time
    5 mins
    Cook Time
    20 mins
    Total Time
    25 mins
     

    Cauliflower Cheese with Bacon, a classic side dish with a twist. The cauliflower is baked in a delicious white sauce with bacon until golden and bubbling hot. A winner with the whole family, this is a recipe for every occasion. My bacon cauliflower cheese makes a great side dish for a special occasion too, and makes the best accompaniment to any roast.

    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: English
    Keyword: cauliflower recipes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 396 kcal
    Author: Daniela Apostol
    Ingredients
    • 1 medium cauliflower head
    • 25 g butter
    • 1 tablespoon plain flour
    • 1 cup full-fat milk
    • ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
    • 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 200 g bacon lardons
    Metric - US Customary
    Instructions
    1. Break the cauliflower head into florets, and add them to a pan with salted water.

    2. Boil for 3-4 minutes until the cauliflower florets begin to soften slightly, but they still hold their shape well.

    3. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.

    4. Cook the bacon lardons until crispy and golden brown, then remove from the pan and set aside.

    5. In the same pan, melt the butter, then add the flour and whisk well.

    6. Pour in the milk, and whisk until it thickens into a sauce.

    7. Add the parmesan, half of the grated cheddar cheese, dijon mustard and black pepper.

    8. Mix well.

    9. Butter an ovenproof dish, arrange the cauliflower, top with bacon, and drizzle the bechamel sauce all over it.

    10. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.

    11. Bake in the preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius (390 Fahrenheit) until golden and bubbling hot.

    Recipe Notes
    • If you'd like to see the measurements in cups and ounces, please click on the US CUSTOMARY link.
    • The number of ingredients can be adjusted depending on the number of servings you need. To do so, please click on the number next to SERVINGS and adjust accordingly.
    Nutrition Facts
    Cauliflower Cheese with Bacon
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 396 Calories from Fat 288
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 32g49%
    Saturated Fat 14g70%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 68mg23%
    Sodium 559mg23%
    Potassium 630mg18%
    Carbohydrates 12g4%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 15g30%
    Vitamin A 427IU9%
    Vitamin C 69mg84%
    Calcium 221mg22%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Hi, I'm Daniela,the blogger behind My Gorgeous Recipes, welcome to my kitchen! I absolutely love cooking and baking. I love good food that is healthy (and not so healthy), delicious and nutritious.

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