This easy to make Cheddar Roasted Cauliflower combines tender cauliflower florets with a rich cheddar cheese sauce. Baked to golden perfection, this is a hearty, filling, and incredibly delicious low-carb side.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
• 🔪 How to Make Cheddar Cauliflower Casserole
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Roasted Cauliflower
• 💡 Tips for Making Cauliflower Casserole
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Why Is My Roasted Cauliflower Mushy?
• Is Cauliflower Keto?
• Can I Make This Dish in Advance?
• Can I Add Protein to Roasted Cauliflower?
• 🍽️ More Keto Cauliflower Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

• Oven-roasted cauliflower
• Baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce
• Hearty and filling
• Easy-to-make Keto side dish

Loaded with vitamins and nutrients, cauliflower is the MVP of almost any low-carb diet. But just because its healthy doesn't mean it can't be decadent at the same time. This cheddar roasted cauliflower is made with florets, perfectly roasted, and smothered in a rich and savory cheddar cheese sauce.

The beautiful thing about this recipe is that it has au gratin potato flavors, but with a fraction of the carbs. It's warm and flavorful, and it's so satisfying. It's the ultimate comfort food even your pickiest eaters will love it.

If you love this cheesy cauliflower, you should also try my recipe for Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Mash and this Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese.

🛒 Ingredients for Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower

• Cauliflower
• Cheddar cheese
• Heavy cream
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Garlic salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Baking sheet
• Saucepan
• Mixing bowl
• 9 x 13 Casserole baking dish

🔪 How to Make Cheddar Cauliflower Casserole

Preheat oven to 425°F

Wash, dry, and cut up the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Scatter the florets on a baking sheet.

Sprinkle the tops with the olive oil, garlic salt and ground black pepper.

Toss to combine, then roast in the oven for 20 minutes while you make the cheese sauce.

Heat a saucepan to medium and add in the butter, then, once melted, pour in the heavy cream and cream cheese.

Stir until the cream cheese has melted, then add in the 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese, garlic salt and ground black pepper.

Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened.

Transfer the roasted cauliflower into a mixing bowl and pour the cheese sauce over the top.

Toss to combine.

Then pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole baking dish that’s been sprayed with olive oil.

Top with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese and bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Place in the fridge for up to 2–3 days for optimal freshness. When reheating, you can use a microwave or oven until warmed through. However, keep in mind that the texture of the cauliflower may soften slightly when it's reheated.

🍴 What to Serve with Roasted Cauliflower

Literally everything! Anything that you would typically serve potatoes with is your dish! Here are some of my favorites:

• Steak- Cast Iron Steak with Mushrooms, Air Fryer Steak and Grilled Steak with Compound Butter. 
• Chicken- French Onion Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Keto Lemon Chicken.
• Pork- Pan Fried Pork Chops, Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin and Stuffed Pork Loin.
• Seafood- Red Snapper with Compound Butter, Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers and Baked Salmon with Asparagus.

💡 Tips for Making Cauliflower Casserole

• Even pieces: Cut the cauliflower into evenly sized florets to ensure they cook at the same rate.

• Overcrowding: Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet, because this can lead to steaming instead of roasting.

• Cook on low heat: When making the cheese sauce, ensure that the heat is kept low to prevent the cheese from becoming stringy or separating. Stir constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.

• Freshly grated cheese: Grate the cheese yourself because it melts much smoother compared to pre-shredded cheese.

• Adjust the consistency: If the sauce is too thin, allow it to simmer for a few extra minutes until it reaches the desired thickness. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out by adding a splash of additional heavy cream.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Cheese variations: Instead of cheddar cheese, you can use other types of cheese, such as Gruyere, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack, for a different flavor.

• Herbs: Experiment with other herbs such as chives, basil, thyme, and rosemary.

• Other veggies: If cauliflower is not your favorite, you can use broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or a mix of your favorite vegetables for a similar cheesy roasted dish.

• Spices: Adjust the amount of garlic salt and black pepper to suit your taste preferences, or add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

• Bacon: Crumbled bacon adds a delicious smoky flavor and crispy texture to the dish. 

• Caramelized onions: Sautéed caramelized onions can add sweetness to the cheesy cauliflower.

• Crunchy topping: Top the dish with a crunchy topping like pork panko.

Why Is My Roasted Cauliflower Mushy?

After washing the cauliflower, make sure to dry it well before roasting it using paper towels. You want to get as much moisture out of it as you can. Also, make sure you do not overcrowd the pan when it is roasting.

Is Cauliflower Keto?

This vegetable has to be the biggest MVP of all Keto veggies! Not only are there countless ways to prepare it, but it's also very nutritious. In fact, it has just about every vitamin and mineral that you need, especially vitamin C, vitamin K and B6.

It's also very low-carb. In a one-cup serving of raw cauliflower, there are 5.3 total carbs with 2.5 grams of fiber, leaving the net carbs around 3 grams! 

Can I Make This Dish in Advance?

You can make this dish a few days in advance, or you can make it in stages ahead of time. Start by roasting the cauliflower and letting it cool. Prepare the cheese sauce, let it cool, and pour it into an airtight container. Store everything in the fridge for up to three days.

Can I Add Protein to Roasted Cauliflower?

Certainly! You can add cooked protein, such as grilled chicken, steak, or cooked shrimp, to make this dish a complete meal. Simply layer the protein over the cauliflower before pouring the cheese sauce on top.

🍽️ More Keto Cauliflower Recipes

• Jalapeño Popper Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese
• Mexican Cauliflower Rice
• Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower
• Cauliflower "Potato" Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks