Vegan Cauliflower Casserole

This nutritious vegetarian cauliflower dish is deliciously creamy and cheesy. A side dish for comfort food that is loaded with vegetables. A simple casserole made with entire cauliflower florets and cheese.

Look no further than this simple cauliflower casserole if you’re looking for a unique side dish to serve at your upcoming holiday gathering or family meal that caters to just about everyone’s taste palate and diet under the same dish.

Vegan Cauliflower Casserole is great for serving a large crowd. This creamy Gluten-Free Vegan Cauliflower Casserole is definitely kid-friendly and a crowd-pleaser.

It will easily be a hit at your next gathering,

I will be serving this cauliflower casserole this Thanksgiving with my Lentil Meatballs, Skillet Cornbread, Baked Candied Yams, and Southern Green Beans And Potatoes.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE DETAILED RECIPE, BUT I REQUEST YOU DON’T SKIP READING THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE BLURB.

 Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

• This dish is dairy-free, vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free.
• It is the most straightforward vegetarian or vegan recipe that you can prepare in under 40-50 minutes.
• And the majority of ingredients are simple, readily available, or pantry staples.
• It’s quite creamy.
• This casserole’s spice blend provides a pleasantly warming dish that will please everyone’s taste buds.
• This cauliflower dish will appeal to both vegans and non-vegetarians.
• Even people who don’t like vegetables will enjoy this vegetarian cauliflower dish.
• It is easy to make ahead.

This cauliflower casserole is always a favorite at potlucks, brunches, and holiday gatherings.

Ingredients Used To Make Cauliflower Casserole

• Cauliflower Head: For this recipe, a cauliflower head of medium size is ideal. Take care to thoroughly wash everything before cooking.
• Cashews: The cheese sauce is made from raw, unsalted cashews.
• Water:
• Nutritional yeast flakes: This powder is yellow and flaky, and it tastes like cheese. It is essential to include this ingredient because it gives the dish its cheesy flavor.
• Red bell pepper: You can use yellow or green, I prefer red though since green is too strong for my digestion.
• Onion: White onions or yellow onions will do the job, whatever is easily available in the pantry will work.
• Garlic: I prefer to add the garlic after the sauce has already been ready. This prevents the garlic from becoming overcooked and adds a fresh flavor.
• Tahini Paste: Tahini pastes for an added cheesy flavor.
• Salt: A pinch of salt will help to balance the flavors.
• Cayenne pepper: It adds an intriguing depth of flavor but doesn’t make the food spicy.
• Paprika: for color and flavor. (The yellow turmeric and red paprika together give it a lovely orange hue! Try this combo next time.) A nice smokey flavor can also be achieved by using smoked paprika.

How To Make Vegan Cauliflower Casserole

1. Preheat the oven and lightly grease a casserole pan. Set aside.
2. Lightly steam the cauliflower florets.
3. Using a high-speed blender, make the cashew cheese sauce and add a cup of the steamed cauliflower florets to make a really thick and creamy sauce.
4. Add the steamed cauliflower florets to the base of the prepared casserole pan evenly.
5. Pour the cashew cheese sauce over the cauliflower florets.
6. Sprinkle top with paprika.
7. Bake the casserole for about 35 minutes.

What To Serve With Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

If you want to make it a complete dinner, just add a side salad. It feels like a dinner of pasta and salad even though there isn’t any. I enjoy putting this plain Asian Cucumber Salad or Green Bean And Tomato Salad on the side.

Tips For Success

• Nut-free vegan cheese sauce: Use your preferred brand of shredded vegan cheese in place of 1 cup of cashews.
• Cauliflower should be steamed until almost fork-tender. If cooked for a long enough time, it could get overly soft or mushy.
• Instead of frying the cauliflower florets, steam them to save time.
• Broccoli florets, or a combination of broccoli and cauliflower, can be used in this recipe in place of cauliflower.

Make Ahead And Storing

Make ahead: this vegan cauliflower casserole is excellent to make ahead. Here’s how you can make this cheesy cauliflower casserole ahead.

• The cauliflower should be steamed a day ahead and then kept in the fridge in an airtight container.
• The cashew cheese sauce can be mixed a day or two in advance and kept in the refrigerator. If the sauce becomes too thick, mix in 1 to 3 tbsp of broth or water.
• When it’s time to cook, in a baking dish put the cauliflower and heat it in an oven set to 350 degrees F until it’s hot.
• Bring the mixture of vegan cheese to room temperature.
• Turn the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, pour the cheese mixture over the top, and bake as instructed.

Storing: The cooked dish and any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to three days.

Freezing: You can freeze this casserole dish for up to three months. Make sure to cover it with foil.

More Delicious Cauliflower Recipes

• Gluten-Free Vegan Cauliflower Hash Browns
• Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower
• Easy To Bake Cauliflower Wings
• Quick And Easy Roasted Cauliflower
• Roasted Cauliflower In Spicy Marinara Sauce
• Cauliflower Nuggets

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between A Stew And Casserole?

Casseroles and stews differ in how they are cooked and the pot in which they are cooked. In contrast to a casserole, a stew is often cooked on the stove. Both approaches are used in making casseroles. We start cooking it on the stove and finish it off in the oven since baked foods have a greater taste.

Additionally, a lot of cheese—especially cheese on top—may be used in casseroles, but not in a stew dish. But with this nutritious casserole recipe, we hope to demonstrate that delicious cauliflower dinner recipes can still be made without cheese.

What Are In Casseroles?

A casserole is a baked food that has three primary ingredients in the United States: varied diced or canned vegetables (like green beans or peas), meat or fish (like chicken or ground beef), or another type of protein (like beans or tofu), and a starchy binder (like potato, flour, pasta). A crunchy or cheese topping can also be present occasionally.

What Is Nutritional Yeast Flakes?

Nutritional yeast flakes are deactivated yeast, a yellow powder or flakes similar in appearance to cornmeal.

Found in the bulk sections of many health food stores and is popular with vegans/vegetarians to use in recipes for a creamy, nutty, or cheesy taste.

It is a vegan source of protein, B vitamins, and trace minerals that are necessary for optimal health.

It contains a high amount of vitamin B12 which helps prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in vegans. Glutathione and selenomethionine, two antioxidants found in nutritional yeast, may help protect your body from oxidative stress-induced chronic diseases.

Make vegan cheese sauces, gravies, soups, and popcorn with nutritional yeast flakes.

Where To Purchase Nutritional Yeast Flakes

Nutritional yeast flakes are sold in most health food stores or online on Amazon. This is what I like Sari Foods Nutritional Yeast Flakes.

Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower? 

For this recipe, I advise using fresh cauliflower. It’s possible to get pre-washed bags of cauliflower florets if you, like me, are unable to clean an entire head of cauliflower.

Is Cauliflower A Keto-Friendly Vegetable?

Yes. You can enjoy this low-carb vegetable. It has 1.5 net carbohydrates per half cup, so you may consume a reasonable amount of it and maintain ketosis. 

It does have a number of qualities that may aid in weight loss, but it isn’t a comprehensive diet on its own. 

Cauliflower is high in fiber, which aids digestion and improves feelings of fullness. This means that you will be satisfied without having to consume a lot of it.

Is Cauliflower Healthy?

Cauliflower is low in calories and contains vitamins C, K, and B6. Fiber, folate, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and pantothenic acid. A good source of antioxidants that protects the cells from free radical damage. Cauliflower may help with weight loss.

• Cauliflower includes practically every mineral and vitamin your body needs, including vitamin C, an anti-inflammatory that can help boost your immune system and lessen your risk of cancer and heart disease.
• Cauliflower contains a lot of fiber, which helps to reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
• Sulforaphane, glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates are antioxidants found in cauliflower that can help protect against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
• Cauliflower is strong in choline, an essential ingredient that supports metabolism, brain growth, and nervous system function, and is insufficient in many people. It also keeps cholesterol from building up in the liver.
• Cauliflower is high in allicin, a compound that may help prevent strokes and heart disease.

Do You Soak Cashews For Cheese?

Yes, raw cashews are the basis of this dish. When soaked and combined with a little milk or water, cashews transform into a lovely, ultra-creamy, nutrient-dense sauce that is rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Keep in mind that the cashews must be soaked for a minimum of 45 minutes. Just put the ingredients in a bowl and leave them alone for a few hours.

Bottom Lines!

This is my tried and true Vegan Cauliflower Casserole Recipe that will be a hit every time you make it.

Thanks for reading this blog post on Vegan Cauliflower Casserole. I hope it has inspired you to try out a new dish. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. And if you tried this recipe or any other from my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! Thanks for visiting my Recipes, and I hope to see you again soon.

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