Vegan Cauliflower Casserole

This nutritious vegetarian cauliflower dish is deliciously creamy and cheesy. Serve a vegetable-packed side dish to go with your comfort food. 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.

Close up cauliflower casserole

 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.

Vegan cauliflower casserole steps

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

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.
  • Cauliflower contains antioxidants such as sulforaphane, glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates, which may 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. Remember to soak the cashews for at least 45 minutes. Just put the ingredients in a bowl and leave them alone for a few hours.

Overlay cauliflower casserole in a blue casserole pan on blue napkin on white background

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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Vegan Cauliflower in a white casserole

Vegan Cauliflower Casserole

This delicious, creamy Vegan Cauliflower Casserole is the ultimate comfort dish and a bonus is that it is also healthy for you!  Simple cauliflower florets, smothered and baked in a cheesy sauce is easy to prepare and so tasty!
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entrée, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Vegan Cauliflower Casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 251kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head cauliflower cut into florets
  • 1 cup raw cashews soak for at least 2 hours
  • 1 1/2 – 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 tablespoon onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon tahini paste (optional)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • pinch Cayenne pepper (optional)
  • paprika and parsley for garnishing

Instructions

  • Preheat oven 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a casserole dish and set aside.
  • Wash and steam cauliflower florets for 5 minutes or until florets are tender. Reserve a cup of steam cauliflower to blend with the cashew cheese sauce. Place remaining florets in a casserole dish and set aside.
  • Rinse and drain cashews. Place cashews in a high-speed blender with water, nutritional yeast flakes, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, tahini, salt and cayenne pepper,
  • Process until smooth and creamy. Add the cup of cauliflower florets and blend, scraping down the sides of blender with a spatula. You may need to add extra water.
  • Pour sauce over cauliflower florets. Sprinkle top with paprika. Bake for 35 minutes or until edges are slightly brown.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly, garnish with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 294IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg

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53 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    You are amazing and this dish is amazing! I’m now at a point of trying to find one of your recipes that I don’t like- it’s proving impossible.

    1. Wow Jen, you have made my day. Thank you so much, I’m happy you are enjoying my recipes. I recently made it and can’t wait to make it again as soon as I go shopping for more cauliflower.

  2. 5 stars
    Simple and delicious….I’ll be replacing this for a low(er) carb scalloped potato dish. Thanks!

  3. I’m very excited to try this (recommended from a friend). I have a ton of frozen cauliflower ‘rice’ (the cauliflower that is already minced). Do you think this would work instead of cauliflower florets?

    1. Danielle, sounds like a great idea. I’m going to start freezing my cauliflower when I have a surplus.

  4. 5 stars
    This is delicious! We aren’t vegan (egg, dairy, gluten free) so I added turkey bacon to the top and it tasted very similar to the scalloped potatoes and ham of my childhood. My kids loved it!!

    1. Annie I’m so happy you enjoyed it, such a great way to get your children to eat their veggies!

  5. 5 stars
    My family love it? this is so… yummy,and healthy vegan recipe,and next time that I will make this recipe again I suggest put chilli flakes or jalapeño (optional).its delicious ….thank you who made this recipe .

    1. Rosana, so happy you loved it.Sounds great to add a little heat, usually, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper takes it to another level. Thank you for your feedback.

  6. My husband loves this recipe. He is a Minnesotan, made the move to Oregon and is now vegan. This a perfect hot dish for his native roots. We plan on making it for Thanksgiving, but oven space is limited. Do you think I could make this in a crockpot? If so, what temp and for how long?

    1. Hi Rachel, it is good to know that your hubby loves it! I heard great things about Oregan, they seem to have great vegan restaurants and health food stores there. I have not tried it as yet in a crockpot and I’m curious to know how it turns out. I used my crockpots in the past to make hot processed and liquid soaps but it seems that I need to unpack them and test some recipes this winter!

    1. Kelli you would use 1 cup, make sure its blanched, skin removed. Best to use a high-speed blender and you may have to blend more than once to get it smooth. If you are using a regular blender, blend at least 3 times resting the blender after each process.

    1. Almond flour or soaked blanched almonds if you used a high-speed blender to get a smooth sauce. If allergic to nuts then substitute with sunflower. seeds Hope you love it!

  7. This is the best! So yummy and creamy! I was shocked at how good it tastes when it is so good for you! Thank you so much…

  8. Step 3 calls for garlic but garlic is not listed in the ingredients! Is garlic part of the dish or not? Thanks for sharing.

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