Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Cheese Bake

This super simple Vegan Cauliflower Cheese Bake tastes like a lazy mac ‘n’ cheese, but with a fraction of the calories and carbs. Seriously, the cauliflower is so tender it will melt in your mouth. SO GOOD. This recipe was originally developed using regular dairy milk and cheddar cheese, and I’ve since adapted it to use soy milk and vegan cheeze. And guess what? It is as creamy, comforting, and delicious as ever.

What You’ll Need

Cauliflower is the star of this creamy comfort meal. The key is to steam it so it becomes super tender, before putting in the oven. It will melt in your mouth, and really reminds me of eating mac ‘n’ cheese.

Vegan butter and all purpose flour are mixed together on low heat to create a roux which thickens the cheeze sauce. You can also use oil instead of butter in a pinch. For gluten-free, use tapioca starch, cornstarch, or rice flour instead of the all purpose flour.

I use soy milk for making the “cheeze sauce” but you can sub with any milk of your choice. For the love of all is holy please make sure to use an unflavoured variety. Vanilla-flavoured cheezy cauliflower? Straight to jail.

Shredded vegan cheeze can be found at most grocery stores these days. I’ve made this with Daiya and Violife brand cheddar-style shreds. I personally prefer Daiya but I know some people hate the smell lol. These vegan cheeses don’t melt quite as readily as regular cheese, so don’t worry if your sauce still has little cheese lumps when you pour it over the cauliflower. As you can see in the video demo, some lumps are fine as long as the sauce has thickened.

Finally, for optional toppings you can add some panko breadcrumbs or vegan grated parm.

Another optional ingredient (included in video below) is veggie soy roll which bulks up this casserole with some extra protein. The stuff tastes so much like ham but is vegan! You can also use diced okara sausage or another vegan sausage of your choice. Again, totally optional. I only add it if I have it on hand already.

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

This dish reheats wonderfully. To store, let cool to room temp after baking and cover before putting in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

I haven’t tried freezing this yet (it never lasts that long). Not sure if the sauce will stand up to freezing and defrosting properly, but let me know how it turns out if you try it.

Flavour Variations (Switch It Up!)

After posting this on Reddit, so many commenters had suggestions on how to go even further with the basic vegan cauliflower cheese recipe. Here are some great ideas:

• “a dash of dried mustard and smoked paprika” – /u/drainage_holes
• “garlic, a little Dijon, thyme, and a pinch of cayenne” – /u/kabneenan
• “get a smoked cheese. I made something similar with a smoked cheddar, it was AMAZING!” – /u/cakeilikecake
• “When you melt the butter, just saute some onion in there before you add the flour to really make the flavor out of this world. I do this with my Potatoes Au Gratin which is basically the same sauce.” /u/thx1337
• Mix in some sliced cremini mushrooms to bulk it up and add more veggies.
• For even more savoury flavour, throw in a handful of bacon bits (most brands are vegan, but double check before you buy).

Diet Substitutions

If you’re following a specific diet or need to be aware of allergies, here are a few ways you can modify this recipe:

To Make Keto

• “We just leave out [the flour].” – /u/Shadopamine
• “I use a mixture of melted cream cheese, sour cream, and a dash of mustard powder. Then I sprinkle a little grating of strong cheese on top for browning. It’s a little more calorie dense, but very nice.” – /u/AceBinliner

To Make Gluten-Free

• “I use rice flour- brown or white, fine ground.” – /u/swampjuicesheila
• “If you are gluten free, you can use tapioca flour instead, and it works great. I use it all the time, in sauces, gravy, etc. You will need to experiment with the amount you use, but you will get the hang of it quickly.” – /u/omg_pwnies

If you made this recipe with a successful substitution, please let me know! Post a comment describing what you did so I can add it to this section and help future readers. (Leave your name blank if you don’t want to be credited.)

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