Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

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Dec 3, 2015 Jul 5, 2023

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Light and fluffyWhipped Cauliflower Casseroleis made extra creamy with goat cheese and thyme. It’s a rich but healthy vegetable side dish with a touch of elegance, meaning it’s the perfect low carb andgluten free casserole recipeto lighten up your holiday meals. But it’s easy enough to add to any weeknight dinner.

Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (2)

Table of Contents

  • An Easy Cauliflower Casserole with Goat Cheese
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make the Recipe
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Recommended Items
  • Get the Recipe

An Easy Cauliflower Casserole with Goat Cheese

I know mashed cauliflower has become a popular low carb substitute for mashed potatoes, particularly with the rise in people following keto diets. I’ll be honest, though, I’d rather not think of them as an alternative to taters. It’s really not the same.

But, that being said, I love cauliflower. And I might just love mashed cauliflower even more than mashed potatoes.

If you do it right, it is creamy and fluffy, and can be a blank slate for adding many different flavors. In this recipe, goat cheese adds that tangy flavor you’d expect, but it adds such a velvety texture too. And that little fresh, lemony note from the thyme is just perfect. It’s actually so simple you can make it any day of the week, but it really is worthy of a special meal.

Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (3)

Ingredients

Just a handful of simple ingredients come together to make this fluffy cauliflower casserole. Check out what you’ll need, but be sure to go to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full amounts and instructions.

  • Cauliflower. One head cut into large florets. It can just be roughly cut and you can keep most of the stem since you will stem and puree it.
  • Greek yogurt. Make sure it’s plain, but you can choose whether to use nonfat, low fat, or whole milk yogurt.
  • Egg. This helps make the casserole nice and fluffy, but not liquidy.
  • Goat cheese. One of those small 4-ounce logs is perfect.
  • Salt and pepper.
  • Thyme. Fresh is preferred, but dried will work in a pinch. You’ll only need about one-third of the amount.

How to Make the Recipe

It’s really simple. First, preheat your oven to 400°F, and lightly coat a 2-quart casserole dish with oil or cooking spray. Then let’s get started.

Steam the cauliflower. Cut the cauliflower into large florets, discarding the tough stem, and steam over boiling water until very tender. Drain it thoroughly, and allow to cool slightly so that some of the excess moisture evaporates.

Puree until smooth. Place the cauliflower, Greek yogurt, egg, cheese, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor. Blend it until everything is well-combined and it is nice and smooth.

Bake the casserole. Transfer the cauliflower mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 25-30 minutes. It should be hot all the way through and lightly browned on top. Garnish with more thyme if you like, and then serve.

Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (4)

Storing Leftovers

Wrap your leftover cauliflower casserole tightly with plastic wrap and you can refrigerate it for 2 to 3 days. It can then be unwrapped and reheated in the oven at 350°F right in the casserole dish. If you only have a small amount left, you can transfer it to an airtight storage container and microwave individual servings.

You can even make it in advance. Baked or unbaked the casserole can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days or frozen for up to two months if wrapped well.

If frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. For an unbaked casserole, you’ll want to take it out of the refrigerator while the oven preheats, and you will have to add another 10-15 minutes onto the baking time to get it hot in the middle. If you are reheating it, make sure you give it enough time to get steaming hot.

Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (5)

Serving Suggestions

You can easily whip up this cauliflower casserole with your favorite weeknight meals like Honey Balsamic Steak Bites or Baked Blackened Chicken Breasts.

But there is just something extra-special about this dish that makes it perfect to pair with a Sunday bottom round roast or rotisserie chicken (made easy in the air fryer). And it is especially wonderful with your favorite holiday main dishes like glazed ham or prime rib.

Let’s round it out with some favorite side dishes:

  • A roast beef supper is not complete without Gluten Free Yorkshire Pudding and Buttery Peas and Carrots.
  • Your low carb holiday meal will be perfect with Bacon Green Beans and Spinach Feta Pinwheels.
  • An elegant steak dinner goes nicely with Creamed Spinach and Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise.
  • A classic ham or turkey feast just calls for Scalloped Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole.
Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (6)

Recommended Items

A food processor will do the trick to make this fluffy whipped cauliflower. But for extra creamy results, I like to use my high-powered blender.

Brianne’s Favorite Blender

We we all know a high-powered blender like the Blendtec makes the most creamy smoothies, it can be used for so much more. Mix up muffin or waffle batter in a flash. Puree velvety smooth soups. And use it for whipped veggie dishes like this one.

I am a Blendtec ambassador, and should you make any purchases through my Blendtec Store link, I will receive a small commission, but that also means you can use the codeCUPCAKESANDKALECHIPSto receive 20% off.

Then make these cauliflower recipes

  • Bacon Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower
  • Horseradish Cheddar Whipped Cauliflower
  • Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower Gratin

    Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (7)

    4.9 from 11 votes

    Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme

    A light and healthy but still rich and creamy vegetable side dish. Gluten free and low carb too!

    Prep: 10 minutes mins

    Cook: 25 minutes mins

    Total: 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 1 large egg
    • 4 oz. goat cheese
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme plus additional thyme leaves for sprinkling on top, if desired

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400°F, and lightly coat a 2 quart casserole dish with oil or cooking spray.

    • Cut the cauliflower into large florets, discarding the tough stem, and steam over boiling water until very tender.

    • Drain thoroughly, and allow to cool slightly so that some of the excess moisture evaporates.

    • Place the cauliflower, Greek yogurt, egg, cheese, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor, and process until smooth.

    • Stir in thyme.

    • Transfer the cauliflower to the prepared dish.

    • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and browned on top. Sprinkle with additional fresh thyme leaves, if desired.

    Nutrition Facts

    Whipped Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese and Thyme

    Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

    Calories 93Calories from Fat 45

    % Daily Value*

    Fat 5g8%

    Saturated Fat 3g15%

    Trans Fat 0.003g

    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g

    Monounsaturated Fat 1g

    Cholesterol 40mg13%

    Sodium 502mg21%

    Potassium 306mg9%

    Carbohydrates 5g2%

    Fiber 2g8%

    Sugar 2g2%

    Protein 7g14%

    Vitamin A 262IU5%

    Vitamin C 47mg57%

    Calcium 65mg7%

    Iron 1mg6%

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

    Course: Side Dish

    Cuisine: American

    Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (8)

    Did you make this?

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    Categories:

    • Dinner
    • Gluten Free
    • Mains
    • Side Dishes
    • Veggies
    Goat Cheese Cauliflower Casserole - Creamy Vegetable Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

    FAQs

    Why does cauliflower cheese go watery in the oven? ›

    She said: "Cauliflower cheese can go watery if the cauliflower is overcooked. Overcooked cauliflower releases water, which will seep into the rest of the dish. So even if your sauce was thick when it went in the oven, if it's in there too long, the water from the cauliflower will cause it to go watery."

    Can you eat cauliflower cheese as a main meal? ›

    Rustle up one of the greatest comfort foods: cauliflower cheese. It makes a perfect side dish or vegetarian main meal.

    Why does my cauliflower cheese sauce separate? ›

    Cooking the cauliflower cheese at too high a temperature can sometimes cause the cheese to split, resulting in a slightly oily, grainy texture. A split sauce can also be avoided by removing the sauce from the heat before adding the cheese.

    What will adding lemon juice to the water for cooking cauliflower do? ›

    Cauliflower should be cooked quartered, or cut into florets at the base of the stem. In kitchen lore, lemon juice, milk, flour and vinegar have all been recommended as additions to cauliflower cooking water, presumably to keep it white.

    Why does cauliflower cheese upset my stomach? ›

    Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

    What part of cauliflower is not edible? ›

    Culinary. Cauliflower heads can be roasted, grilled, boiled, fried, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw. When cooking, the outer leaves and thick stalks are typically removed, leaving only the florets (the edible "curd" or "head"). The leaves are also edible but are often discarded.

    How many times a week should you eat cauliflower? ›

    At a minimum, include cruciferous vegetables as part of your diet 2-3 times per week, and make the serving size at least 1-1/2 cups. Even better from a health standpoint, enjoy cauliflower and other vegetables from the cruciferous vegetable group 4-5 times per week, and increase your serving size to 2 cups.

    Can you eat too much cauliflower? ›

    While cauliflower is a nutritious vegetable, consuming excessive amounts may lead to digestive issues like bloating or gas due to its fiber content. Additionally, some individuals may be sensitive to compounds in cruciferous vegetables, causing discomfort.

    Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

    This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites. As cauliflower is highly susceptible to microbial attacks, it should be washed once again. This time, boil some water and put the cauliflower florets in it. Keep for five minutes and remove from the hot water.

    Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? ›

    Boiling cauliflower makes for a quick side, but boiling it in chicken stock or other soup base is a great way to tenderize the vegetable while you're preparing it for a recipe.

    Why can't you reheat cauliflower cheese? ›

    Can you reheat cauliflower cheese? Yes you can, and it will taste fine… But just be aware that it will dry out a little and the cauliflower will be a little bit softer… not a deal breaker, but definitely not as good as fresh! Simply place any leftover cauliflower in a lidded container and refrigerate.

    How do you stop cauliflower cheese going watery? ›

    Drain well

    Make sure you drain the cauliflower really well after it's boiled up and before you add it to the dish, otherwise it will end up too watery.

    How do you squeeze moisture out of cauliflower? ›

    Once the riced cauliflower has been cooked (or thawed), transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel. Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEZE all the excess moisture out! (Be careful if your cauliflower is still hot-- let it cool before handling.)

    How do you keep cauliflower cheese from being watery? ›

    Drain well

    Make sure you drain the cauliflower really well after it's boiled up and before you add it to the dish, otherwise it will end up too watery.

    How do you keep cheese from getting watery? ›

    Our top recommendation is cheese paper. Cheese paper is the waxy paper your cheese often comes in when you get it from your local cheesemonger. Coated in both wax and a porous layer of plastic on the inside, cheese paper allows your cheese to breathe without being totally exposed and losing its precious moisture.

    How do you keep cauliflower from getting soggy? ›

    If you cut all the way through the floret, you're cutting through the cell structure of the curd — and when you cook it, that part will get mushy. Easier still: Place the larger florets on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little olive oil and roast them. Michael Marks is the marketing manager for FreshPoint.

    How do you get water out of cooked cauliflower? ›

    The trick with cauliflower is: Don't cook it till is too soft. just 4 or 5 minutes but taste to be sure. then drain into a colander, (sieve with big holes) and leave to drain for a few minutes, asking every minute. tap dry with a little kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.

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