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    Home » Recipes » Easy Vegan Side Dish Recipes

    Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Published: Oct 21, 2023 by Megan Calipari · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    This Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is baked in a luscious cashew cream sauce and a crispy panko topping. This is the perfect vegan and gluten free Autumn and Winter side dish.

    Wintertime is comfort food season. And this Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is a warm au gratin-style dish and it is the ultimate wintertime comfort food. And it makes a delicious Thanksgiving side dish!

    Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole in a blue baking dish with a gold spoon in it.
    This Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is the perfect Fall and Winter side dish!

    Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables to keep on hand. I love to slice cauliflower into steaks to make Vegan Garlic Butter Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, or use it to make cauliflower rice for Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Rice Burritos.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Method
    • Top Recipe Tips
    • Special Equipment
    • My Favorite Gluten-Free Panko
    • Storage
    • Looking for More Side Dish Recipes?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    Cauliflower: One small to medium head of cauliflower cut into florets.

    Cashews: Cashews give the cheese sauce its creaminess.

    Non-Dairy Milk: Use any unsweetened non dairy milk you like. I like So Delicious Coconut Milk.

    Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast gives the cream sauce its cheesy flavor.

    Garlic and Onion Powder: These add flavor to the sauce.

    Dijon Mustard: Dijon adds a bit of tang and depth.

    Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.

    Salt and Pepper: For seasoning.

    Panko Bread Crumbs: I used gluten-free panko to keep this Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole gluten-free.

    Overhead shot of ingredients needed to make the casserole.
    This is all you need to make this recipe.

    Method

    First, make the cheesy sauce. Combine soaked cashews, plant milk, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powder, dijon and salt and pepper in a blender.

    Then, blend on high until the sauce is completely smooth.

    Next, blanch the cauliflower in a large pot of boiling water until fork tender. Drain it and return the pot to the stove.

    Overhead shot of the vegan cheese sauce in the blender.
    First, blend the sauce until completely smooth.
    Cauliflower florets in a port of simmering water.
    Then boil the cauliflower until tender.

    Now, pour the cashew cheese sauce into the pot and cook until thickened.

    Then, add the cauliflower to the cheese sauce and combine.

    Finally, transfer the cauliflower in the vegan cheese sauce to a 1.5 QT casserole baking dish, top with panko and bake!

    A spatula with the thickened vegan cheese sauce on it.
    Then, cook the vegan cheese sauce until thickened.
    Overhead shot of the cheesy cauliflower in a baking dish toped with panko breadcrumbs.
    Toss the cauliflower into the cheese sauce and transfer to a baking dish. Then top with panko and bake!

    Top Recipe Tips

    To achieve a creamy cashew sauce for the Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole, its imperative to first soak the cashews.

    Soaking softens the cashews so the blender can blend them into a completely smooth sauce.

    I use my tea kettle to pour boiling water over the cashews. Then, I allow them to soak for 30 minutes.

    Special Equipment

    You need a blender for this recipe.

    I have a high speed blender, which I realize not everyone has.

    This recipe will also work in a magic bullet style blender, but you may need cut the plant milk in half to make sure it fits.

    Then, once the sauce is blended add the remaining non-dairy milk.

    A scoop taken out of the baked vegan cheesy cauliflower casserole.
    Its so creamy and delicious!

    My Favorite Gluten-Free Panko

    My favorite brands are Ian's Original Panko Bread Crumbs, and Kikkoman Gluten-Free Panko.

    But, there are many brands to choose from so use what is accessible.

    Or if you don't need to avoid gluten, go with the traditional panko!

    Storage

    To store, transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    I don't recommend freezing this recipe.

    I recommend reheating in a toaster oven over a microwave.

    Scoops taken out of the cassserole.
    The perfect Thanksgiving side.

    Looking for More Side Dish Recipes?

    Vegan Maple Dijon Mustard Roasted Brussels Sprouts

    Vegan Hot Honey Roasted Rainbow Carrots

    Vegan Farro Salad

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole in a baking dish with a gold spoon in it.

    Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Megan Calipari
    This Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is baked au gratin style in a luscious cashew cream sauce and a crispy panko topping. This is the perfect vegan and gluten free Autumn and Winter side dish.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine French
    Servings 6 Servings
    Calories 145 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender High Speed or Magic Bullet Style
    • 1 4 Quart Pot
    • 1 1.5 Quart Baking Dish
    • 1 Whisk
    • 1 Rubber Spatula
    • Measuring Cups and Spoons

    Ingredients
      

    For the Cashew Cream Sauce

    • ½ Cup Raw Cashews, soaked in hot water for at least 30 minutes
    • 1 ¼ Cup Non-Dairy Milk I used So Delicious Coconut Milk
    • ¼ Cup Nutritional Yeast
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 2 teaspoon Cornstarch
    • Black Pepper to Taste

    For the Gratin

    • 1 Medium Head of Cauliflower, cut into florets 6-7 Cups of Florets
    • ¼ Cup Gluten-Free Panko Bread Crumbs

    Instructions
     

    To Make the Cashew Cream Sauce

    • Combine soaked cashews, non-dairy milk, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, cornstarch salt and pepper in a high speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth, scraping the sides down with a spatula as necessary. SEE NOTE
      ½ Cup Raw Cashews, soaked in hot water for at least 30 minutes, 1 ¼ Cup Non-Dairy Milk, ¼ Cup Nutritional Yeast, 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard, ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt, 2 teaspoon Cornstarch, Black Pepper to Taste

    To Put the Gratin Together

    • Preheat oven to 400* F.
    • You will need a 1.5 quart baking vessel. Shape doesn't matter, so to test which baking vessel is the right size, add the raw cauliflower to see if all of it fits. Set the baking dish aside.
    • Fill a 3-4 quart pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a big pinch of salt to the water and then add the cauliflower florets. Boil for 4-6 minutes, until the cauliflower starts to get tender.
      1 Medium Head of Cauliflower, cut into florets
    • Drain the cauliflower into a colander. Leave the cauliflower in the colander, but return the pot to the stove.
    • Pour the cashew cream sauce into the pot and turn the burner onto medium. Whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken and just comes to a boil. Then, remove from heat.
    • Add the cauliflower into the thickened cashew cream sauce, gently stir with a spatula to coat everything. Then transfer the mixture into an approximately 1.5 quart baking dish. Top with panko bread crumbs.
      ¼ Cup Gluten-Free Panko Bread Crumbs
    • Bake in a 400* oven for 25 minutes, then turn the broiler on and broil just until the panko topping is browned, 3-5 minutes.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    This recipe will also work in a magic bullet-style blender, but you may need cut the non-dairy in half to make sure it fits.
    Then, once the sauce is blended add the remaining non-dairy milk.
    To store, transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I don't recommend freezing this recipe.
    I recommend reheating in a toaster oven over a microwave.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingCalories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 382mgPotassium: 474mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 194IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Let me know how you like this recipe!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Phyllis Neyman

      January 08, 2023 at 10:35 pm

      Megan, did you go to Richland Elementary School?

      Reply
      • Megan Calipari

        January 09, 2023 at 1:15 pm

        Yes!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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