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Home > Vegan Recipes

Vegan Cauliflower Gratin (Cheesy Baked Cauliflower)

12/7/21 by Nicole | 10 Comments

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5 from 7 votes. Leave a review!

This vegan cauliflower gratin recipe creates an ultra-cheesy, rich and delicious baked casserole. It’s super easy to make with no need to pre-cook the sauce or cauliflower!

It’s also a perfect side dish, especially for holiday meals. It’ll impress anyone who tries it, vegan or otherwise!

Round grey ceramic baking dish filled with cauliflower au gratin (baked cheesy cauliflower). Dish sits on a light brown towel.

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Is Cauliflower au Gratin Vegan?

Cauliflower au gratin is a common side dish that’s made by baking cauliflower in a cheesy sauce. Typical gratin recipes are not vegan since they contain dairy.

To make vegan cauliflower gratin, you’ll need plant-based milk and cheese shreds for a rich and satisfying cheese sauce.

I also add plenty of herbs and spices to cauliflower gratin whereas traditional recipes are relatively simple (but still delicious). The herbs and spices in this recipe (basil, oregano and smoked paprika) are optional, so adjust to your own taste preferences.

Top view of a small round baking dish with baked cauliflower cheese and a wood serving spoon inside and a plate loaded with the cheesy cauliflower. Image decorated with parsley and a dish of nutritional yeast.

Ingredients for Vegan Cauliflower Casserole

To create a flavorful vegan cauliflower cheese casserole with creamy sauce, this recipe uses a few ingredients that may be unconventional but work well together. 

  • Cauliflower: You’ll need one small head of cauliflower for this recipe, or half of a large cauliflower. This delicious vegetable has a mild flavor that’s enhanced by cooking, and despite being white, it’s actually very nutritious.
  • Vegan butter: The sauce uses garlic butter for a rich and creamy gratin. You can use vegan margarine if you prefer.
  • Garlic: I love garlic and lots of it! This adds tons of flavor to a cauliflower bake, so don’t hold back!
  • Soy milk: The sauce needs creamy liquid and I like to use soy milk. Soy milk is richer and creamier than most other plant-based milks. Technically any plant-based milk should work, but I haven’t tested the recipe with other options.
  • Corn starch: This essential ingredient helps the sauce thicken as your casserole bakes. I haven’t tested other starch options, but they may work.
  • Vegan cheese shreds: For a cheesy casserole, vegan cheese shreds work well. Vegan cheese is notorious for not melting, but in a sauce, most brands seem to melt okay. Use your favorite dairy free cheese shreds; I use a cheddar-style for this recipe!
  • Nutritional yeast: Even though you’ll use vegan cheese in this recipe, boost the savory, cheesy flavor with some nutritional yeast too.
  • Dijon mustard: While this is optional, it adds a nice flavor and some “zing” to the sauce.
  • Apple cider vinegar: If you’ve ever roasted or baked veggies and thought they lacked something, it likely didn’t have vinegar (or another acidic ingredient). Acidity always enhances a recipe and elevates other flavors. Any type of vinegar can work but I use apple cider vinegar and always have some on hand.
  • Onion powder: Since this recipe doesn’t use fresh onion, some onion powder helps bring in that delicious flavor.
  • Smoked paprika: This smoky spice adds tons of flavor to cauliflower bake. While it’s not a traditional ingredient, I love it. A regular, sweet or even spicy paprika can work; or skip it entirely for a classic flavor.
  • Dry oregano and basil: These two herbs are optional, but I love how they boost flavor in this recipe. They aren’t traditional cauliflower gratin ingredients, so skip them if you want that simple, classic flavor.
  • Salt and pepper: Round out the recipe with salt and black pepper, added to your taste. Don’t skimp on the salt; cheese is very high in salt and is essential to getting the right flavor when making vegan cheese alternatives.
Arrangement of ingredients in glass and wood dishes. From top left going right then down: cauliflower florets, milk, butter, grated cheese, Dijon mustard, vinegar, paprika and pepper, minced garlic, nutritional yeast, onion powder and salt, dry basil and oregano, corn starch.

How to Make Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

This baked cauliflower casserole is incredibly simple to make. Unlike other cauliflower casserole recipes, you don’t need to pre-cook the cauliflower or the sauce!

Your cauliflower will come out perfectly cooked, with some “bite” left to it (meaning it isn’t complete mush and has a delicious texture).

Step 1: Prep Cauliflower

Begin by preheating your oven to 375 °F.

Cut the cauliflower into small, bite-sized pieces. Add the cauliflower pieces into a small to medium-sized baking dish.

Hands chopping cauliflower on a wooden cutting board.

Any baking dish that holds the cauliflower should work. If you have a casserole dish with a lid, that’s best to use. Otherwise, use tin foil to cover the gratin while it bakes.

Step 2: Prep Sauce

Prepare the cheesy sauce by adding vegan butter to a microwave-safe container along with minced garlic. Microwave the butter in 30-45 second intervals. Once it’s melted, use your delicious garlic butter as the sauce base.

Hand dumping minced garlic into glass measuring cup that contains butter. Dish of cauliflower florets in bottom left corner of image.

Next, add plant-based milk and starch. Whisk this mixture until there are no clumps of starch left. Use a small whisk or a fork.

Glass measuring cup pouring milk into a larger glass measuring cup that is filled with melted butter and a small whisk. Glass dish of cauliflower florets in bottom left corner.

Then add the remaining sauce ingredients, including shredded vegan cheese, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, dry oregano, dry basil and black pepper.

Remember, you can adjust the seasonings to your taste.

Stir the sauce until everything is well combined.

Blurry whisk that is whisking a creamy sauce in a glass measuring cup with a hand griping the handle of the cup.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake

Pour sauce over your cauliflower in the baking dish. Toss to coat the cauliflower with sauce.

Blurry spoon stirring raw cauliflower florets in a glass dish with a creamy sauce that has shredded cheese and flakes of spices in it.

Place a lid on the baking dish (or tin foil if there isn’t a lid) and place into your preheated oven.

Bake for 50 minutes total. At the halfway point, remove your casserole from the oven and stir it. This helps cook the cauliflower and sauce evenly. You may find it best to stir the dish around twice through the baking process.

Don’t forget to stir your cauliflower! I recommend setting a timer to 25 minutes, stir, then return the lid (or tin foil) to your baking dish before putting it back in for another 25 minutes.

The cauliflower is ready when it’s fork tender but still has a slight crunch. If you prefer your cauliflower more well-done, bake it for longer.

The cheesy sauce should also be thick and creamy when done.

You can serve this dish hot, straight from the oven.

Top view of two plates and a round, grey ceramic baking dish, all filled with creamy baked cauliflower and garnished with parsley. Wood spoons decorate around the image.

How to Serve this Vegan Cauliflower Gratin

I consider a balanced meal one that contains a good source of plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fats and lots of vegetables or fruits.

Cauliflower gratin is a side dish that mainly provides a vegetable and fats. Aim to serve it alongside some protein and carbohydrates.

I often make this side dish as part of a roast dinner alongside some seitan (vegan meat) or lentil “meatloaf”. They compliment each other to create a more balanced meal!

Herbed focaccia bread or whole wheat dinner rolls are tasty, homemade bread options if you want a boost of carbohydrates. Mashed or roasted potatoes (or sweet potatoes) are also a tasty side dish alongside cheesy cauliflower bake.

Since this is a rich side dish, you can lighten the meal by including a side salad! Spinach salad or an Italian-style salad are tasty options!

Plate loaded with cheesy baked cauliflower sits in front of a small, round, grey ceramic baking dish filled with the cauliflower and a wood serving spoon.

How to Refrigerate Baked Cauliflower

Let leftovers cool to about room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. Alternatively, you can simply cover the baking dish and, once cooled, place in your fridge. You can refrigerate this dish for up to 5 days.

Reheat using a microwave or oven, set to 350 °F, until warmed through (use a lid/ tin foil when reheating so it doesn’t dry out). If you want to prep the recipe one day and cook it the next, store uncooked casserole covered in your fridge.

When ready to bake, simply place into a preheated oven. The dish may take 5-10 minutes longer to cook if you do this because the baking dish and all the ingredients start cold.

Two plates loaded with cauliflower baked in cheesy sauce, each garnished with parsley.

If you make this recipe, please rate and comment below to help others benefit from your experience!

Square cropped close up of a round grey ceramic baking dish filled with cauliflower au gratin (baked cheesy cauliflower).

Vegan Cauliflower Gratin

This easy vegan cauliflower gratin creates a deliciously cheesy baked cauliflower casserole. No need to pre-cook the sauce or cauliflower!
5 from 7 votes. Leave a review!
Prevent screen going dark
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 190 kcal
Cuisine Vegan

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Microwave safe bowl (or small pot)
  • Small casserole dish (with lid or tin foil)
  • Whisk (or fork/ spoon)
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups cauliflower , cut into florets (~1 small head; 1 cup = 110 g)
  • ¼ cup vegan butter , or margarine (60 g)
  • 3-4 cloves garlic , mined or crushed
  • 1 cup plant-based milk , I use soy milk
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • ¾ cup vegan cheese , shredded (70 g)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon dry oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dry basil
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Prevent screen going dark

Instructions

Step 1: Prep Cauliflower

  • Preheat your oven to 375 °F.
  • Cut cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
    5 cups cauliflower
  • Add cauliflower pieces to a small-medium sized baking dish (any dish that fits the cauliflower). A dish with a lid is best.

Step 2: Prep Sauce

  • Add vegan butter to a microwave-safe dish along with minced garlic. Microwave in 30-45 second intervals until the butter melts completely.
    ¼ cup vegan butter, 3-4 cloves garlic
  • Add soy milk and corn starch to the butter (use larger bowl if needed). Whisk until there are no clumps of starch left (use a small whisk or fork).
    1 cup plant-based milk, 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • Add remaining sauce ingredients to the milk mixture: vegan cheese shreds, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, dry oregano, dry basil and ground black pepper.
    ¾ cup vegan cheese, 1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon dry oregano, ¼ teaspoon dry basil, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Stir or whisk until well combined.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake

  • Pour sauce over your cauliflower in the baking dish. Stir to coat cauliflower in sauce.
  • Place a lid on the baking dish (or tin foil if there isn’t a lid) and bake for 50 minutes total. Stir the cauliflower at least once, if not twice, during the cooking process. I recommend setting the timer to 25 minutes, stirring, then set for another 25 minutes.
  • Return the lid/ tin foil to the baking dish before putting back into your oven.
  • The cauliflower is done when it’s fork tender but still has a slight crunch to it (if you prefer it to be softer, cook longer). The sauce should be thick and creamy too.
  • Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Accuracy of nutrition information cannot be guaranteed (certain ingredients may not have all nutrients listed in the database); amounts may vary (and will vary depending on brands of ingredients used); all nutrition fact values rounded to the nearest whole number.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving (¼ of recipe)Calories: 190 kcalCarbohydrates: 16 gProtein: 7 gFat: 11 gSaturated Fat: 2 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5 gMonounsaturated Fat: 4 gSodium: 451 mgPotassium: 565 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 3 gVitamin A: 610 IUVitamin C: 66 mgCalcium: 261 mgIron: 1 mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Vegan Side Dish Recipes

Like this recipe? You should also try:

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    Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe (with Roasted Garlic)
  • Close up of a pile of cauliflower wings.
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  • Close up of a plate of kale salad with tahini dressing, oranges, edamame, almonds and carrots.
    Vegan Kale Salad (with Orange-Tahini Dressing)
  • Close up of three partially-cropped bowls of tabbouleh (bulgur, parsley, tomato, red onion).
    Vegan Tabbouleh Salad Recipe

About Nicole Stevens

Nicole is a vegan Registered Dietitian (RD) and founder of Lettuce Veg Out.

She helps people thrive on a vegan diet with balanced recipes and easy-to-understand nutrition science.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kyle

    May 31, 2022 at 2:00 pm

    Didn't work for me. I had to cook it for an hour and a half to cook the cauli - it was still raw after 50 mins - and the sauce was watery and not pleasant. Given 2 stars as my mum was able to choke some of it down but I only managed a mouthful 😣

    Reply
    • Nicole Stevens

      June 01, 2022 at 11:09 am

      Sorry this didn't work for you. I'd be happy to help trouble shoot if you want to provide me more information. There are a few reasons why the sauce might have been watery - the type of plant-based milk, vegan butter, vegan cheese and starch used could be a factor. Also, was the starch fully whisked in without clumps? As for the cook time, the size of the cauliflower pieces factors in, as does making sure the oven is fully preheated first, and using a lid on the baking dish. As a note, the cook time is for slightly crunchy cauliflower and needs to be cooked longer if you want it fully soft. As for the flavor, sometimes people accidentally use regular/ baking yeast instead of nutritional yeast, which is very different; or maybe don't like the taste of the vegan cheese used. I'd be happy to help sort out what happened so we can help out others who want to make this recipe!

      Reply
  2. Jeannette

    December 25, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    Just ate this absolutely superb cauliflower gratin which was by far the best we have ever eaten. This will be the only way I will cook cauliflower from now on!
    Thank you so much Nicole

    Reply
    • Nicole Stevens

      December 31, 2021 at 7:19 am

      So happy you liked it!

      Reply
  3. Debbie

    June 19, 2021 at 11:28 pm

    I just made this recipe for lunch and it is so delicious - packed full of flavour and very satisfying 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicole Stevens

      June 20, 2021 at 8:16 am

      SO happy you enjoyed Debbie!

      Reply
  4. Glory B.

    April 05, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    I made this yesterday. It is SO good. I'm heating up leftovers now!

    Reply
    • Nicole Stevens

      April 05, 2021 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed - it's certainly one of my favorites!

      Reply
  5. Vineetha

    January 11, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    nice and colorful, explained in detail, provided all the tips , straight away I feel like to try this recipe. thank you

    Reply
    • Nicole Stevens

      January 12, 2021 at 7:06 am

      I'm so glad you liked it!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Nicole! As a vegan Registered Dietitian, I empower vegans to live a balanced life and gain confidence in the kitchen.

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