Cauliflower Spinach Bake

Whether you’re trying to sneak more vegetables into your day or cutting down on carbs — cauliflower spinach bake is a tasty casserole that serves well as a vegetarian main dish or side dish.

this recipe

Just like our cauliflower mashed potatoes and cauliflower rice pilaf, this cauliflower spinach recipe is low-carb, delicious, and a great side dish to pair alongside your favorite entrées. You can also serve it as a vegetarian main dish.

This cauliflower spinach bake combines cooked cauliflower with baby spinach in a creamy cheese sauce with a layer of toasted bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. It’s creamy, flavorful, and easy to prepare.

In my opinion, it reminds me a little of mac and cheese but with spinach and cauliflower.

Ingredients

• cauliflower
• milk
• bay leaf
• all-purpose flour
• cream cheese
• sharp cheddar cheese
• paprika
• mustard
• butter
• breadcrumbs
• spinach
• Parmesan cheese

How to Make Cauliflower Spinach Bake

To make this cauliflower and spinach bake, have all the ingredients prepared and measured out. 

Prepare the Cauliflower

Cut the cauliflower into the same size florets. Place florets into a colander and rinse under cold water.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the cauliflower in the boiling water for 4-5 minutes or just until tender-crisp. Immediately drain over a colander.

Make the Cheese Sauce

In a saucepan, warm milk and bay leaf. Whisk together the remaining milk with flour until there are no lumps. Whisk it into the warm milk. Add the cream cheese and whisk until smooth and slightly thickened.

Discard the bay leaf. Stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese and whisk just until the cheese melts. Then add 1 more cup of cheese, whisking until melted and smooth.

Off heat, stir in the paprika, mustard, and salt. Season with ground black pepper, to taste. 

Prepare the Breadcrumbs

In a medium non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and stir until completely coated with butter.

You can also melt the butter in a microwave and add it to the breadcrumbs. Stir until combined.

To Assemble 

Add half of the cauliflower to a 10 X 10 baking dish. Top with spinach and then the remaining cauliflower. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower. Using a spoon, lightly move the cauliflower around so it is evenly coated with the sauce.

Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350F uncovered, for 13-15 minutes or just until the cheese has melted. Broil for additional 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Few Tips & Tricks

• Make sure your cauliflower florets are similar in size to ensure an even bake.
• Drain cooked cauliflower really well. It’s important for the cauliflower to be as dry as possible before baking, otherwise, it can water down the sauce. You can even pat dry the cauliflower with a few sheets of paper towels.
• The key to creamy and thick sauce is low heat. At no point, do you want the milk at a rolling boil.
• If you use frozen spinach, make sure to drain it and squeeze out the extra water.
• Do not overcrowd the baking dish too much. Both cauliflower and spinach are high in water content, therefore, you want to give them plenty of room to steam out. A square 10 X 10 baking dish is a great size for this recipe.

What Does Cauliflower Spinach Bake Pair With?

Cauliflower and spinach bake makes a tasty addition to your weeknight meals, here are a few ideas of what you could serve with it:

• Lemon Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
• Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
• Chicken with Zucchini and Corn
• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Roasted Lemon Rosemary Chicken

This cauliflower bake is also filling enough to serve as a main dish on its own. 

More Vegetable Recipes

• Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
• Roasted Broccoli with Pine Nuts and Parmesan
• Asian Green Bean Recipe
• Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

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