Love Cauliflower Cheese? Then you will also love this easy Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese recipe. Creamy white sauce, melted cheese, and crispy cauliflower edges make it perfect for vegetarian holiday mains or a comforting dinner on a chilly night.
This creamy and cheesy cauliflower cheese is one I’ve been making for over 20 years, and it’s a true family favourite. Whether it’s part of our Christmas dinner, a Thanksgiving spread, or even my daughter’s play date, this dish is always a winner with friends and family.
It’s really easy peasy! Just add the cauliflower florets, cheese sauce, and cheese, then air fry until golden and bubbly. Ready in under 30 minutes!
I first learned this recipe from my neighbour Pat, who made her oven-baked cauliflower cheese for us a few times. I’ve been making it ever since – both in the oven and now in the air fryer. If you love this, you’ll also enjoy my roasted broccoli and cauliflower cheese recipe – another tasty twist!
Jump to:
- 👩🏻🍳Sandhya's Top Tips
- 📋Ingredients
- Variations
- 🔪How to Make Cauliflower Cheese in the Air fryer?
- 🔪How to Make Cauliflower Cheese in the Oven?
- 🍽 Serving Suggestions
- 🧂Storing Leftovers
- 🎄How to Make Ahead Best Cauliflower Cheese for Christmas?
- More Air fryer Cauliflower Recipes
- ❓Recipe FAQ's
- Air fryer Cauliflower Cheese Recipe
👩🏻🍳Sandhya's Top Tips
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets – not too small, or they’ll get lost! Remember, the cauliflower florets cooks in the air fryer, so you still want it to hold its shape.
- Parboil the cauliflower just until it’s fork tender but still firm. I love having that bit of bite, while keeping it tender. If you prefer, you can air fry the cauliflower first for an extra layer of texture.
- Don’t skip the Dijon mustard and Red Leicester Cheese (Colby Jack in the US) in this cauliflower cheese – they’re my two secret ingredients that make all the difference.
- Use full-fat ingredients to make a rich creamy cheese sauce. Its a versatile sauce that you can also use for making Brussels Sprouts Gratin or Christmas Vegetable Gratin too.
- A homemade cheddar cheese sauce really makes all the difference in this recipe. But if you’re short on time, feel free to use your favorite store-bought white sauce instead.
- You may need to adjust the timing and temperature because air fryer models can work a bit differently. Don’t be afraid to check and tweak as needed! I used a 20 x 16 cm dish that fits perfectly in my Instant Pot Vortex 6-in-1 air fryer (5.7L capacity), and it only needed about 5 minutes. If you're using a smaller or larger air fryer, just adjust the cook time accordingly.
📋Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Cauliflower: Fresh cauliflower florets taste best when chopped into large florets and used in this dish.
- Cheese: Use a combination of cheeses - Cheddar Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese.
- Milk: Adding milk creates the creamy texture.
- Full fat Cream: It adds a lot the richness to the sauce.
- Plain flour (All Purpose flour)
- Butter: You can use unsalted butter for this recipe.
- Salt & Pepper: to taste
Variations
- Crispy Toppings: Sprinkle 2 -3 tablespoon of panko bread crumbs over the top of grated cheese.
- Vary the cheese: Cheddar cheese is firm favourite in the cheese sauce. But for a change, you can add parmesan or gruyere cheese.
- Mustard: This recipe uses Dijon Mustard. You can choose to add English Mustard instead, in the cheese sauce.
🔪How to Make Cauliflower Cheese in the Air fryer?
Step 1. Add cauliflower florets and a teaspoon of salt to a large pot. Pour boiling water from the kettle and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Drain to a colander and set aside.
Tip: You want the cauliflower to be fork-tender when pierced with a knife but still firm enough to hold its shape.
Step 2: To prepare homemade cheddar cheese sauce, first melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Then add the flour, stirring continuously to form a thick paste. Gradually add the milk and cream, whisking until fully combined. Stir in Dijon mustard and a pinch of nutmeg, cooking the sauce until it begins to bubble. Turn off the heat, add cheddar cheese, season with salt and pepper, and then remove it from the heat.
Tip: You can also use this versatile cheddar cheese sauce to make Christmas Gratin too.
Step 3: Arrange the cauliflower florets in a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer.
Step 4: Pour the cheese sauce over them to ensure they are fully covered. Sprinkle cheddar and Red Leicester cheese on top.
Step 5: Transfer the baking dish with cauliflower and cheese to the air fryer basket.
Step 6: Air fry at 200°C for 5-6 minutes. Your goal is to achieve a golden-brown top with bubbling sauce.
Tip: Keep in mind that the exact frying time may vary depending on your air fryer's size, so use the mentioned time as a reference. If you are using a smaller air fryer, you may have to make them in two dishes.
🔪How to Make Cauliflower Cheese in the Oven?
To make cauliflower cheese in the oven, preheat to 200°C (400°F). Layer cauliflower in a baking dish, pour cheesy cream sauce over them, scatter cheese, and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden. Allow the dish to cool slightly before serving.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese is a versatile dish that can be a star on your holiday mains menu, whether it's for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other special occasion. It also makes an excellent choice for vegetarians looking for a hearty main course or a side dish too.
You can serve it with a side of air fryer vegetables, a fresh red coleslaw, or no knead bread to create a balanced and satisfying meal.
Add them to your holiday table and serve with these Thanksgiving Vegetarian Side Dishes.
🧂Storing Leftovers
- In the fridge: If you have any leftovers, don't worry; this dish can be stored easily. Simply place the leftover cauliflower cheese in an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will stay fresh for 4-5 days.
- In the freezer: For longer-term storage, consider freezing it. Transfer to freezer safe container. They keep well in the freezer for up to 6 months.The cauliflower texture will be softer when thawed, but I can tell you they are still delicious.
- To reheat: First thaw the frozen cauliflower cheese in the fridge overnight or in the microwave using the defrost function. Then reheat it in the oven or air fryer to bring back that crispy texture.
🎄How to Make Ahead Best Cauliflower Cheese for Christmas?
To ease the holiday rush on Christmas or Thanksgiving, I alway prep the Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese in advance. Start by cooking the cauliflower until it's firm tender and making the creamy cheese sauce. Once those components are ready, follow these steps:
- Assemble the Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce: Layer the cooked cauliflower with the rich velvety cheese sauce in a baking dish. Scatter more cheese on the top.
- Cover and Refrigerate: Cover the dish with foil or cling film, then place it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. This resting period will enhance the flavours as the cauliflower absorbs the rich, cheesy goodness.
- Preparing for Serving: About one hour before you’re ready to serve, remove the prepared cauliflower cheese from the fridge.
- Air Fry: Place the dish in the air fryer and cook until the cheese are bubbly, and golden on top.
Serve along with other popular Vegetarian Christmas sides like
More Air fryer Cauliflower Recipes
❓Recipe FAQ's
Absolutely! Use Dairy free butter or Flora Butter, Dairy free milk( I prefer Oat) and dair free cheese for the same recipe below.
I recommend Broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts to make this cheesy gratin. I make roasted broccoli and cauflower cheese and Chrismas gratin with mixed veggies.
You can prep the components like cauliflower and cheese sauce upto 3 days in advance. Assemble 24 hours before and air fry cauliflower cheese just before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower broken into large florets (450g)
Cheese Sauce
- 50 g butter about 4 tbsp
- 56 g plain flour about 4 tbsp
- 250 ml whole milk
- 250 ml double cream
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
- 75 g mature cheddar grated
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg optional
On the top
- 50 g red Leicester cheese
- 50 g cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pan of water to the boil, then add cauliflower pieces, and cook for 5 mins – lift out a piece to test, it should be cooked. Drain and add it to an oven proof dish1 medium cauliflower
- Simultaneously, make a cheese sauce.Heat butter in a pan. When melted, add the flour and cook continuously in low flame to create a roux.50 g butter, 56 g plain flour, 250 ml whole milk, 250 ml double cream, salt and pepper to taste, 75 g mature cheddar
- Then add the milk and cream a little at a time first and continue to whisk until thick.
- Add the dijon mustard, remaining cream / milk and a pinch of nutmeg and stir and cook until the sauce bubbles.Switch off the flame and add cheddar cheese.1 teaspoon dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- Place the cauliflower florets in a baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over until fully coated. Scatter red Leicester cheese and cheddar cheese all over.50 g red Leicester cheese, 50 g cheddar cheese
Air frying
- Transfer the dish to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 180C for 5-6 minutes until the cheese has melted, bubbling and the top is brown.
Baking in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 200C. If you would like to bake, place the the dish in the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese has melted and bubbling and the top is brown.
Notes
Sandhya’s Top Tips
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets – not too small, as they’ll cook further in the air fryer and should hold their shape.
- Parboil until fork-tender but still firm, or air fry the cauliflower for extra texture.
- Don’t skip the Dijon mustard and Red Leicester (or Colby Jack) – they’re my secret ingredients that make all the difference.
- Use full-fat ingredients for a rich, creamy cheese sauce. It’s also perfect for Air fryer Brussels Sprouts Gratin or Christmas Vegetable Gratin.
- Homemade cheddar cheese sauce makes all the difference, but store-bought white sauce works if you’re short on time.
- Air fryer models vary, so check and adjust timing as needed. I used a 20 x 16 cm dish in my 5.7L Instant Pot Vortex, which took about 5 minutes – smaller or larger dishes may need more or less time.
Carrie Robinson says
What a great idea for a side dish! 🙂 Love that this is made in the air fryer.
Shelby says
I love the air fryer option for this delicious classic recipe. Made it with the crispy topping and everyone loved it!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this with dinner tonight and it was a savory success! Turned out light, yet hearty and perfectly cheesy! Easily, a new favorite way to enjoy cauliflower!
Emily says
This was so comforting and delicious, everyone loved it! This is definitely going on my holiday table!
Anjali says
This might be my new favorite way to eat cauliflower! It was super cheesy, comforting and satisfying!