Potato Cauliflower Bake

4.99 from 164 votes

This cheesy Potato Cauliflower Bake is a delicious side dish that's quick and easy - pair it with weeknight dinners or Thanksgiving turkey!

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This potato cauliflower bake is an easy cheesy side dish that is always a crowd favorite. It’s simple to make with a few ingredients and is great for pairing with a weeknight chicken dinner or your annual Thanksgiving feast!

Top down shot of Potato Cauliflower Bake

ingredients & substitutions

  • Potatoes: Peel and chop the potatoes. Use starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Russet for the best results since they will absorb the milk and cheese; it’s best to avoid waxy potatoes.
  • Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into small florets. Boil them with the potatoes to soften before baking.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme.
  • Milk: Milk helps to keep the cauliflower and potatoes from drying out when they are baked and adds a creamy flavor. You could use 2% milk for as suggested here or half and half for a more decadent side dish.
  • Cheese: The casserole is topped with shredded cheddar cheese before being baked but any melty cheese will work!
Ingredients to make the recipe

how to make potato cauliflower bake

  • Boil the potatoes first and then add the cauliflower towards the end.
  • Cook until both are tender but still crisp, and drain.
2 image collage to show cooking the potatoes and the cauliflower in a large pot
  • Add the potatoes and cauliflower to a baking dish and season.
  • Pour over the milk.
  • Top with shredded cheese.
  • Bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
4 image collage to show how to layer and cook the potatoes and cauliflower in a baking dish

Tips for making the potato bake

  1. Cut the potatoes and cauliflower into similar sized pieces. This will help them to cook through at the same time so that the casserole has an even texture.
  2. Start the potatoes in boiling water. If you place the potatoes into cold water and bring it up to a boil, the outsides will be cooked before the middles. Cook them in salted water to add flavor right from the beginning of cooking.
  3. Let the cauliflower potatoes steam and drain. This will help to get rid of excess moisture. If you add them straight to the casserole dish they can get too soggy.
  4. Change up this recipe to suit your tastes. Try using sweet potatoes instead of regular, and broccoli works great in place of the cauliflower. You can use different seasonings depending on what you are serving it with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make this recipe with plant based milk?

We use 2% dairy milk in this potato cauliflower bake, but you can use a neutral tasting plant based milk like oat milk or unsweetened almond.

Can you make it ahead of time?

For best results, this is best served as soon as it’s baked, but you can prep it ahead of time. You can boil the cauliflower and potatoes, place them in the dish with the milk and cheese, then keep covered until you are ready to cook them later in the day.

If you do have leftovers, they will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and can be reheated in the oven at 350F until warmed through.

What do you serve it with?

This cauliflower potato casserole can be easily served as part of an easy weeknight meal, but it will not be out of place on your Thanksgiving or holiday table either. Serve them alongside:
Thanksgiving Turkey
Dry Brined Turkey Breast
Mushroom Gravy
Green Beans with Almonds
Cranberry Orange Sauce

Potato cauliflower casserole after baking set on Thanksgiving dinner with sides around

This cheesy cauliflower potato bake is a wonderful addition to any holiday table. Simple to make and cook, it’s lighter than other creamy and cheesy side dishes, but is just as delicious!

More cauliflower recipes:

If you try this healthy-ish feel good Potato Cauliflower Bake recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

Potato Cauliflower Bake

This cheesy Potato Cauliflower Bake is a delicious side dish that's quick and easy – pair it with weeknight dinners or Thanksgiving turkey!
5 from 164 votes
Servings 6 servings
Course Side Dish
Calories 214
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Video

Ingredients
  

  • 3 medium yellow potatoes peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 small head cauliflower cut into florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup 2% milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F degrees.
  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook potatoes for 15 minutes and then add cauliflower for the last 10 minutes to cook together until both are crisp tender. Drain potatoes and cauliflower and set aside.
  • Transfer the potatoes and cauliflower to an 8×11 baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with fresh thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour the milk on top and toss to combine.
  • Add the cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is golden and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

Notes

Storage: Leftovers will keep well for up to 3 days covered in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 161mg, Potassium: 690mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 256IU, Vitamin C: 65mg, Calcium: 184mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Side Dish

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Comments

    1. So sorry to hear that it was too bland, cauliflower is one of those foods that does take some getting used to.

  1. Can you prepare in stages to shorten dinner cook time…like pre-Boil potatoes & cauliflower in the a.m. so you only have to bake in the p.m.?

    1. For best results, this is best served as soon as it’s baked, but you can prep it ahead of time. You can boil the cauliflower and potatoes, place them in the dish with the milk and cheese, then keep covered until you are ready to cook them later in the day.

      If you do have leftovers, they will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and can be reheated in the oven at 350F until warmed through.