A warm and comforting cauliflower cheddar and rice gratin to share with your family this Thanksgiving.
… or a BGB Friendsgiving!
Today I am teaming up with a bunch of my friends to bring you the ULTIMATE Friendsgiving! We have everything from a butternut squash and kale salad to goat cheese mashed potatoes (OMG!!) to pumpkin cheesecake. Yuuuuuuup, we’ve got it all!
The main ingredient in this gratin is cauliflower, which I love. Sure, it’s not super flavorful on its own but it is a great substitute for rice. And because it is not super flavorful, it’s a great vegetable that you can use to carry other flavors. And when I say ‘other flavors’, I mean cheese. Lots of cheddar cheese.
You get it.
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[/one_half_last] I don’t mean to hate on Halloween; but I am always psyched when November 1st rolls around. Thanksgiving has always been at the top of my list for favorite holidays. I come from a big family – my mom is one of 10 and I am one of 30 cousins; and Thanksgiving is the one holiday where that side of my family gets together. Plus it’s a holiday that’s centered around a meal, so you KNOW that I’m in.
Alright, let’s dig in to this cauliflower cheddar and rice gratin. To be honest, this turned out even better than I had hoped! It is warm and comforting, just the way Thanksgiving recipes should be. Oh and it’s also covered in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce that is LIFE CHANGING.
The sauce is made with a very specific cheddar cheese – Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar. (But you could totally make this with any cheddar cheese.) This is an aged white cheddar with hints of parmesan. And you know how parm kind of breaks apart because of the crystal-like structure? Yea, this does that too.
Go buy it. (Not an ad… I just really, really love that cheese.)
Make sure you check out all the BGB Friendsgiving posts below, or search the hashtag #bgbfriendsgiving on social media for all the drool-worthy recipes.
Do you celebrate Friendsgiving? Tell me what you’re making in the comments below!
If you make this Cauliflower Cheddar and Rice Gratin, don’t forget to post a picture on social media and use the hashtag #imhungrybynature for a chance to be featured!
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Cauliflower Cheddar and Rice Gratin
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 6 as a side 1x
- Category: Side, Vegetable
- Method: Oven
Description
A warm and comforting cauliflower cheddar and rice gratin to share with your family this Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup rice blend
- 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- Pinch cayenne
- 1 garlic glove, pressed
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Cook rice according to package instructions.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook for 2-3 minutes, drain.
- In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add cayenne and garlic, cook for 1 minute.
- Add flour and whisk to combine, cook the butter and flour mixture for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowing drizzle in milk, whisking the whole time. Then add broth. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, whisking constantly, about 7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in half of the cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Butter or spray a 2 quart baking dish. Combine rice and cauliflower in baking dish. Pour cheese mixture over the top, making sure everything is coated. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbly.
Keywords: casserole, rice, cauliflower, thanksgiving
Maybe I should have added more cheese…
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30 cousins?! Wow. Sounds like a great big family party, though!:)
And this looks amaaaazing. That TJ’s cheese sounds life-changing!
Yea – 30 cousins and only 7 of them are boys! Thanks Ellen – you seriously NEED to go buy that cheese.
Looks delicious! I love that you used both rice and cauliflower!
Thanks Aya! And yes, the two together make the perfect combo!!
This looks like a hug in a bowl! Like honestly – OHEMGEEEE. I really do want to make this next week when i have some girls over for dinner! Perfection.
And that seriously is what it feels like! Thanksgiving is all about comfort to me and I couldn’t help but add a little extra cheese 😉 I hope your girlfriends love it!!
I thought I came from a big family – wowza! Sounds so fun! And this gratin has me drooling!! Happy Friendsgiving!
Thanks Nicole – your pumpkin pie ice cream looks delish!!
Running to TJ’s ASAP to get some of that cheese! This looks amazing! Happy friendsgiving!
do it! I have purchased a LOT of TJ’s cheese over the years and this one reigns supreme!
i CAN’T wait to try this. seriously. it uses some of my tj’s faves & cauliflower cheese anything is right up my alley! awesome girl!
Yes Jess!! And thanks so much for hosting this virtual friendsgiving – I cannot wait for our next one!
This looks really good! I saved it to Pinterest to come back to later! Thanks for sharing!
YAY – thanks so much Britney! I hope you love it!!
OMG yum. This is so amazing. I definitely want to make this for the REAL Thanksgiving this year!!! Wow it looks creamy, cheesy, and good. YUMMMM!
It is ALL of those things! Maybe not the healthiest, but not too bad either – especially in moderation!
I absolutely love this idea. It’s one of those dishes that won’t make you feel too guilty about sampling a bunch of others!
You read my mind Mila!
I’ve never seen anything like this, love the idea of combining rice and cauliflower. Looks like a perfect Thanksgiving side dish! Happy Friendsgiving!
Yes! The combo makes it hearty and filling and the cheese sauce just puts it over the top!
Don’t mind me drooling over here… This looks incredible and so cozy! I love cauliflower and have never tried it in a casserole… I can’t wait to try this!
Oh it’s great in a casserole – the dish is really hearty and the cheese just makes it!
This sounds amazing Ellie! I think I’m going to try it out soon! I’m a sucker for anything cauliflower. I can’t believe your family is so big too! I have like a total of 3 cousins haha!! And your photography looks amazing! I want to dive into that pan. Happy Friendsgiving friend!
Thanks Kelly! And only 3 cousins?! I cannot even imagine that… for me, that was dinner every night growing up 😉 I hope you love this!!
Yum!!! That looks like the perfect holiday side dish 🙂
Thanks Myra!
This looks so fancy and delicious Ellie!
Thanks Emily! Happy Friendsgiving!!
Oh yum! We’ve been loving cauliflower lately and this looks amazing! Totally the same when it comes to the beginning of November. I think Thanksgiving might be my favorite holiday.
I’m glad we’re on the same page 😉 it’s definitely my favorite!!
Okay, I’m not lying when I say my mouth was watering when I read your description of the dish and saw the accompanying pictures. In short: this is -so- up my alley.
Also: 30 cousins?! Wow! And you’re all getting together for Thanksgiving? I always thought our family get-togethers were huge but I can’t imagine yours. That has to be fun!
Oh thank you SO much. You will have to let me know if you make it!! And yes, Thanksgiving is always huge!
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THAT LOOKS AMAZING! I don’t use cauliflower enough. You’ve inspired me to put it on this week’s grocery list.
Thanks Jenn! I hope you love this – I’m making it again for my family’s Thanksgiving meal!
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