About
Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese is a dish made by combining cauliflower florets with a cheese sauce and then cooking in an air fryer until the cheese is melted, oozy and delicious! It’s a variation of the classic cauliflower cheese dish, but the air fryer provides a convenient and efficient way to bake without needing to turn on the oven. It is also a great way to serve 2 people as a main. I do the same with my Air Fryer Pasta Bake. Cauliflower Cheese is a delicious main but also works as a creamy side dish for a roast dinner or even as a creamy accompaniment to a festive meal! It is perfect as a vegetarian main for Christmas or Thanksgiving meals but also a super comforting dinner on a chilly winter night. The cheese sauce is a simple roux sauce with added cheese and the cauliflower are par boiled beforehand until fork tender. The additions of spices and mustard make this version of cauliflower cheese the best ever! The cheese sauce is inspired by the recipe by James Martin. It is a recipe that we as a family have been making for years, but always in the oven which takes a long time to preheat. Thanks to the Air Fryer, the cauliflower cheese is cooked within 10 minutes! The recipe couldn’t be simpler and even can be partly prepared ahead of time!
Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese Ingredients
Cauliflower – this recipe is best made with cauliflower is in season You can use frozen cauliflower florets too which will require blanching the same way as fresh Toppings: Cheese – you can use any style of cheddar such as mild, medium or mature but you can also add in other cheeses such as Red Leicester. White breadcrumbs – optional to add extra crispiness
Cauliflower Cheese Sauce Ingredients
Milk – full fat milk gives the best results and also thickens quicker. However, I have made sauces using semi-skimmed and skimmed milk. Cheese – I have used mild cheddar. You can use medium or mature cheddar too. Parmesan cheese is an optional addition Onion – optional but infuses the milk with savoury flavour Spices – clove, bay leaf, nutmeg – optional but add wonderful flavour English mustard – optional Butter – alternatively use olive oil Plain flour – all purpose flour is best to make a roux Salt and black pepper to taste
Variations
Mix in broccoli instead of half of the cauliflower to make broccoli cauliflower cheese Add in sauteed leeks with the cauliflower for extra flavour Add in white kidney beans or butterbeans to add protein You could also use bread sauce and grate in a little extra cheese instead of making a cheese sauce Add in chunks of roasted butternut squash To make it gluten-free – use a gluten-free flour such as a gluten-free flour blend or tapioca starch or rice flour to make the roux sauce.
Equipment
Air Fryer – I’ve used the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 5.7 L but you can use any air fryer Casserole dish – ensure it fits in your air fryer basket. Mine is approximately 26 cm x 20 cm Colander – to drain the cauliflower Sharp knife – to cut the cauliflower into florets
How to make Cauliflower Cheese Sauce
How to make Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese
Pro Tips
Cauliflower tips
Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets for even cooking. Allow the cauliflower to drain and steam dry for at least 1 hour before cooking to prevent too much moisture from being released into the sauce during air frying. You need to make sure the cauliflower are fork tender but still hold their shape. The cauliflower cheese is only cooking in the air fryer for a few minutes so the cauliflower must be fully cooked before adding into the dish. Do not forget that the cauliflower will still be cooking after draining due to the steam.
Cheese sauce tips
A good ratio for a roux sauce is to use equal quantities of butter and flour Add warm milk to a hot roux reduces the risk of clumps. Add the milk gradually to start and mixing well between each addition. Whisking rather than stirring the sauce prevents lumps The cheese sauce tastes best when full fat ingredients are used You may need to adjust the timing and temperature as air fryer models work a bit differently. Garnish with fresh herbs or your choice of toppings before serving for extra flavour and flair. If you want to make a quick cheese sauce, skip the step where the milk is infused with flavour and directly add warm milk to the butter flour mixture
Serving Suggestion
For carbs, go for:
Air Fryer Triple Cooked Chips Baked Sweet Potato Slices Parmentier Potatoes (pan fried, oven baked and air fryer) Parsley Potatoes
To keep your meal low carb, serve with a side of boiled vegetables. I also love these Air Fryer Carrot Fries which have just the right amount of crunch. To make a filling meal, go for this Vegan Stuffed Butternut Squash as well. A simple leafy side salad would be a good option.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container as soon as they reach room temperature and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Cauliflower cheese also freezes really well. Check your casserole dish or container is freezer safe. Freeze for up to 1 month. You can reheat directly from frozen to prevent the cauliflower from becoming mushy and releasing moisture. You can freeze the cooked cauliflower cheese or assemble and freeze to cook at a later date.
Reheating instructions
From chilled: Heat in the microwave or air fryer until piping hot through From frozen: For best results, reheat directly from frozen in the oven or air fryer. Start at a low temperature such as 170C to prevent the top from burning too quickly.
Make Ahead for the Holidays
It is easy to make this Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese ahead of time. I like to prepare cheese sauce in advance and freeze in portions. Simply cook the cheese sauce as usual, allow to cool down completely then transfer into freezer safe bags or containers. Allow to thaw at room temperature before using in your recipe. I find that cauliflower is best prepared on the day you are preparing the cauliflower cheese. You can also assemble the whole dish and store away in the fridge or freezer and then air fry until piping hot through, the sauce is bubbling and cheese has melted and just becoming golden brown.
Other Air Fryer Cauliflower recipes
Air Fryer Cauliflower Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings Cauliflower Manchurian in Air Fryer As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations! Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can’t wait to see you all there!
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