If you’ve ever considered cauliflower bland or straight up stinky (yes, you aren’t wrong that it CAN be stinky if you prepare it a certain way), you haven’t had a whole cauliflower or its florets in all its glory. Hear me out.
Cauliflower has come a long way. Cauliflower used to be that vegetable that was the red-headed stepchild. No one wanted anything to do with it and then all of a sudden, we are making cauliflower into gnocchi, pizza, rice, crackers, faux wings, chips.
Like you can’t walk into a grocery store anymore these days without finding something made with cauliflower or googling ‘cauliflower recipe’ and your eyes glazing over at the thousands of options.
I’m not hating because I personally love cauliflower in whatever form I can get it in. A whole roasted cauliflower, cauliflower florets, as a gratin, as a casserole…you name it. I am a huge fan of cauliflower.
Let’s have a little overview on cauliflower, shall we?
Are there actually any health benefits to cauliflower?
So, cauliflower is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It is naturally high in fiber and B-vitamins. All things in moderation though. Just because you have a lot of cauliflower, it doesn’t automatically prevent anything, ya know?
What is the best way to prepare cauliflower?
I personally like taking a whole head of cauliflower and cutting it into individual cauliflower florets. They can be big or small but usually with the larger florets, I halve them. I will say that cutting up a cauliflower head is probably one of the most annoying things to do because it goes everywhere. This is why whenever I get a cauliflower head, I immediately cut it up when I bring it home and don’t wait until the next day or following days. It’s just easier to prep it and get it out of the way. They stay in a plastic bag in the fridge for a decent amount of time. I’ve sometimes had it for 2-3 weeks in there.
Since cauliflower is the new hit vegetable, I thought I’d put together this short list of cauliflower side dish recipes to help you plan your Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, this doesn’t just have to be for your Thanksgiving table. You can use this list for other occasions as well. It’s just an easier way to help you sift through and hone in on my favorite cauliflower recipes.
These easy recipes will hopefully inspire you to give whole cauliflower a try and maybe find a new favorite way of making a cauliflower roast or au gratin. Honestly any cauliflower dish here will be a delicious side dish recipe for Thanksgiving dinner (or any other dinner)!
Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Casserole
A low carb cauliflower casserole. Say no more! Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Casserole has all of the satisfactory elements of a comforting side with with none of the carbs! Pop this casserole in the oven and relish in your new favorite cheesy, easy side dish. Tender cauliflower coated in creamy cheese and baked to lightly browned perfection is just too good!
Sticky Korean-style Cauliflower
This is definitely not something you’ll see on a typical Thanksgiving dinner table but why not be bold and try this sweet, salty, and spicy Asian-inspired cauliflower dish? It’s a different flavor profile than typical cauliflower recipes (creamy, cheesy, salty), but I promise it’ll be hard for you to not eat the whole thing!
If you have not made this roasted cauliflower recipe yet, I have been screaming at the top of my lungs that YOU ARE MISSING OUT. The spice blend for this sheet pan roasted cauliflower dish is OUT OF THIS WORLD addicting. This is why it’s called ‘crazy roasted cauliflower’ – because it’s a flavor explosion and soooo addicting. Drizzled with olive oil and tossed in a special spice blend in a small bowl, this is just the beginning of how easy it is to make this recipe. I love tossing a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese on top after it comes out of the oven too.
Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup
Who doesn’t love a cheesy soup that translates into an easy meal? This soup is ultra comforting and is filled with veggies and the creamy cauliflower gets blended to create that smooth velvety texture! Comfort food at its finest!
Trader Joe’s hit it out of the park with their cauliflower gnocchi. If this is your first time having it, you might find the texture a little strange but I found that making it in the air fryer makes it so much better. It has a crispy crust on the outside and soft, tender, squishy center. It is a great pasta alternative and a low-carb option if you’re watching that intake.
An easy, low-carb, and crowd-pleasing dish. It’s basically loaded baked potatoes meets cauliflower au gratin.
Phew! Hopefully those cauliflower side dish ideas help you out. Whether you have picky eaters or are just experimenting with cauliflower, these recipes can’t steer you wrong!