Smoky Cauliflower Cheesy au Gratin …

I’ve never been a fan of cauliflower, until this dish! Smoky Cauliflower Cheesy au Gratin is an easy side dish with a smoky flavor full of cheesy goodness!

This is a dish that we love to cook on our grill and then transfer to the oven just to achieve that smoked veggie taste but you can easily make the entire recipe in the oven if you’d like. Corey really surprised me with this one! I absolutely LOVE it! So as the weather begins to warm around here, I imagine we will be making this easy side dish quite often this summer out on the grill to pair with our favorite barbeque!

Let me show you how to make it …

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What do you need to make Smoky Cauliflower Cheesy au Gratin?

Here’s what you’ll need from the grocery store:

• Cauliflower, 1 large head of fresh cauliflower – cut into florets
• Olive oil, 2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Sweet mesquite seasoning, 1 teaspoon sweet mesquite seasoning
• Seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• Murrays Flagship White Cheddar Cheese, 1 cup grated Murrays Flagship White Cheddar Cheese
• Swiss cheese, 1 cup grated Swiss cheese
• Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese, ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
• Unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Flour, 3 tablespoons flour
• Whole milk, 1 cup whole milk

Optional Topping Ideas

• Shredded cheese
• Dried parsley
• Panko bread crumbs
• Crispy fried onions
• Slices of tomatoes

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How do you make Smoky Cauliflower Cheesy au Gratin?

1. Preheat your grill (or oven) to 425° F.
2. Add olive oil and cauliflower florets to a medium bowl. Stir with a large spoon to coat each floret well with oil.
3. Mix together the paprika, garlic powder, sweet mesquite seasoning, and seasoned salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over the florets. Stir to combine and coat each of the florets well.
4. Line a medium or large cast-iron skillet with foil and place the seasoned cauliflower florets on the pan. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes on the grill (or oven) until the cauliflower begins to soften.
5. Meanwhile …
6. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Then whisk in the flour until combined. Slowly whisk in the milk, continuing to stir until smooth. Add cheese, and whisk until completely melted. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set to the side.
7. Pull the cauliflower from the grill (or oven). Transfer the veggies from the skillet to an 8×8-inch baking dish (or 9×9-inch baking dish) and pour the cheese sauce over the top. * If adding Panko breadcrumbs, or crispy fried onions, or even slices of tomatoes – add them now.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 350° F oven for 30 minutes.
9. Remove from your oven, top with a bit of cheddar cheese, and sprinkle with dried parsley. Serve hot.

Check out a few other easy side dish recipes …

• Couscous with Buttered Pine Nuts and Shallots
• Sweet Rosemary Pears and Onions
• Roasted Garlic Golden Potatoes & Green Beans
• Tillamook Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Grilled Cinnamon Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes
• Garden Fresh Succotash
• Calico Beans with Beef and Bacon
• Zucchini Rice Cheesy Casserole

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Looking for more tasty and easy recipes? Try a few here:

• Italian Chicken and Acorn Squash Couscous
• Chicken & Pork Crostina Pasta
• Creamy Beef and Potatoes
• Wild Rice Chicken Casserole – (Easy Recipe)
• Meat and Potato Timballo Pie

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