Move over au gratin potatoes: a new cheesy casserole is stealing the show. And it’s healthy! This broccoli and cauliflower casserole is as cheesy and delicious as any mac n’ cheese, except full of veggies. Our wonder blender cheese sauce packs in flavor AND nutrition with a hidden ingredient for added protein and fiber!
This cheesy broccoli and cauliflower casserole is a huge win in my book. I downed it as if it were a heaping plate of homemade mac n’ cheese without even really realizing I was eating a hefty serving of veggies! It’s seriously comforting and delicious. And nutritious!
The other win? It’s easy! Aside from the veggies taking their time to roast, the cheese sauce comes together super easily! In an earlier version of this recipe I made a roux base for the sauce, which is great and all, but it’s not the quickest or easiest technique. So I was determined to find an easier and, if possible, healthier way.
…And I did!
Healthy blender cheese sauce
Where do I start with this sauce? I love that it’s made in the blender. Seriously so easy! And I love what’s in it… cheese and a secret ingredient!
Okay, okay, here it is. The secret ingredient in this fantastic cheese sauce is… beans! Cannellini beans, to be precise. They thicken the sauce nicely and add some protein!
With protein, this dish can now serve as either a side dish or a vegetarian main. Though, I would likely add another cup of beans to bulk up the protein content if I were serving it as the main course, personally.
The how-to of this sauce is simple. Rinse and drain the beans, then put all the sauce ingredients into the blender (except a little cheese to use on top of the casserole). Blend until smooth. That’s it!
Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole
But I got ahead of myself. Starting at the beginning, you’ll need to get your oven heated to 400* F. While it’s heating, chop your broccoli and cauliflower.
Broccoli is pretty straightforward to cut, but I have always dreaded cauliflower. I feel like it always becomes a mess and it’s tough to get past the leaves to cut properly. So I figured out a better way! If you, too, want to find a better way to cut cauliflower, here’s the post I just wrote on the easier way to cut cauliflower.
You’ll want to cut your cauliflower a little smaller than the broccoli for this recipe. Not minced or anything, but just give it a few good chops so that the pieces are small enough to come together well in casserole form.
Tossing the veggies in a tablespoon of olive oil in the casserole dish you plan to use makes for less mess and greases your pan at the same time. Sprinkle on a little salt and pepper and then slip them into the oven for 20 minutes. I recommend mixing them about halfway so that they get evenly roasted since they’re not in a single layer.
This is when you blend up your sauce, mentioned above. Mix the sauce into the veggies once they’ve roasted for 20 minutes. Then top with a bit of remaining cheese and place in the oven again. I cooked mine for about 25 more minutes, but I like my veggies pretty firm so you may want to add another five minutes or so if you like yours soft.
Try this cheesy broccoli and cauliflower casserole with your family and see how it goes! Are your kids more likely to eat cooked veggies covered in cheese sauce?
Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cup broccoli, florets
- 3 1/2 cup cauliflower, florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
Sauce
- 15 ounce cannellini (white kidney) beans, canned
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400* F. Chop broccoli into florets and cauliflower into more finely chopped pieces. Toss with olive oil and some salt and pepper in a 3 quart baking dish. Place in the oven for 20 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Meanwhile, rinse and drain cannellini beans.
- In a blender, combine beans, milk, 1 3/4 cups grated cheddar cheese, mustard, onion powder, and salt. Blend until well combined.
- After 20 minutes, remove broccoli and cauliflower from the oven and mix the blender sauce evenly into the veggies. Top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
- Place casserole back into the oven for 25-30 more minutes, until veggies are softened to liking.
