Best Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese

Transform the humble cauliflower into a comforting, creamy and cheesy cauliflower cheese. It's the perfect vegetarian main or side dish that's ready in 30 minutes when cooked in the air fryer.

Here is a variation of the classic cauliflower cheese dish. 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.

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.

I love it as a delicious main but it also works as a creamy side dish for a roast dinner or even as an accompaniment 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.

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, you just need more butter to compensate for the fat.

Cheese - I have used mild cheddar. You can use medium or mature cheddar too.

Onion - optional but infuses the milk with savoury flavour

Spices - clove, bay leaf, nutmeg - optional but add wonderful depth of 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.

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.

How to make Cauliflower Cheese Sauce

1. In a saucepan, gently heat milk with a bay leaf and clove studded white onion until just simmering.
2. Switch off the heat and allow the flavours to infuse for a few minutes then remove the spices and onion.
3. In a different saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly to create a roux. Cook the roux for a couple of minutes until it's lightly golden in colour.
4. Slowly pour in the warm milk while continuing to whisk, ensuring there are no lumps. Cook and whisk the sauce until it thickens and becomes smooth.
5. Stir in the grated cheddar cheese until fully melted into the sauce. Season with salt, pepper, mustard and nutmeg.

How to make Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese

1. Slice the cauliflower head into smaller florets with a sharp knife. Trim the thick stem. Wash thoroughly to remove any dirt.
2. Steam or blanch the cauliflower florets until they are tender but still firm. To blanch, place the florets in a pan of boiling water and allow to cook 4-5 minutes or until fork tender
3. Drain them in a colander and set aside to steam dry.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the cheese sauce
5. Place the cauliflower florets in a casserole dish, and pour the cheese sauce over them.
6. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese
7. If you want an extra crispy topping, you can sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the cauliflower.
8. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C), and air fry the cauliflower cheese for about 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cauliflower is heated through.
9. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving
10. Serve the air fryer cauliflower cheese hot with your favourite side

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
• Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Parmentier Potatoes (pan fried, oven baked and air fryer)
• Parsley Potatoes

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.

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!

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