If you’re looking for a comfort food winner that’s both cozy and a bit on the healthy side, this Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe is about to become your new go-to. I absolutely love how the veggies stay crisp-tender under that rich, velvety cheese sauce — it’s like a warm hug on a plate. Whether you’re feeding your family or just craving some cheesy veggie goodness, this recipe hits all the right notes and I can’t wait to share it with you.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cheesy Comfort in Every Bite: The blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheese sauce makes this bake irresistibly creamy and flavorful.
Super Simple to Prepare: You won’t believe how quickly this comes together, perfect for busy weeknights.
Veggie-Friendly Made Delicious: If you’ve ever struggled getting enough veggies in your meals, this bake is a total game-changer.
Great for Make-Ahead Meals: Assemble a day ahead and bake when you’re ready – no fuss, no muss!

The image shows a white square baking dish filled with a creamy casserole made of cauliflower and broccoli florets covered in melted cheese. The top layer is a mix of white, slightly browned cheese with some green broccoli pieces and soft cauliflower chunks visible underneath. The edges of the dish have some browned, baked cheese stains. A metal spoon is touching the dish near the bottom right corner. The dish rests on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients work beautifully together to create a balanced dish — crisp-tender veggies paired with a luscious, homemade cheese sauce. When you’re shopping, look for fresh broccoli and cauliflower heads with tight buds for the best texture and flavor.

Broccoli florets: Use fresh florets for brightness and crunch; frozen can be too soft for this bake.
Cauliflower florets: Like broccoli, fresh is best – it roasts up beautifully and holds texture.
Garlic flavored olive oil: Adds a subtle garlic note right from the start; regular olive oil works great too.
Yellow onion: Thinly sliced for gentle sweetness and softness in the sauté.
Garlic cloves: Fresh is always best – minced garlic really boosts that savory depth.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper: Essential for seasoning throughout the layers.
Shredded cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar gives the sauce a punchy, tangy flavor.
Cornstarch: Helps thicken the cheese sauce perfectly without lumps.
Fat free evaporated milk: Keeps the sauce creamy but lighter than heavy cream.
Dijon mustard: Just a hint adds a lovely tang and depth to the cheese sauce.
Smoked paprika: Adds a subtle smoky warmth – adjust the amount to your taste.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: For that melty, stretchy cheese finish on top.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love tweaking this Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe depending on what I have on hand or what my family’s craving. Feel free to get creative – the beauty is in its flexibility.

Vegetable Swaps: I’ve swapped cauliflower for Brussels sprouts or green beans — both give a lovely texture and flavor twist.
Cheese Mix-Up: Sometimes, I throw in a bit of gruyere or parmesan to deepen the cheesy richness.
Protein Boost: Adding cooked chicken or crispy bacon is my favorite way to make this a hearty main dish.
Spice Adjustments: If you like a little heat, a pinch of cayenne or some chopped jalapeños works wonders.

How to Make Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Dish

Start by preheating your oven to 400˚F. Grab a square baking dish and give it a little drizzle of olive oil, spreading it evenly across the bottom – this prevents sticking and starts building flavor from the base up. I find this small step makes cleaning up much easier afterwards.

Step 2: Steam the Veggies Until Crisp-Tender

Bring about half an inch of salted water to boil in a large skillet. Add the broccoli and cauliflower florets, then cover and let them steam for roughly 4 minutes — just until they’re crisp-tender. You want them cooked through but still with a little bite so they stand up beautifully under the cheese sauce. Drain immediately to avoid sogginess and set aside.

Step 3: Sauté Onions and Garlic, Then Toss in Veggies

Wipe out your skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat it on medium-high. Toss in the thinly sliced onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they soften and start to turn golden. Then add the minced garlic and stir for another minute, making your kitchen smell incredible.

Next, add back your steamed broccoli and cauliflower to the skillet. Season everything with salt and freshly cracked pepper. Sauté for another couple of minutes until the veggies pick up a bit of golden color—this adds flavor. Then transfer everything to your prepared baking dish. This step really builds layers of taste I absolutely adore.

Step 4: Make the Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce

Wipe out your skillet again and add the last tablespoon of olive oil. Toss in 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, the cornstarch, evaporated milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Using a whisk, stir constantly over low heat – this is key – until the sauce thickens and the cheese melts smoothly. It only takes about 2 minutes but patience here pays off for a perfectly creamy sauce, without lumps.

Step 5: Combine and Bake to Perfection

Pour your luscious cheese sauce over the broccoli and cauliflower in the baking dish and give it a gentle stir to coat everything evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on top — this cheese layer bakes up bubbling, golden, and irresistible.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and bubbling. When done, let it sit on the counter for 5–8 minutes — this resting makes serving easier and helps the sauce thicken just right. Trust me, this cooling moment is worth it.

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Pro Tips for Making Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe

Keep the Heat Low on the Sauce: I learned the hard way that too high heat makes the cheese sauce grainy; gentle stirring is the secret to silky smoothness.
Don’t Oversteam the Veggies: Keep them crisp-tender so they don’t turn mushy after baking — it preserves that satisfying bite.
Use Freshly Grated Cheese: Pre-shredded cheeses often have anti-caking agents that can affect melting; grating your own makes a difference.
Season as You Go: Salting the veggies during sauté adds depth and prevents a bland bake.

How to Serve Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe

The image shows a white rectangular baking dish filled with a baked casserole that has several layers visible on the surface. The top layer is melted cheese that is golden-yellow and slightly browned in spots, with small bubbles and a shiny, creamy texture. Underneath, there are pieces of cooked cauliflower and broccoli, visible by their white and green colors and slightly soft texture. Small green herbs or seasoning are sprinkled evenly over the top, adding texture and color contrast. The dish sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I love finishing this bake with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or chives — it adds a pop of color and a fresh, herby contrast to that rich cheese sauce. Sometimes I even add a tiny drizzle of good-quality olive oil just before serving for a subtle sheen.

Side Dishes

This bake pairs perfectly with a simple green salad tossed with a tangy vinaigrette or some crusty garlic bread for scooping up any extra sauce. When I serve this for dinner, I often add roasted chicken thighs or pan-seared salmon to round out the meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For holidays or special dinners, I sometimes portion the bake into individual ramekins and sprinkle panko breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan on top before baking — it gets beautifully crispy and makes each serving feel extra special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers store really well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I find the flavors deepen after a day, making it even tastier the next day — perfect for quick lunches.

Freezing

I have frozen this bake successfully by assembling it fully baked, then cooling completely and wrapping tightly in foil and plastic wrap. When thawed and reheated, the texture is still great, though the veggies soften a bit more. It’s perfect for batch cooking.

Reheating

To reheat leftovers, I recommend using the oven or toaster oven at 350˚F for about 15 minutes to keep that top layer bubbly and prevent it from drying out. Microwaving works in a pinch, but the texture isn’t quite the same.

FAQs

Can I use frozen broccoli and cauliflower for this recipe?

Frozen broccoli and cauliflower can be used if fresh isn’t available, but I recommend thawing and draining them well to avoid a watery bake. Also, try to steam them just until tender to prevent mushiness after baking.
What can I substitute for evaporated milk?

If you don’t have evaporated milk on hand, whole milk or half-and-half can work, but the sauce may be slightly less thick and creamy. To thicken, you might add a bit more cornstarch or cook the sauce a bit longer.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?

Yes! As written, this Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe is vegetarian-friendly. Just be sure the cheese you use is free of animal rennet if you’re strict about that.
Can I make this recipe vegan?

To make it vegan, you’d need to substitute dairy cheeses and milk with plant-based alternatives and use a vegan butter or oil. Nutritional yeast can add a cheesy flavor, and a thickener like arrowroot powder can replace cornstarch. It’s a fun experiment if you have time to test!
How do I make the cheese sauce lump-free?

Whisk constantly over low heat and add the cornstarch before the milk for even thickening. Avoid rushing the process by keeping the temperature low, and don’t stop stirring until the sauce thickens and the cheese melts completely.

Final Thoughts

I still remember the first time I made this Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Sauce Recipe — it quickly became a beloved staple in my family! It strikes that perfect balance of indulgence and veggie goodness, which means everyone leaves the table happy and satisfied. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll be one of those dishes you turn to again and again when you want comfort food with a little green on the side. Happy baking!