Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Dip

Your guests will never guess that there's a whole head of cauliflower hidden in this creamy, tangy, and totally addictive party dip.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

Every holiday party needs a great dip, and this baked cheesy cauliflower dip is sure to be a hit at yours!

We’ve made this dip so many times over the past few weeks perfecting the recipe. I have to tell you that it’s been such a joy because it’s FREEZING outside and there is truly no greater comfort in life than having a hot skillet of creamy, cheesy goodness bubbling and baking away in the oven.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

Ordinarily, I’d give “party dip” a bit of a sideways glance – I’m not a huge fan of the who-knows-what ingredients plus a brick of cream cheese that are often in them. But I like to think of this dip as a Love & Lemons-does-Midwest-style party dip. Pureed cauliflower, Greek yogurt, and a touch of Dijon mustard blend together to create its creamy base. I top it with cauliflower florets, scallions, and a layer of Roth Grand Cru – a nutty alpine-style cheese that’s made nearby (to us) in Wisconsin – that creates the most perfect flavorful, golden, bubbly crust on top.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

How to Make Cauliflower Dip

Start by breaking your cauliflower into small florets. Lightly boil it, then blend 3/4 of the cauliflower to create the dip’s base, while reserving the remaining florets to layer in for texture.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

Blend the cauliflower with Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and a good pinch of salt. I love how the yogurt adds a bit of tang and the cauliflower becomes lusciously creamy. These flavors work so perfectly with the delicious, mild flavor of the Roth Grand Cru that gets melted on top.

We seriously love this cheese – it’s great on cheese boards, and it melts beautifully on this dip. Roth uses rBST-free milk sourced within 60 miles of its creamery to make its cheese, so this is really great quality Wisconsin cheese.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

Pour the creamy mixture into a skillet and layer it with scallions, cauliflower florets, and grated cheese.

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

That’s it – it’s ready to bake!

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

Bake until the dip is golden and bubbly. Meanwhile, slice & toast your baguette so it’s ready for dipping!

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Party Dip

For more appetizer ideas, check out this post with 50 easy appetizers.


5.0 from 11 reviews

Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Dip

 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
No one will know that the base of this Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Dip is actually a whole head of cauliflower! With Greek yogurt and Dijon for tang, this dip is a creamy, flavorful favorite that's delicious with a layer of cheese on top.
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3½ cups small cauliflower florets (¾-inch pieces)
  • 2 small garlic cloves
  • ½ cup whole milk Greek yogurt
  • 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more for brushing
  • Heaping ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Scant ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅓ cup chopped scallions
  • ¾ cup grated Roth Grand Cru
  • Pinches of red pepper flakes
  • Toasted or warmed baguette, crackers, and/or apple slices, for serving
  • Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and garlic and boil until the cauliflower is fork tender, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to scoop ¾ of the cauliflower and the garlic into a blender (set the remaining florets aside). Let cool completely before adding the remaining ingredients to the blender. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F and brush an 8-inch cast iron skillet lightly with olive oil.
  2. Add the yogurt, olive oil, mustard, and salt to the blender and blend until creamy.
  3. Spread the cauliflower mixture into the skillet and top with half the scallions, half the reserved cauliflower florets, the cheese, remaining cauliflower florets, remaining scallions, and pinches of red pepper flakes. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cheese on top is browned and bubbling.
  4. Serve with baguette, crackers, and/or apple slices.

Special thanks to Roth for partnering on this post.

49 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Shelley Halter
    09.11.2023

    What size iron skillet is needed for this cauliflower dip? I think my iron skillet might be too large.

  2. Gail
    02.09.2022

    PLEASE add a substitute for Gran Cru cheese! I haven’t found that product anywhere, and I’m making the Cauliflower dip TODAY!!! HELP!
    Would a cheddar or Gruyère work??? Thanks!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.10.2022

      Hi Gail, yes, either (or a combo of both!) would be delicious.

  3. Mary
    12.05.2021

    I was wondering about roasting the cauliflower vs. boiling it?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.06.2021

      Hi Mary, roasting will dry out the cauliflower too much, boiling it gets it to the right creamy consistency.

  4. Nancy Meck
    04.22.2021

    Looks great! I would love to see a nutritional list or at least calories per serving on your recipes. Thank you

  5. Natalie
    03.06.2021

    We love this and make it for dinner pretty regularly. It fills the cheesy dip craving but isn’t heavy. Thanks for the idea!

  6. Michele
    04.21.2020

    This was so good. I used gouda, and I broiled it for a minute at the end for a deep dark caramelized top. It was killer. I did taste the puree before baking and thought it needed a bit more salt. But otherwise, I changed nothing, and I would eat this weekly. It was creamy and silky without making me feel the way eating most of a skillet of pure cheese would!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.22.2020

      Hi Michele, I’m so glad you loved it!

  7. Katie
    04.03.2020

    Any chance I can sub riced cauliflower for fresh?

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.