Microwave Cauliflower, Easy and Cheesy

Name: Tangy Mustard Cauliflower, Microwave Cauliflower
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 head head cauliflower (rinsed, core and bottom leaves removed); 2 tablespoons water; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1 teaspoon onion -- finely chopped; 1 teaspoon mustard; 3 slices American cheese (or 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese)

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This creamy, cheesy tangy microwave cauliflower recipe is one even cauliflower haters will love. Cooking a whole head of cauliflower in the microwave is a super easy side dish. Topped with a mixture of mayonnaise, mustard and slices of American cheese.

A whole head of cauliflower cooked in the microwave topped with a cheese and mayonnaise sauce

About This Recipe and Why It Works

I’ve always claimed that even cauliflower haters would cozy up to this recipe. And being married to one, I can attest that even the Ranch Hand likes this one.

Way back in the dark ages, when microwave ovens were first available for purchase for our home kitchens, I got one for Christmas.

It was a Radar Range and I wish I had a photo of it. Compared to our sleek modern versions, it’s probably somewhat laughable. The appliance came with a cookbook illustrating how you could magically prepare anything from pot roast to desserts …in a flash.

This new appliance seemed so daunting, I was compelled to take a class offered at our local Sears store. A demonstration type class, that lasted a couple of hours.

This is where I learned of this microwave cauliflower recipe, a recipe to microwave a whole head of cauliflower. I’ve been making it ever since, and regularly for over 40 years.

To steam cauliflower in the microwave yields a tender texture and sweet flavor.

Once the topping of mayonnaise, mustard and American cheese are added the tangy, creamy cheesy flavors truly enhance the entire experience.

If you’re looking for easy cauliflower recipes, and looking for whole cauliflower recipes, you must give this one a try. It’s so easy, creamy and cheesy.

Ingredients To Make Microwave Cauliflower

Cauliflower: 1 whole head. Any size will do. I always grab a large sized head of cauliflower for more servings and leftovers.
Mayonnaise: A good quality mayo works well for cooking. Dukes or Best Foods are good here.
Mustard: Plain yellow prepared mustard.
Onion: Fine diced sweet or yellow onion.
American Cheese: Individual slices of American Cheese is a beautiful melting cheese.

Ingredient Substitutions:

Cheese: Substitute grated cheese for the American Slices. A medium cheddar works well. I highly recommend grating the cheese yourself as the pre-grated bags of cheese contain ingredients to keep it from sticking together in the bag. In turn, those ingredients will keep the cheese from melting as well.
Onion: To make things even easier, I’ve used dried onion flakes for this recipe. Just mix in the flakes and let it sit a few minutes to soften before cooking.

How To Make This Easy Microwave Cauliflower with Cheese

Whole head of cauliflower with core and outer leaves removed

Step 1: How to remove the cauliflower core. Using a sharp large chef knife, cut around the core area and remove the protruding core and outer leaves of the cauliflower.

Whole head of cauliflower in a deep casserole dish ready to cook in the microwave

Step 2: Ready to microwave: Place the cauliflower, core side down in a deep 2 – 3 quart microwavable casserole dish. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover and cook for 8 – 10 minutes on high.

Mustard mayo sauce for cauliflower cooked in the microwave

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce. While the cauliflower is cooking, combine the mustard, mayo, and onions and blend together with a fork.

A whole head of cauliflower cooked in the microwave

Step 4: Remove the cooked cauliflower from the microwave and spoon the sauce over the top.

spreading mayo sauce over a whole head of cauliflower that's been cooked in the microwave

Step 5: Add the Sauce: Using the back of a spoon, coat the cooked cauliflower with the mayo, mustard sauce. Make sure to coat the cauliflower as far down the sides as you can.

Adding american cheese slices to microwave cauliflower

Step 6: Add the Cheese: Place the slices of American Cheese on the top of the sauced cauliflower. Alternate the angle of the cheese slices for even melting.

Whole cauliflower thats been cooked in the microwave topped with a mayonnaise cheese sauce

Step 7: Cover the pan with the lid and return the cauliflower to the microwave. Cook on high for 2 minutes to melt the cheese and heat the mayonnaise mustard sauce. Let the cauliflower stand, covered, for two minutes before slicing.

Whole cauliflower cooked in the microwave served on a blue plate

Step 8: How to Serve Microwave Cauliflower: Using a sharp knife, slice the cauliflower in wedges and serve immediately.

Tips for Success

Do You Have To Use American Cheese Slices?

By the way, did you read that the Millennials are throwing American Cheese out of their diets? If you are one that simply doesn’t like processed American cheese, you can most certainly substitute grated cheddar cheese. But it doesn’t melt as beautifully.

Can I Cook Whole Cauliflower in a Pressure Cooker?

I tried cooking this in my Instant Pot and it took longer than in cooking cauliflower in the Microwave. Due to pre-heating, coming to pressure, and releasing pressure, the microwave had it beat by about eight minutes. Score one for the microwave. But yes, you can cook a whole head of cauliflower in the Instant Pot. Just follow the same steps for the microwave recipe.

How Do I know When The Cauliflower is Done?

Microwave powers vary as do the size of a full head of cauliflower. After 8 minutes of cooking the cauliflower in the microwave, remove it and use a fork to test its doneness. If the fork inserts into a tender vegetable, the cauliflower is done. If it feels too crisp, return to microwave and cook 1 – 2 minutes longer.

What If My Casserole Dish Doesn’t Have a Lid?

Did your perfect deep casserole dish not come with a lid? Simple, just cover tightly with plastic wrap. Using a fork , poke a few holes in the plastic wrap.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave in 20 second increments at 50% power.

Recipe for Microwave Cauliflower, How To Cook Cauliflower in the Microwave

Microwave cauliflower with a cheese, mayo, mustard sauce

Pro Tip – Garnish: I like to sprinkle this microwave cauliflower with something red to enhance the presentation. A pinch of chile powder or paprika works well here.

I hope you give this microwave cauliflower recipe a try. It’s a super easy way to cook a whole head of cauliflower and it’s surprisingly delicious. This is a recipe that you’ll want to make over and over again. It’s that easy.

More Popular Vegetable Side Dishes

If you’re looking for something a little more hoity-toity, take a look at this Creamy Swiss Cheese Cauliflower. It’s from the Silver Palate Cookbook and I’ve made this many times for dinner parties. Rich and wow.

And if you’re looking for more side dish recipes, don’t miss my Side Dishes Category. You’ll find lots of tasty recipes, including the most popular side dish recipe on my site for Broccoli Cheez Whiz Rice Casserole.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

Tangy Mustard Cauliflower, Microwave Cauliflower

Lea Ann Brown

This is a recipe for microwave cauliflower. A whole baked cauliflower with a topping of mayo, mustard and cheese. Quick, easy and tangy in flavor, in a creamy cheesy sort of way. Heads up cauliflower haters, you might want to try this one.

4.94 from 15 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Resting Time 2

Total Time 22

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 190 kcal

Ingredients

1 head head cauliflower rinsed, core and bottom leaves removed
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon onion — finely chopped
1 teaspoon mustard
3 slices American cheese or 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

Place cauliflower in microwavable 2 – 3 quart casserole with lid. Add water and cover with lid or plastic wrap.
Microwave on high 8 – 9 minutes or till tender crisp. Use a fork to test doneness. If it feel too crisp, return to microwave for 1 – 2 minutes longer.
In the meantime, combine mayonnaise, onion, and mustard in small mixing bowl. Use a fork to blend into a smooth sauce.
Once the cauliflower has completed its first cook in the microwave, spoon mustard sauce on top of cauliflower. Use the back of the spoon to smooth the sauce evenly over the top of and sides of the cauliflower.
Lay slices of cheese over the top, alternating the way they face so they melt evenly.
Microwave for 1 – 2 minutes more, covered, to heat topping and melt cheese. Let stand two minutes before serving.

Notes

You can use grated cheddar cheese in this recipe to replace sliced American Cheese. I like American because of it’s melting qualities and sweet flavor.

To make things even easier, I’ve used 1 heaping teaspoon of dried onion flaked to replace the chopped onion. Just stir them into the mustard mayo combo before spreading over the cauliflower.