Cheesy vegetable bake
This cheesy vegetable bake is simple to make yet incredibly tasty, the kind of dish that feels wonderfully homely from the very first bite. A mix of tender veggies sits beneath a rich, bubbling layer of melted cheese, turning everyday ingredients into a cosy, satisfying meal. The vegetables soften beautifully in the oven, soaking up the creamy sauce while the top turns golden and irresistible.
Easy to prepare and endlessly adaptable, it’s a brilliant way to use up whatever veg you have to hand and create something that feels both comforting and wholesome.
What goes well alongside this bake?
Serve it on its own with a warm baguette, or pair it with oven‑baked cod, chicken, or gammon for a hearty side.
Cheesy vegetable bake
Ingredients
- 1 broccoli
- 1 cauliflower
- 5 rashers smoked bacon, chopped
- 25 g unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 300 ml milk
- 1 tsp english mustard
- 200 g grated cheddar
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli and cauliflower florets into even sized pieces. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Boil the veg for around 10mins. Drain and allow to stand in the colander.
- Preheat the oven to 200°c/gas 6.
- Dry fry the bacon until crisp, remove and set aside.
- In a saucepan, over a low to medium heat melt the butter and using a balloon whisk, stir in the flour. Once all combined, gradually add the milk, stirring all the time with the whisk until it boils, simmer until the sauce has thickened.
- Add two thirds of the cheese and stir until melted and then season.
- Place the vegetables into a shallow dish, pour the cheese sauce all over and sprinkle the remaining cheese, top with bacon and place in the oven for 15mins or until brown and bubbling. Serve immediately.