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Original poster

The Cauliflower Cheese Conundrum

390 replies

Speckly · 27/10/2025 22:09

Earlier a friend I was out with asked me what we were having for dinner tonight. When I replied “Cauliflower cheese and crusty bread”, she said “With what?” When I told her that was our dinner she looked horrified and told me cauliflower cheese is a side dish. As kids we often had cauliflower cheese for our dinner (I’m early 50s) but I’m interested to know, is that weird? Husband and I usually have this as a main about once a month (not vegetarian btw). When I asked DH his views on the subject tonight, he said he enjoys it but that his family never really had it when he was young so he couldn’t comment. If it’s relevant at all, we live in Kent. So is it ok to eat cauliflower cheese as a main or should it only ever be served as a side dish?

YABU - Cauliflower cheese is a side dish. You need to jazz it up with some other stuff!

YANBU - Cauliflower cheese is a decent main course - ignore the haters.

OP posts:
CloudedBlue · 28/10/2025 03:45

Nice with bacon and onion added. Had it as a main dish when single. Family are opposed to it as a meal, but I love it

BrickBiscuit · 28/10/2025 03:34

Main dish. Too much faff to do as a side unless pushing the boat out.

Claymoreiron · 28/10/2025 03:28

Main course for me but I’m a vegetarian. I like it with roast potatoes.

Pussygaloregalapagos · 28/10/2025 02:54

Main dish with steamed green beans on the side. Delish! I also count soup or cereal as a decent supper though….. so…

HoppingPavlova · 28/10/2025 02:52

Have only ever had it as a side dish. With roast for example.

Sally2791 · 28/10/2025 02:50

Main for me. Breadcrumbs and grated cheese on top, cook until crispy.

SteakBakesAndHotTakes · 28/10/2025 02:47

I definitely think of it as a side - would class it in the same category as something like mashed potatoes. Not a main dish. I would be surprised to have it as a main, but wouldn't be in tears over it or anything

SunnyKoala · 28/10/2025 02:12

Age 50. Always a main dish growing up. I was bewildered seeing it on a roast much later in life. Always served with potatoes (probably boiled) and veg (definitely boiled). Was one of my least favourite teas but now I do like it and serve it with baked potatoes and butter beans to groans from my kids.

LivingTheDreamish · 28/10/2025 01:39

Either/or for me. Might add crumbled bacon if having it as a main meal to make it more "dinnery".

Rosscameasdoody · 28/10/2025 01:39

We have it as a main. Florets and spring onions in the cheese sauce with sliced potato topping - grated Parmesan on top of the potatoes.

Anononony · 28/10/2025 01:38

For me i have it as a main, maybe with a couple of chicken tenders or more often a handful of chips and whatever other veg is being cooked for the rest of the family (it's what I have on days when we all have something different). But my partner and boys would definately see it as a side

Vevevoom · 28/10/2025 01:35

Speckly · 27/10/2025 22:09

Earlier a friend I was out with asked me what we were having for dinner tonight. When I replied “Cauliflower cheese and crusty bread”, she said “With what?” When I told her that was our dinner she looked horrified and told me cauliflower cheese is a side dish. As kids we often had cauliflower cheese for our dinner (I’m early 50s) but I’m interested to know, is that weird? Husband and I usually have this as a main about once a month (not vegetarian btw). When I asked DH his views on the subject tonight, he said he enjoys it but that his family never really had it when he was young so he couldn’t comment. If it’s relevant at all, we live in Kent. So is it ok to eat cauliflower cheese as a main or should it only ever be served as a side dish?

YABU - Cauliflower cheese is a side dish. You need to jazz it up with some other stuff!

YANBU - Cauliflower cheese is a decent main course - ignore the haters.

Side dish definitely. Have it either with fish or any meat.

knitnerd90 · 28/10/2025 01:20

Fine as a main but I feel like it needs a bit more than just bread.

EconomyClassRockstar · 28/10/2025 01:18

And roasted cauliflower and cauliflower tempura and cauliflower rice with cilantro and lime and....the cauliflower is the BEST vegetable!

EconomyClassRockstar · 28/10/2025 01:16

I don't make it very often but when I do, I make enough so that we have it as a side dish with a roast and then a main course for my lunch the next day. I bloody love cauliflower cheese!

christabellax · 28/10/2025 01:16

Just had it tonight ! We’ve been looking forward to it all day , with some French fries , such a tasty meal.

Baital · 28/10/2025 01:14

Main if done properly, with serious quantities of cheese.

If not done properly, then neither. Just have cauliflower as your vegetable side dish without a half hearted attempt at dressing it up.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/10/2025 01:10

THISbitchingwitch · 27/10/2025 22:12

I will happily have it as a main or a side HOWEVER there must never be gravy anywhere near it

Exactly this.

it needs extra cheese on top as a main v side imo. And as another pp said, broccoli and/or leeks in it is good.

Enrichetta · 28/10/2025 01:10

It can be either. However, if it’s the main dish, it needs a (massive) salad on the side.

I usually add broccoli or leeks to my cauliflower cheese.

Namechangerage · 28/10/2025 01:09

Okiedokie123 · 27/10/2025 22:16

We have that as a main....... but not just cauliflower and cheese. We add spinach, peas, broccoli, cabbage (whatever else happens to be available) butter beans and pasta.

🤣🤣🤣

buffyreboot · 28/10/2025 01:06

I have cauliflower cheese soup as a main (with crispy bacon on top) so yeah, I guess main course it is

LaBarucci · 28/10/2025 01:04

No way is cauliflower cheese a side dish - well, I suppose it could be in small amounts. Here's one of mine, tasty and filling - with breadcrumbs and bacon on top for flavour.

The Cauliflower Cheese Conundrum
Horses7 · 28/10/2025 01:02

It’s a side - ever seen it as a main in a restaurant or cafe?

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 28/10/2025 00:55

Cauliflower cheese is an abomination. Anyone who chooses to eat it at any time, side dish or main meal, is an utter weirdo!

DrFoxtrot · 28/10/2025 00:47

I’m with PP who have never encountered it as a main! Always as a side! I wouldn’t be disappointed with it as a main though, as I like it.