These cheddar stuffed cauliflower bites are a delicious way to transform humble cauliflower into a fun, cheesy snack or appetiser. With a crisp golden coating, a gooey melted cheddar centre and a simple homemade tomato and basil sauce for dipping, they're guaranteed to disappear quickly.
I love finding new ways to use cauliflower, and this recipe has become one of my favourites. Inspired by arancini, these bites use a seasoned cauliflower mixture wrapped around cubes of cheddar before being coated in crushed cornflakes and baked until golden. They're naturally gluten free, packed with flavour and perfect for serving as a snack, light lunch, appetiser or alongside your favourite meal.
Calories in Cheddar Stuffed Cauliflower Bites
This recipe serves 6 and is 200 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
For the Cauliflower Bites:
- Cauliflower: Use a fresh head of cauliflower and break it into florets before processing. Be sure to remove as much moisture as possible after cooking so the mixture holds together well.
- Salt: Seasons the cauliflower mixture and helps bring out the natural flavour.
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder: Add extra savoury flavour throughout the bites.
- Eggs: Help bind the cauliflower mixture together so the bites hold their shape while baking.
- Cheddar Cheese: Cut into evenly sized cubes so each bite has a delicious cheesy centre.
- Cornflakes: Crushed cornflakes create a crisp, golden coating.
- Sweet Paprika, Italian Herbs, Salt and Black Pepper: These season the coating and add plenty of flavour.
For the Tomato and Basil Sauce:
- Olive Oil Spray: Used to soften the onion and garlic with minimal oil.
Passata: Forms the base of the sauce and gives it a smooth, rich tomato flavour. - Chicken or Vegetable Stock: Adds depth of flavour while creating the perfect consistency for the sauce.
- Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavour and helps thicken the sauce.
- Onion and Garlic: Create the flavour base of the sauce as they soften and cook down.
- Fresh Basil: Adds a fresh burst of flavour that pairs perfectly with the tomatoes.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Season to taste once the sauce has reduced.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
These cheesy cauliflower bites are easy to customise with different cheeses, seasonings and dipping sauces to suit your taste.
- Try a different cheese: Swap the cheddar for mozzarella, Red Leicester, Colby Jack, Gruyère or a mature white cheddar.
- Change the coating: Instead of cornflakes, try crushed gluten-free cereal, crushed crackers, panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs if you don't need the recipe to be gluten free.
- Add some heat: Mix a pinch of chilli flakes, cayenne pepper or finely chopped jalapeño into the cauliflower mixture, or add a little heat to the tomato sauce.
- Boost the flavour: Add smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder or dried oregano to the coating or cauliflower mixture.
- Add fresh herbs: Stir chopped parsley, chives or basil into the cauliflower mixture before shaping the bites.
- Add protein: Mix some finely chopped cooked bacon, diced ham or shredded chicken into the cauliflower mixture for a heartier version.
- Make them into patties: Shape into patties and mix the cheese into the cauliflower for a light lunch served with salad.
- Keep them vegetarian: Simply use vegetable stock when making the tomato sauce.
Serving Suggestions
These cheddar stuffed cauliflower bites are perfect as a snack, appetiser, light lunch or side dish.
- Serve warm with the homemade tomato and basil sauce for dipping.
- Pair with a fresh green salad for a light and satisfying lunch.
- Add to a picky plate with vegetable sticks, cheese, olives, crackers, fruit and your favourite dips.
- Serve as an appetiser or party food alongside a selection of dipping sauces.
- Enjoy with a bowl of tomato, vegetable or roasted red pepper soup instead of bread.
- Serve as a side dish with grilled chicken, steak, burgers or fish.
- Add them to a buffet or sharing platter with other finger foods and dips.
- Pack into lunchboxes with salad and a small pot of tomato sauce or your favourite dip.
- Try a different dip: Instead of the tomato and basil sauce, serve with marinara sauce, salsa, mayo based sauce, sweet chilli sauce, BBQ sauce or a yoghurt and herb dip. This honey sriracha yoghurt dip is a great choice too.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
To Store: Allow the cauliflower bites and tomato sauce to cool completely, then store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: The cauliflower bites and tomato sauce can both be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze the bites in a single layer first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag once solid.
To Defrost: Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To Reheat: Reheat the cauliflower bites in the oven or air fryer until heated through and the coating is crisp. Alternatively, microwave until piping hot, although they won't be quite as crisp. Warm the tomato sauce gently in a saucepan or microwave until hot, stirring occasionally.
Meal Prep: These are great for making ahead and are perfect for quick lunches, snacks or appetisers throughout the week.
More Cauliflower Recipes
Got some more cauliflower to use up? Check out these recipes:
See more Cauliflower Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
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Recipe Card
Cheddar Stuffed Cauliflower Bites
These cheddar stuffed cauliflower bites are golden, cheesy and perfect for dipping into a rich homemade tomato and basil sauce, making them a delicious snack, appetiser or light lunch.
Ingredients
For the cauliflower bites
- 1 head of cauliflower, raw
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
- 3 large eggs
- 90g (3oz) of cheddar cheese - chopped into 12 equal sized cubes
- 50g (2oz) of cornflakes
- 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon of Italian herbs
- pinch of salt and black pepper
For the sauce
- 1 cup (240g) of passata
- 1 cup (240ml) of chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- few leaves of fresh basil, chopped
- salt and black pepper
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Break the cauliflower into florets.
- Add a ¼ of the cauliflower at a time to a blender or food processor and blitz until it almost resembles mashed potatoes.
- Dump each batch in a large bowl and repeat, until all florets are blended.
- Place all the cauliflower in a clean tea towel and squeeze out all the moisture from the cauliflower.
- Add to a bowl with the salt, onion powder and garlic powder and mix to combine.
- Crack in the eggs one by one, mixing as you do, until all ingredients are combined.
- Add the cornflakes to a mini blender with the paprika, Italian herbs, pinch of salt and pepper.
- Blitz till fine (if you don't have a mini blender, just place in a ziplock bag and crush till very fine with a rolling pin)
- Preheat oven to 180c fan, 200c/400f (gas mark 6)
- Place the cornflake mixture in a shallow dish.
- Now grab a handful of the cauliflower mixture and flatten it on your hand like a pancake (it will be slightly wet, but this is fine, it firms up when cooked)
- Add a cube of the cheese and using both hands form the cauliflower around the cheese into a ball.
- Roll in the cornflake mixture and repeat (you should get 12 balls/bites)
- Place the on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spray over the top with spray oil.
- Bake in the oven for approx 30 mins until golden and firm.
- While the bites cook, you can make the quick sauce.
- Spray a frying pan over a medium high heat with spray oil
- Add the onion and garlic and fry till softened.
- Add the passata, tomato paste, stock and basil, bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins.
- Add to a blender and blend till smooth.
- Add back to the pan and continue to heat for about 2 mins and season as needed with salt and black pepper.
- Serve the cauliflower bites with the sauce.
- These bites are delicious hot or cold.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Vegetarian Friendly
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating
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Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
2 BITESAmount Per Serving Calories 200Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 107mgSodium 673mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 4gSugar 5gProtein 11g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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