Cracked Out Cauliflower Gratin – cauliflower, leeks, mushrooms and bacon tossed in a homemade Sargento sharp cheddar cheese and Ranch sauce. Top with crushed butter crackers. SO good! We don’t even like cauliflower and we devoured this! Can make ahead and refrigerate for later. Stop what you are doing and make this ASAP!

Stop what you are doing and add this “Cracked Out” Cauliflower Gratin to your menu! It is crazy good, and we don’t even like cauliflower! What could be better than veggies tossed in a yummy cheese sauce with bacon and ranch? Um, nothing!

Sargento® is running a Chopped At Home Challenge. Like the Food Network show Chopped, you have to make a dish with the ingredients Sargento gives you. Round One is going on right now. The challenge is to make some delicious comfort food with Cauliflower, Cremini Mushrooms, Leeks and Sargento Sharp Cheddar Fine Cut.

“Cracked Out” Cauliflower Gratin
serves 6
(Printable Recipe)

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms
• ½ cup chopped leeks
• 4 cups cauliflower florets
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 3 Tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 ½ Tbsp Ranch dressing mix 
• 2 cups Sargento Sharp Cheddar Finely Cut cheese, divided
• ½ cup crushed butter crackers

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove from skillet and drain on a paper towel. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, discard remaining fat.

Heat bacon drippings in skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and leeks. Cook until mushrooms are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Place cauliflower in microwave safe dish. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cover. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour. Slowly whisk in milk. Continue stirring until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in Ranch dressing mix and 1 ½ cup Sargento Sharp Cheddar  Finely Cut cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

Combine vegetables and cheese sauce. Pour into lightly greased 8×8-inch pan. Top with remaining Sargento Sharp Cheddar  Finely Cut cheese and crushed butter crackers.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento. The opinions and text are all mine.