Cauliflower Cheese Gnocchi Bake (One Pot, One Portion)
I told you I couldn’t stop baking my gnocchi and this one pan cauliflower cheese gnocchi bake is the latest reason why. If your festive fridge is anything like mine then you will have an abundance of cheese that is just begging to stirred through a rich and creamy nutmeg and bay-infused béchamel, poured over gently roasted cauliflower, topped with pillows of gnocchi that can then be baked and transformed into crisp, indulgent morsels of deliciousness.
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About This Dish
This Cauliflower Cheese Gnocchi Bake is a comforting, oven-baked, single-serve dish designed especially for cooking for one. Made in one small oven dish, it combines tender cauliflower, pillowy gnocchi, and a creamy homemade cheese sauce. The flavour is rich and savoury, balanced with nutmeg, Dijon mustard, and bay leaves for depth. It’s a one-portion vegetarian bake that feels indulgent without being complicated. Ideal for solo cooks, it uses everyday ingredients and avoids leftovers or waste.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Recipe
Single Serve, No Waste
This recipe is carefully portioned for one person, so there’s no half-used cauliflower or leftover sauce languishing in the fridge. Everything fits neatly into one generous but sensible serving.
Comforting Yet Simple
You get all the cosy appeal of cauliflower cheese with very little effort. The sauce comes together quickly, the oven does most of the work, and the result feels far more luxurious than the steps suggest.
One Dish, Minimal Washing Up
Everything bakes together in a single oven dish after a quick stovetop sauce, meaning less mess and an easier clean-up. A win for weeknights!
Perfect for Cooler Evenings
This is the kind of meal that’s especially satisfying on colder days when you want something warm, creamy, and nourishing without cooking a full tray bake.
Eleanor’s Top Tips for the Perfect Cauliflower Cheese Gnocchi Bake
- Cut the cauliflower into small, even florets so they cook through evenly in the oven.
- Whisk continuously when adding milk to the roux to avoid lumps and get a smooth cheese sauce.
- Use a strong-flavoured cheese (like mature Cheddar or Gruyère) so a small amount delivers maximum flavour.
- Season the sauce before baking, the gnocchi and cauliflower will absorb salt as they cook.
- Add the spinach last so it wilts gently without becoming watery.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil for the final minutes.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Essential Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Prevents sticking and adds richness
- 250g Cauliflower: The main vegetable base
- 10g Butter: For the cheese sauce
- 1 Tbsp Plain Flour: Thickens the sauce
- 250ml Whole Milk: Creates a creamy texture
- 65g Cheese (Cheddar & Gruyère mix): Depth and sharpness
- ¼ Tsp Nutmeg: Warm, classic flavour
- 2 Bay Leaves: Subtle aromatic note
- ½ Tsp Dijon Mustard: Balances richness
- Handful of Spinach: Freshness and colour
- 125–150g Gnocchi: Soft, filling, and quick-cooking
- Salt: Essential seasoning
- Black Pepper: Gentle heat
Essential Tools
- Small oven-safe baking dish (about 20cm / 8-inch)
- Small saucepan
- Whisk
- Knife and chopping board
- Measuring jug
- Spoon or spatula
Dietary Variations
Gluten-Free
Use gluten-free gnocchi and replace plain flour with a gluten-free flour blend or cornflour for the sauce.
Dairy-Free
Substitute butter with olive oil, milk with unsweetened oat milk, and use a good-quality dairy-free cheese that melts well.
Vegan
Follow the dairy-free swaps above and use vegan gnocchi (many shelf-stable versions are egg-free so check the label).
Adding Protein
Stir through a small handful of butter beans or white beans before baking, or top with a soft-boiled egg after cooking.
Different Vegetables or Flavours
Swap spinach for kale, add sautéed leeks, or include a pinch of chilli flakes for gentle heat. Broccoli works well in place of cauliflower too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I make this cauliflower cheese gnocchi bake ahead of time?
A: Yes. You can assemble it fully, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add an extra 5 minutes to the oven time.
Q: What size oven dish works best for one portion?
A: A small oven dish around 20cm (8 inches) wide is ideal as it keeps the sauce creamy and prevents drying out.
Q: Do I need to pre-cook the gnocchi?
A: No. Shelf-stable gnocchi cooks perfectly in the oven as long as it’s fully coated in sauce.
Q: Can I freeze this recipe?
A: It’s best enjoyed fresh, as the sauce can change texture after freezing, but leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated the next day.
Q: What cheese works best if I don’t have Gruyère?
A: Mature Cheddar, Comté, or Emmental all melt well and provide good flavour in small quantities.
This Cauliflower Cheese Gnocchi Bake is proof that cooking for one can still feel comforting, intentional, and quietly indulgent. No scaling, no waste, just a really good meal made for you.
Ingredients
Olive Oil
250g Cauliflower
10g Butter
1 Tbsp Plain Flour
250ml Whole Milk
65g Cheese (I use a Cheddar & Gruyere mix)
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
2 Bay Leaves
1/2 Tsp Dijon Mustard
Handful of Spinach
125-150g Gnocchi
Salt
Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220ºC/200ºC Fan.
- Cut the cauliflower into small florets and add to a small (around 8") baking dish or skillet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes until the cauliflower starts to soften and brown.
- Once roasted, remove the cauliflower from the dish and leave to the side while you make your sauce. Turn the oven to the grill setting, as hot as you can get it (around 220-240ºC).
- Place the dish on a medium heat on the hob and add the butter. Once melted, add the flour and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Begin to add the milk, 1/3rd at a time, stirring well with each addition and only adding the next addition when the sauce is smooth and lump-free.
- Once all the milk has been added, add the cheese, nutmeg, bay leaves and mustard. Turn the heat off the pan and stir until the cheese has melted.
- Add the spinach to the sauce and, once melted, add the cauliflower back to the dish. Scatter the gnocchi over the top, drizzle with a little extra olive oil and season with salt and pepper
- Grill for 10-15 minutes until the gnocchi is golden and the sauce is bubbling.
- Leave to cool slightly before serving.
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Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal plans, for one! I select 5 one pot one portion recipes that use similar ingredients and include your shopping list plus recipe notes, ingredient swaps and tips and tricks for using up leftovers. Take a look at the first one here...
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This vegetable pancake has its origin in Korea (where they’re known as yachaejeon) and is the perfect dish to use up odds and ends of any vegetables you have lying around. Cabbage, spring onions, carrots and courgettes work really well and provide a nice balance of moisture and crunch, but peppers, potatoes, mushrooms or leafy greens are good alternatives. Depending on the vegetables you use, you may need more or less water to make the light batter so adjust as necessary.
Prawn & Mango Salad
The perfect fresh, but still flavourful, summer salad! This is a beautiful fragrant salad with a creamy, zingy coconut milk dressing. With just a little bit of chopping and a minute of whisking, you’ve got a gorgeous summer lunch, perfect for working from home, taking lunch to the office or a sunny meal in the garden this weekend.
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I buy a lot of cook books and this is genuinely one of the best l've ever bought. I've tried 6 or 7 recipes so far and they're all winners. I'm well used to scaling recipes down to one portion, but not having to calculate measurements as l go along feels like a little luxury. One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up! Highly recommended.
I have been following Eleanor on IG for a while and have made several of her dishes before the cookbook came out. I was thrilled to see so many new things to try and have already made about 6 of them. Her recipes are approachable, the dishes are delicious, and they make me feel like I can cook! Highly recommend.
If you love eating good home cooked food but can't be bothered to cook just for yourself, then this is the book for you. Using ingredients that are easy to find, then mixing, cooking and eating from the same pan or dish means a minimum of washing up. Every recipe I have tried so far has been delicious and have all turned out well which isn't always the case with many cookery books. Definitely recommend!
Following Eleanor on Instagram and seeing her recipes come to life is one thing but then having them in my own kitchen is quite another. Not only are the recipes easy to follow and delicious she also help you not to waste food. This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?
Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is perfect, as far as influencer chefs go, I find this book refreshing in what has become a cohort of lauded influencers who really aren't doing much more than the bog standard meals most people make anyway, or making googled recipes and adding their own "flair". This book is different as it's your normal fare you'd likely make yourself, given a little bit of a twist to speed up the process / use less utensils / ingredients / food waste, in really creative and tasty ways, all perfectly portioned for one.
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you eating!
Great present! Bought this for my sister who cooks for one. She absolutely loved it finding it inspiring! So many great recipes to motivate and keep you cooking when it's just you
Follow Eleanor on socials and knew I NEEDED this book immediately! SO glad I paid extra and had it shipped from the UK (to US). Eleanor's voice is loud and clear in every recipe. The pictures are beautiful, the instructions are perfectly clear, and I want to make EVERYTHING. I cannot recommend this book enough!
This recipe book is stunning and fulfils its role brilliantly in catering for individuals who want to eat delicious meals, but don't want to prepare family sized portions or devote their entire evening to cooking. Who'd believe you could make an entire roast for one person and only use one pan in the process! She is a genius and I couldn't recommend this book any more highly.
One of the best things about the book is that all the recipes are actually cooked in one pot - in a lot of other so-called books you still have to make your side dish in a separate pot. With these recipes, even if they include rice or pasta, it's all cooked together. No mountains of washing up!
This is the book I've been waiting for! I (very happily!) live alone, love to cook and read cookery books, but every recipe is for two people or more. This gorgeous book contains recipes perfectly proportioned for one person (and I'm always a very hungry one person!) which ensures more variety, less food waste, and pure, gluttonous joy.
It's so nice to finally have a recipe book that I can go to if I want a quick easy meal with minimal cleaning up required! Everything l've tried so far is delicious. And I salivate at the thought of everything in there!
Totally reignited my cooking mojo which had been MIA for a while. I'm going to buy my daughter a copy to take back to Uni too as everything is simple and delicious - perfect for a student!
Best cookbook for somebody single!
The fact I know I won't have loads to wash up really feels motivating and l've earmarked so many of the recipes already.
This book is like having all your favourite foods in one place with the added bonus of an old friend showing you the ropes. Congratulations Eleanor when can I pre-order the next one?