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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Side Dishes

    Jan 19, 2020 · Modified: Sep 17, 2021 by Becca Heyes · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

    Creamy Vegetable Bake

    609 shares
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    Total time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    5 from 25 votes
    Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe

    A creamy vegetable bake packed with colourful veggies, smothered in a creamy sauce and topped with crispy, cheesy breadcrumbs.

    Creamy vegetable bake in a baking dish with a large spoonful removed.

    If you're a vegetable lover, this is the recipe for you! And equally, if you think you don't love veggies, this is the recipe for you too. This creamy vegetable bake is jam-packed with a variety of colourful veg, smothered in a rich, creamy sauce - absolutely irresistible.

    Creamy vegetable bake in a baking dish with a spoon scooping out a portion.

    Creamy veggie bake

    This creamy vegetable bake has three main components:

    • a variety of colourful veggies
    • a creamy white sauce
    • a cheesy breadcrumb topping

    It's all cooked up together to give a seriously tempting creamy bake.

    Shot from above, vegetables in a creamy sauce with a crispy breadcrumb topping.

    What vegetables can I use in this vegetable bake?

    First up, the veg! They're all sautéed up together in a big frying pan.

    Ideally you want to use a wide variety of vegetables, so you get a nice mix of flavours, textures and colours.

    For my vegetable bake, I used broccoli, sweetcorn, peas, peppers, and mushrooms. But of course, you can totally swap the veg out for your own favourites if you want to.

    A few other vegetables that would work well:

    • onion
    • aubergine (eggplant)
    • courgette (zucchini)
    • sweet potato
    • green beans
    • cauliflower
    • leek

    To be honest, most vegetables will be great in this - just make sure that you parboil harder veggies like carrots and potatoes before adding them to the pan.

    Colourful vegetables being cooked in a large frying pan.

    Can I use frozen vegetables?

    Yes, definitely!

    Since having my second baby a few months ago, I use frozen vegetables more than ever. They're just as healthy as fresh veg, with the added benefit of reducing food waste - I can just take as much as I need from the packet and return the rest to the freezer, as opposed to finding fresh veg going old and soggy in the back of the fridge!

    Using frozen vegetables also helps me to make sure there's always something nutritious in the house, even if I haven't had a chance to go shopping for a couple of weeks.

    Bear in mind that some frozen vegetables are better than others. I regularly use sliced peppers, diced onions, sliced mushrooms, peas and sweetcorn straight from the freezer, and I used some of the above in this recipe.

    But other vegetables are better cooked from fresh - I used fresh broccoli for this creamy vegetable bake, for example, as I find the frozen stuff sometimes ends up a bit mushy. I'm also not a huge fan of the texture of frozen carrots. Other veg, like frozen green beans, are best cooked in another way, like roasting.

    So if you'd like to start using frozen vegetables more for whatever reason, just try out a few kinds and see which you like best. You can use a mixture of frozen and fresh veg depending on your preferences.

    A simple white sauce in a saucepan.

    Creamy white sauce

    Next, just make a simple white sauce. I've shown you how to make a white sauce in detail before, so basically... just do that.

    You could add some cheese to your white sauce if you like, but I actually found it wasn't necessary (and if even I'm saying that, you know it's true). With all of those tasty veggies, the saucy part of this creamy vegetable bake has plenty of flavour even without extra cheese.

    Colourful vegetables in a creamy white sauce in a frying pan.

    Creamy vegetable casserole

    Just mix the cooked veg with the creamy sauce, and you're almost done!

    This veggie bake is one of those dishes that really makes the vegetables the star of the show, and lets you appreciate just how much flavour vegetables actually have!

    Creamy vegetables in a baking dish, being topped with grated cheese and breadcrumbs.

    Cheesy breadcrumbs

    Finally, top the creamy vegetable mixture with some fine breadcrumbs and a little grated cheese (I wasn't going to use none, was I?).

    The topping crisps up beautifully in the oven, and the sauce bubbles up around the edges, inviting you to take that first scoop...

    Creamy vegetable bake in a baking dish, with a scoop being removed.

    How should I serve my creamy vegetable bake?

    This veggie bake can serve as either a side dish, or a main course in its own right.

    It would be great served with just a simple salad, or with some crusty bread and butter on the side for mopping up the sauce.

    Or, serve it with a vegetarian roast dinner - it's all your vegetable dishes in one! Some kind of vegetarian cutlet and a few roast potatoes will make an incredible dinner with this creamy vegetable bake on the side (just don't forget the gravy!).

    A creamy veggie bake with a large scoop removed, showing the creamy vegetables inside.
    A creamy vegetable bake in a baking dish, with a scoop removed.

    Creamy Vegetable Bake

    A creamy vegetable bake packed with colourful veggies, smothered in a creamy sauce and topped with crispy, cheesy breadcrumbs.

    If you've cooked this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating!

    5 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 367kcal
    Author: Becca Heyes
    (prevents your screen from going dark)

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 225 g (~ 2 cups) frozen sliced peppers (or 3 fresh bell peppers, sliced or diced)
    • 100 g (~ 1 cup) frozen sweetcorn
    • 100 g (~ 1 cup) frozen peas
    • ½ small head broccoli (or ~ 2 cups prepared broccoli)
    • ~ 6 medium mushrooms, sliced or diced
    • 35 g (~ 2 ½ tbsp) butter
    • 2 ½ tablespoon plain flour
    • 250 ml (~ 1 cup) milk
    • 250 ml (~ 1 cup) vegetable stock
    • Black pepper
    • 75 g cheddar cheese, grated (~ ¾ cup when grated)
    • 50 g (~ ⅓ cup) fine breadcrumbs (I used shop-bought)
    • Spray oil

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a large frying pan, and add all the vegetables. Cook over a medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until almost entirely cooked. You can use different vegetables if you like, just bear in mind that vegetables that are particularly hard (e.g. carrots or potatoes) will need parboiling before adding to the frying pan.
    • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over a medium-low heat. Add the flour, and mix well to form a paste. Cook for a minute or so, stirring constantly, then add the milk a little at a time, stirring until smooth each time before adding more. Then add the vegetable stock (again, it may help to add it a little at a time). You can see more detailed instructions for how to cook a simple white sauce here.
    • Add the white sauce to the cooked vegetables, and mix well. Season with black pepper, and some salt if needed (you may find the salty stock is enough). Transfer to a suitably sized baking dish (mine measured 9 x 7 inches).
    • Sprinkle some grated cheese and fine breadcrumbs over the creamy vegetables, and spray lightly with oil to help the topping crisp up. Bake at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 25 minutes, or until the vegetables are piping hot, and the topping is crisped up to your liking.

    Video

    Notes

    Feel free to use different vegetables - see the full blog post for some ideas of veggies that will work well!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 portion - Calories: 367 kcal - Carbohydrates: 34.9 g - Protein: 14.6 g - Fat: 19.8 g - Saturated Fat: 10 g - Cholesterol: 44 mg - Sodium: 325 mg - Potassium: 542 mg - Fiber: 5.1 g - Sugar: 6.8 g - Calcium: 275 mg - Iron: 3 mg

    Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @EasyCheesyVeg or tag #EasyCheesyVegetarian!

    Here's another easy meal that works really well with frozen vegetables: one pot vegetarian chilli mac!

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    609 shares
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    Comments

    1. alfira fisher says

      April 27, 2021 at 11:05 am

      Hi, I really love the sound of this recipe. I am wondering if you could let me know, could I freeze it?

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        April 27, 2021 at 11:12 am

        I've not tried freezing this one but I don't see why it wouldn't freeze and reheat just fine :)

        Reply
    2. Tracy says

      April 27, 2021 at 10:16 am

      I added a bit of goat cheese and used cheddar and Parmesan on top. Also, sprinkled on a slightly hot African spice mix with fresh summer squash, eggplant, corn, red sweet peppers, onion and broccoli. Skeptic of vegetarian fare hubby loved it! Thinking of serving over buttermilk biscuits next time.5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        April 27, 2021 at 11:05 am

        That all sounds incredible! You could bake it like a cobbler :) https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/vegetable-cobbler/

        Reply
    3. Jamilla says

      March 15, 2021 at 6:22 am

      I was thinking that this is some kind of lasagna but using veggies haha. Anyways, it turned out great! I also tried to add a few more bits of other veggies like beans and carrots and it still went great with it. Good find :)5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        April 13, 2021 at 9:21 am

        Thanks Jamilla! You can add all sorts of veggies to this one :)

        Reply
    4. Rosemary Clarke says

      November 10, 2020 at 10:19 am

      Love bright colours vegetable but like fresh vegetables cauliflower broccoli mushrooms leeks red pepper5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        November 13, 2020 at 9:37 am

        Thanks Rosemary, glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Sophie Barbary says

      August 07, 2020 at 10:21 am

      Hi, will this freeze ok?

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        August 13, 2020 at 9:51 am

        Hi Sophie, I haven't tried freezing it, but I think it's definitely worth a try - can't see why it wouldn't work! :)

        Reply
    6. Johanna Higgs says

      July 03, 2020 at 10:06 pm

      I made this vegetarian bake today , very nice , my husband enjoyed it . And I did . Enough left for tomorrow and I never used frozen veg fresh is best . 

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        July 06, 2020 at 10:35 am

        Thanks Johanna, glad you enjoyed it :)

        Reply
    7. Chandra Bruton says

      May 13, 2020 at 1:15 am

      I tried this tonight and it didn't turn out for me. I clicked the link to the white sauce and saw how it was supposed to be creamy. I did the steps as listed to make the white sauce but when adding the broth it was too much liquid so it wasn't thinking up anymore. Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        May 13, 2020 at 4:10 pm

        Hmm strange! Was it combining into a smooth sauce, or was the liquid not mixing in fully? It might be that it just needed a little more time on the heat to come together properly - and it will also need a good stir to help it come together. Otherwise if it is too runny because there was too much liquid added, you can just leave it over the heat for a few minutes and it will gradually thicken up :)

        Reply
    8. Keri says

      March 30, 2020 at 11:13 pm

      So delicious and worth the time to make your own white sauce. I made this with two bags of froz veggies (cauliflower, carrot, and broccoli blend) and my hubby and I devoured it. I'm embarrassed how many times we both went back for seconds! But hey, when's the last time you ate an entire bag of frozen veggies? LOL. A winner for sure.5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        March 31, 2020 at 10:07 am

        Haha! That's what I like to hear! So glad you enjoyed it :)

        Reply
    9. Emily says

      February 28, 2020 at 5:57 am

      I was looking for a non pasta/rice recipe when I stumbled across this.

      I sprinkled the top with a little bit of parmesan on top instead of normal cheese (as I was out) and it turned out amazing.

      I had to fight the temptation to eat it out of the pan when I taste tested to see if needed more seasoning

      Plus a sneaky way to get the kids eating vegetables "they don't like".5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        March 03, 2020 at 10:30 am

        Haha! Definitely one of those recipes you want to eat straight out of the pan :D Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the lovely comment!

        Reply
    10. Chloe Edges says

      February 26, 2020 at 10:53 am

      This looks and sounds delicious. I agree that leaving the cheese out of the sauce is good, I more often than not also now do this. I'm also a huge fan of frozen vegetables. No babies to work around here but they're such a good way of a) making sure to always have veg on hand and b) it's a great way of minimising good waste as you only use what you need!5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        February 27, 2020 at 2:19 pm

        I've fallen in love with frozen veggies! I use frozen way more often than fresh these days!

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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