Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (2024)

The BEST oven-roasted cauliflower and it’s so easy. The flavor and texture are perfect with just some simple seasoning, oil, and butter.

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (1)

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Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

This baked cauliflower recipe is a go-to side dish like Corn on the Cob and Roasted Brussels Sprouts. It’s a dish you’ll make over and over.

This oven-roasted cauliflower is easy and excellent. The combination of butter and olive oil caramelizes the florets and they are baked to crisp-tender perfection. The best thing about this recipe is that you can customize the seasoning with what you have on hand with great results.

The Best Seasoning for Cauliflower

Cauliflower goes well with just about any seasoning. Even a simple salt and pepper seasoning works well. These are the seasonings we love most:

  • Salt – we love fine sea salt
  • Black Pepper – freshly cracked
  • Garlic Powder – or try garlic salt
  • Paprika – adds color and flavor (a little goes a long way)

Can I add cheese? we love to add cheese to cauliflower. Sprinkle cauliflower with 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese in the last 5 minutes of cooking for a parmesan roasted cauliflower.

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (2)

How to Roast Cauliflower

This roasted cauliflower recipe is so easy to make and uses ingredients you most likely already have on hand

  1. Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
  2. Slice the cauliflower into traditional florets or into flat cauliflower steaks.
  3. Seasoning- Add the cauliflower to the center of your baking sheet, drizzle with oil and butter, and toss to coat. Season the cauliflower and toss again then spread into a single layer.
  4. Bake cauliflower for 15-20 minutes, or until desired tenderness and golden at the edges. The baking time may vary depending on the size of your pieces.
Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (3)

How to Slice Cauliflower into Steaks: Slice the cauliflower head into 4-5 wedges. Then, cut the wedges into even 1/2″ thick steaks and break them apart into bite-sized pieces. As they are roasted, the flat sides caramelize against the baking sheet adding a depth of flavor. It also results in evenly browned pieces.

How Long to Bake Cauliflower?

The bake time for roasted cauliflower will depend on the size, thickness, and desired doneness of your pieces.

  • Smaller pieces – you only need about 15-20 minutes.
  • Larger florets – bake 20-25 minutes. Until the cauliflower is caramelized and golden.
Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (4)

Air Fryer Instructions:

Cooking cauliflower in an air fryer is quick and easy. When air frying, I skip the butter and just use 2-3 Tbsp olive oil. Air fry cauliflower at 375˚ for 10-15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, until golden and tender.

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (5)

Make-Ahead

  • Meal Prep – you can pre-chop your cauliflower a few days ahead, cover and refrigerate then add seasoning before roasting.
  • Refrigerate – once cooled to room temperature, you can cover and refrigerate leftover roasted cauliflower for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating – You can reheat the cauliflower on the stovetop, oven, or air fryer just until heated through.

More Side Dish Recipes

If you loved this roasted cauliflower, be sure to try these fail-proof side dish recipes:

Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

5 from 748 votes

Author: Valentina Ablaev

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (7)

The most delicious oven-roasted cauliflower recipe that will become your go-to side dish. Cauliflower florets drizzled in oil and butter and seasoned to perfection.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 6 as a side dish

  • 1 medium cauliflower, sliced in small florets, or 1/2" thick steaks
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp ground paprika
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Slice the head of cauliflower into 1/2" thick steaks, breaking up wedges into even, bite-sized pieces.

  • Add the cauliflower to the center of the baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and melted butter and toss to combine.

  • In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper for the seasoning. Sprinkle onto caulliflower and toss to evenly coat.

  • Spread the cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and bake at 425˚F for 15-20 minutes, until cauliflower reaches desired crispiness.

Notes

Bake time will slightly vary depending on the size of your florets or slices.
You may substitute oil instead of butter if you don’t want to use any butter.

Nutrition Per Serving

100kcal Calories5g Carbs2g Protein9g Fat3g Saturated Fat1g Trans Fat10mg Cholesterol223mg Sodium294mg Potassium2g Fiber2g Sugar158IU Vitamin A46mg Vitamin C23mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

100

% Daily Value*

Fat

9

g

14

%

Saturated Fat

3

g

19

%

Trans Fat

1

g

Cholesterol

10

mg

3

%

Potassium

294

mg

8

%

Carbohydrates

5

g

2

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

2

g

2

%

Protein

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

158

IU

3

%

Vitamin C

46

mg

56

%

Calcium

23

mg

2

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked cauliflower, roasted cauliflower

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 100

Valentina Ablaev

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (8)

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

This is true of any vegetable — boiling it will give you a flavor closer to the raw flavor, which means more bitterness and more astringency. Caramelizing it will bring out its hidden sweetness. This light, vibrant roasted cauliflower salad is a recipe I developed for the fall menu at Duo.

Why is my roasted cauliflower tough? ›

Undercooking It. Overcooking is bad, but undercooking cauliflower is an equally off-putting problem. "When making cauliflower steaks or roasting florets, if you don't roast it in the oven long enough it will be warm but still hard and unenjoyable to eat," says Michalczyk.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Does cauliflower need to be washed before roasting? ›

Wash and trim the cauliflower so the florets are similar in size. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Combine the olive oil, salt, and roasted vegetable seasoning in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower florets and toss to coat the veggies with the seasoning.

What does adding lemon juice to cauliflower do? ›

Cauliflower should be cooked quartered, or cut into florets at the base of the stem. In kitchen lore, lemon juice, milk, flour and vinegar have all been recommended as additions to cauliflower cooking water, presumably to keep it white.

Why do you put lemon juice in cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower contains some phytonutrients, these nutrients may react with iron cookware and gives the cauliflower a brownish color. To prevent this add some lemon juice to the cauliflower or to the water in which it is blanched.

What does baking soda do to cauliflower? ›

Baking soda is often used as a natural cleaning agent, and it can be used to brighten up your veggies too. Sprinkle a little in the water before boiling to prevent cauliflower from yellowing and make corn look more vibrant.

Why does cooked cauliflower hurt my stomach? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain high levels of insoluble fiber, which can quickly lead to digestive upset, especially when consumed raw. Symptoms can include bloating, gas and cramping.

Why aren't my roasted vegetables crispy? ›

The Oven Temp Is Too Low

But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F.

What does vinegar do to cauliflower? ›

Adding vinegar to the cooking water when cooking cauliflower is a common technique that can help to reduce the strong sulfur smell that cauliflower can sometimes give off while cooking. The vinegar can help to neutralize the sulfur compounds in the cauliflower, resulting in a milder aroma and flavor.

How to cook cauliflower Gordon Ramsay? ›

Cooking instructions

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. Drain and refresh in iced water, drain again and transfer to a large ovenproof dish.

How do you cut cauliflower for roasting? ›

Lay a cauliflower quarter on the cutting board and angle the knife so that it cuts out the core. Repeat with the remaining quarters of cauliflower. Pull apart the cauliflower florets. Use your hands to divide up the cauliflower florets.

Why is my roasted cauliflower soft? ›

First, take care not to overcrowd your pan; if the cauliflower is packed in rim-to-rim, the moisture will not be able to escape as the florets cook, which will result in soft steamed cauliflower instead of roasted. Next, don't be overly generous with the oil — a light coating is what we're after here.

How do you get the smell out of roasted cauliflower? ›

To avoid cauliflower smell while cooking, add a few drops of white vinegar - it kills the smell.

How do you get the cauliflower taste out of cauliflower? ›

To make cauliflower taste more like broccoli, try the following: Blanch: Cut the cauliflower into small flowers and blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then remove and drain. Blanching removes the astringency of cauliflower and makes it taste more like broccoli.

What makes cauliflower a super food? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

How do you take the bitterness out of cauliflower? ›

To mellow the flavor, soak the entire head (leaves removed) in cold, salted water for 30 minutes before steaming. Some of the bitter components will leach out. Soaking cauliflower will also give your cauliflower a snow-white appearance.

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