Have you ever roasted cauliflower? It’s the best way to prepare it so that everyone – even the picky eaters – likes it. Learn how to roast cauliflower with the perfect seasonings – it’s the best side dish.
As a kid I did not like cauliflower – it was usually prepared by boiling or making in the microwave and it was soggy and mushy and it was not appealing to me. Fast forward to adulthood when roasting vegetables became a huge trend and I realized the error of my ways. Roasted Cauliflower is amazing – much like oven roasted broccoli or roasted carrots!
When you roast veggies you get that almost woody caramelized flavor. They’re still a little crunchy but soft on the inside and when they’re perfectly seasoned they’re the best side dish ever!
Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower – I prefer buying a whole head of cauliflower and cutting it into florets myself. The bags often have a not good smell – and usually some of them are soft.
- Spices – you can use your favorite herbs and seasonings, but we love garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Variations
The sky is the limit – cauliflower takes on seasonings so well.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or 1/2 teaspoon paprika, chili powder or curry powder.
- Press or mince fresh cloves garlic instead of using powder.
- Toss with cilantro after baking or squeeze of lemon juice.
- I’ve also added a tablespoon grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
How To Roast Cauliflower
- Cut cauliflower into bite sized florets – try to make sure they’re even so they cook at the same time. Discard the stem.
- I like to toss my vegetables in a large bowl with extra virgin olive oil and the spices.
- Bake at a hight temperature so the florets are crunchy but soft in the inside. Place directly on a sheet pan (or cover it with foil).
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
We'll email a link to this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Expert Tip
Turn this into air fryer cauliflower by cooking in a preheated air fryer at 400°F. It will just take about 8-10 minutes – shake the basket halfway through baking.
Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups Cauliflower florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Toss Cauliflower with oil. Sprinkle all spices over the Cauliflower and toss to coat.
- Place Cauliflower on prepared baking sheet. Cook 18-22 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, or until cooked to slightly tender and it starts to look roasted.
- Serve immediately. Store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Recipe Nutrition
Pair this with…
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs go well with this side dish.
- We love to serve this with coconut shrimp too.
- You could also serve this alongside salmon or cod.
- Turn it into a bowl with rice and crockpot pork butt roast.
- Have you ever turned roasted veggies into a salad? Roast or grill vegetables and toss them with balsamic vinaigrette.
