Cauliflower – How to Roast Cauliflower, roasted

At a glance

What stands out: Roasting brings out so much flavor in the cauliflower. Roasted cauliflower is good for you, straightforward to mix, and tastes rich. Learn how to roast cauliflower here!

How long it takes: 25 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, roasting pan (sheet pan), oven
Servings: 4

We've been roasting vegetables like it is our job (wait, we guess it kind of is our job!) and we LOVE them this way. Roasted broccoli is memorable, roasted carrots are just tasty, mushrooms are unbelievably tasty, any kind of squash is a standby, and we bet you get the point. We could go on and on. Roasting brings so much flavor and texture to most vegetables and it’s a lighter way to cook them.

Cauliflower is no exception. It is a standby way to eat cauliflower. And it is unbelievably straightforward, which is always a bonus.

Why Eat Cauliflower?

Because your mother always told you to eat your vegetables, right? Seriously, cauliflower is low in calories and contains almost every nutrient your body needs, according to Healthline. It’s an excellent source of fiber, choline, and lots of antioxidants.

PS: Can’t get enough of roasted cauliflower? Try whole roasted cauliflower or our favorite burrito bowl topping, roasted cauliflower with chili powder. Don’t forget the pickled onions!

About Roasted Cauliflower

It’s the most flavorful way to cook cauliflower. Maybe the only way you’ve even eaten cauliflower is boiled to death. Yeah, then we get why you say you don’t like cauliflower. That method of cooking tends to produce a soggy, mushy, strong-tasting mess. No wonder it’s usually slathered with cheese sauce. Try roasted cauliflower today. After one bite, it may become your new favorite!

Roasting cauliflower is straightforward! Once you learn the basics of how to roast cauliflower, you’ll find yourself doing it constantly! Roasting ANY vegetable is a straightforward process and usually requires just a few simple ingredients. We'll run you through the basics here and give you a few extra tips.

What goes in

• Cauliflower: Look for a firm head of cauliflower that’s creamy white in colorwith fresh green leaves around the stem. Avoid cauliflower with brown or soft spots. Raw cauliflower can be stored in a plastic or paper bag in the fridge for up to a week.
• Olive Oil: Other types of oil can be substituted, such as avocado, grapeseed, or any other mild tasting oil.
• Salt and Pepper: Use coarse ground salt and black pepper if you can. It’s memorable how much flavor the bits of salt and pepper add.

How to Cut and Prep Cauliflower (2 ways)

First Method: Slamming Cauliflower on Counter

The first way to “cut” cauliflower is slamming it on the counter (the stem end only) while it’s still wrapped. It’s a fun and speedy way to break the head of cauliflower into florets. This method won’t work if your store carries cauliflower that isn’t wrapped in plastic. It can also result in uneven sizes of florets. We don’t mind this when roasting (we love the crispy little ones!), but if you want more uniform florets, try our next method.

Second Method: Cutting with a Knife

The more… let’s say sophisticated….way is this:

Start by removing any outer leaves.

Cut the cauliflower in quarters from top to bottom.

Next, cut diagonally to cut out the core.

Next, break or cut the quarters into bite-sized pieces.

That’s it! Either way is completely acceptable for this recipe.

How To Roast Cauliflower In 3 Simple Steps

To roast cauliflower or any other vegetable, there are a few basic requirements: large rimmed pan (sheet pan), vegetables cut into evenly sized pieces, oil and seasonings, and a hot oven.

What's A Sheet Pan?

A half sheet pan is 18 x 13 inches, with a 1 inch rim.

Beyond roasting vegetables, you’ll use this versatile pan for a variety of cooking tasks from sheet pan dinners to baked bacon.

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Wash and dry cauliflower. Rinse cauliflower with water, cut it into small florets as close to the same size as possible, and dry thoroughly. We give the florets a spin in our salad spinner. The smaller and the drier they are, the crispier they’ll get and the quicker they’ll cook.

Add seasoning and oil. Toss the florets with olive oil, salt and pepper. You can do this in a large bowl or right on the sheet pan.

Spread the florets on a baking pan. Give them as much space as possible so there’s good air flow between the florets. Crowding the florets creates steam which prevents browning and makes the cauliflower soggy.

Roast. Bake the cauliflower in a preheated oven at 425°F until crispy and golden brown!

Oven Temp

The recipe is written for 425°F but if you have something else in the oven that you need to cook at a specific temperature (350°F – 400°F) the cauliflower will still roast nicely. It won’t cook as quickly and or get quite as crispy but still tastes great.

Eat roasted cauliflower as a side dish, or use it in other recipes. Roasted cauliflower soup tastes unbelievably rich but won’t break your calorie count for the day. Even though the cauliflower is blended together with other ingredients, roasting it first gives your dish an memorable depth of flavor. Everyone will want to know your secret, and how to roast cauliflower!

Tips for Success

1. Dry it well. Make sure the raw cauliflower is dry before coating it with oil. Spread it out on a towel on the counter for a half hour or so to make sure it gets good and dry. A salad spinner helps, too. Dry = Crispy!
2. Coat with oil. A thin layer of oil not only gives flavor but also increases the crispness of the cauliflower, much like deep frying would. If you like, spray the florets with olive oil spray to make sure they are well-coated with oil.
3. Promote good air flow. Spread the cauliflower out on the baking pan. Since cauliflower has a high water content, good air circulation promotes crispiness.
4. Preheat the oven. Make sure the oven is preheated before you start roasting the cauliflower. A good hot oven is essential. To kickstart the roasting process, preheat the sheet pan in the oven.

Ways to change it

• Add seasoning. Add your favorite seasoning to the cauliflower. Make it spicy with chili powder, curry powder, and taco seasoning; seasoned salt or garlic powder add flavor, too. Dried or fresh herbs are great, too. We also love our all-purpose seasoning on cauliflower.
• Dress it up. Cauliflower doesn’t have a strong flavor and can be dressed up in a variety of sauces. After roasting, drizzle on beautifully green chimichurri, a garlicky parsley topping. From-scratch pesto or salsa verde are great, too.
• Add cheese. Try our Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe or top the cauliflower with a dreamy cheese sauce. We also love this cauliflower and potato casserole which is dressed up with cheese sauce and a crispy breadcrumb topping. It’s reliable for holidays!
• Roast it in your air fryer: Try air fryer cauliflower when you don’t want to use your oven. Be sure to try air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites, too.

Make Ahead Ideas

Get a head start: While this is a simple recipe, prepping the raw cauliflower ahead of time will save you time at dinner. Cut, wash, and dry the florets up to 4 days in advance. Store them in a plastic or paper bag or covered bowl in the fridge.

Keeping leftovers

Refrigerate: Leftover roasted cauliflower can be stored in the fridge for up to five days in a covered container.

Freeze: If you prefer, freeze it for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheat: For best results, reheat in the oven (or toaster oven) or on a sheet pan to regain the crispiness. A few minutes in an air fryer will do the trick, too.

Leftover Love

Add leftover roasted cauliflower to your favorite burrito bowl. Make cauliflower nachos or cauliflower tacos. You won’t believe how tasty they are!

• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Cook: 20 minutes
• Total: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower (about 4 cups florets)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (other types of oil are fine, too)
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Wash cauliflower, cut it into medium-sized florets, and dry very thoroughly. Don’t skip drying — it’s important. Use a salad spinner if you have one, or just shake all the water out and pat dry with a clean, lint-free towel. The drier you get the cauliflower before mixing with the olive oil, the better this recipe turns out.
3. Add florets to a large bowl, add olive oil, and toss to coat. (You can do this right on the sheet pan, if you prefer.) Spread cauliflower on sheet pan in a single layer and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 10 minutes, flip each piece over, and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

Have extra cauliflower? Don’t worry if you have more cauliflower than the recipe calls for. Add a bit of extra oil and make sure there’s enough room on the sheet pan to spread the florets out. If necessary, use two sheet pans.

Add-ins: ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt, garlic powder, taco seasoning, chili powder, or curry powder can be added before roasting. Sauces such as salsa verde, chimichurri, or pesto can be added afterwards.

Make ahead idea: Prep the raw florets up to four days in advance. They’ll keep well in the fridge in a resealable bag or tightly sealed container. Bake as directed.

Air fryer instructions: Prepare cauliflower as directed and preheat air fryer to 390°F. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer. You may have to do it batches. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and browned.