Roasted Cauliflower

By Updated on

This easy Roasted Cauliflower is made with just three simple ingredients and it will be some of the best cauliflower you've ever had. Nutty, crispy on the edges, and perfectly cooked.

58 CAL 6g CARBS 4g FAT 2g PROTEIN
Leave a Comment

This is the best oven-roasted cauliflower recipe you will ever make! Using a variety of your preferred spices, make a perfect batch of this quick and delicious veggie side dish every single time.

Whenever I can't quite decide on a side dish to serve with my healthy dinner, I usually end up reaching for broccoli or cauliflower since my husband and I both love it. Sometimes, I'll make cauliflower rice, or I'll mash the cauliflower with a touch of cheese, but most often, I roast the florets until the edges get brown and it starts to take on a nutty flavor. We also love Sauteed Cauliflower, Grilled Cauliflower, and Mashed Cauliflower.

I love how versatile this vegetable is! It takes on the spices or sauces that you use and always turns out perfect no matter how you make it.

More Ideas You'll Love
25 Amazing Roasted Vegetable Recipes

25 Amazing Roasted Vegetable Recipes

There is nothing better than roasted vegetables! Check out our Ultimate Guide to Roasting Vegetables and find over 25 delicious recipes for all types of roasted veggies. Continue Reading

Roasting is my favorite way to make cauliflower. You really can't get much easier than adding spices to the cauliflower and putting it in the oven. After you make this once, you'll probably have this recipe memorized.

Cauliflower that has been roasted with browned edges in a bowl with olive oil on the side.

Key Ingredients for Roasted Cauliflower

This recipe for healthy roasted cauliflower comes together in just 20 minutes! Here is a bit more information about the ingredients, including any substitutions you can make:

  • Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets as this helps them roast evenly. I've seen people put the entire head of cauliflower in the oven as well! That's another option, but I prefer just to chop up the cauliflower first, so the edges are nice and crispy. Learn about all cauliflower here.
  • Olive Oil: I prefer to use olive oil as my cooking oil, but if you have avocado oil, you can use that instead. Using a healthy fat oil will help the spices stick to the cauliflower and crisp it up.
  • Spices: This is where you get to be creative and have fun! Use your favorite herbs and spices. I like the way garlic and red pepper flakes taste together, so I used it. I also think that garlic powder covers the entire cauliflower floret more evenly than minced garlic, so I prefer to use the powder.

Note: For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this roasted cauliflower in the oven, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

What To Serve With This Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Since cauliflower is such a mild-tasting vegetable, it goes with almost any main course. In fact, it will taste divine with anything from steak to chicken to salmon. It is also great as part of these Roasted Vegetable Bowls for a vegetarian meal.

It's also the perfect side dish for healthy chicken piccata. It rounds out the dish’s flavor, but it doesn't add a lot of carbs or calories.

Basically, no matter what you make, this roasted cauliflower will taste amazing with it.

Crispy roasted cauliflower florets in a bowl with a whole cauliflower on the side.

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Roasted Cauliflower

Follow these tips to make sure that your cauliflower turns out crispy every single time!

  • Do not overcrowd the baking tray. This will cause your cauliflower to bake unevenly. Some of your cauliflower might turn out almost overdone, and other pieces not cooked at all.
  • Use pre-cut cauliflower florets! Save yourself time and buy a bag of cauliflower florets from the produce department.
  • Add cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick. This will give your cauliflower some heat.
  • Cut the florets, so they have flat edges. The flat edges will lay against the pan better and caramelize as they bake (which means even more flavor).
  • Roast them until they are golden brown. Don't take them out too soon! The dark brown colors are the tastes coming out, and it's what makes them taste so delicious.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Adding parmesan cheese on top before you bake it will give it a crispy coating and make it taste even better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions I frequently get asked about by some readers…

The best way to store roasted cauliflower is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days.

There are so many condiments that you can make at home! If you make your dipping sauce at home, you can control how much sugar and spice it has. One thing I love drizzling on my cauliflower is my homemade teriyaki sauce. It's lower in sugar than the store brand. It's also delicious with ranch, marinara sauce, or pesto.

I also like to dip the cauliflower into my homemade Green goddess dressing. It has the perfect amount of zest!

If you overcrowded your cauliflower florets on the baking sheet, the cauliflower can't roast very well, and this could lead to mushy pieces. So, make sure to spread them out, so they have room.

Grilling the cauliflower makes it tastes extra crispy and delicious. To grill your cauliflower, place it directly on the grill or in a grill basket. Then, grill it for about 8-10 minutes, flipping once. You'll know it is ready when it is brown and tender.Serve and enjoy!

No, roasting the cauliflower actually locks the nutrients in. There is nothing nutritionally different between raw cauliflower and roasted cauliflower.

Crispy cauliflower florets that have been roasted in the oven served in a bowl.
The Recipe
Loading Video…

Roasted Cauliflower

58 CAL 6g CARBS 4g FAT 2g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 20 Min
TOTAL TIME: 25 Min
Leave a comment
  • Print
  • Download
  • Send to your inbox

Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 4 cups cauliflower florets (not too large)
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 Salt and pepper (kosher is best)

Like this Recipe? Try our Meal Plans!

Slender Kitchen Meal Plans
  • Weekly Meal Plans
  • Easy Shopping List
  • Healthy, Low Carb, & Vegetarian
  • Nutritional Information

Instructions

(Hide Media)

Switch to prevent your screen from going dark.

1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Toss the cauliflower with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Cauliflower florets in a bowl being tossed with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2

Place the cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 18-25 minutes until browned and tender. Exact cooking time will depend on the size of the florets.

Roasted cauliflower on a white baking sheet.
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 58
Calories from Fat 34
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g
6%
Saturated Fat 1g
3%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 32mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate 6g
2%
Dietary Fiber 2g
9%
Sugars 2g
Protein 2g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

user image
About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
0 Comments
On Roasted Cauliflower
user image
Instagram Icon
Did you make this?

Snap a picture and show us what you made on Instagram or Facebook. Tag us using @SlenderKitchen or #slenderkitchen.