Roasted Cauliflower

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.

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.

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.

Note: While I am going to make this roasted cauliflower in the oven, I will also include instructions for how to grill the cauliflower<./p>

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.
• 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 balsamic flank steak with roasted tomatoes. 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.

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 About Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

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

How do you store roasted cauliflower?

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.

What is a healthy dipping sauce for roasted cauliflower?

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.

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

Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

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.

How do you grill cauliflower?

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!

Does roasting cauliflower kill the nutrients?

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

More Delicious Cauliflower Recipes You’ll Love:

• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
• Grilled Cauliflower
• Sauteed Cauliflower
• Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice