Roasted Cauliflower in the Air Fryer
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Cooking cauliflower in the air fryer is an easy way to make perfectly roasted cauliflower. These crisp cauliflower bites can be served as a side for a weeknight dinner or served alongside your favorite dips as a healthy snack or appetizer.
I love cauliflower and I work it into my dinners at least 2-3 times a week whether I make this amazing cauliflower mash or toss it into my keto pizza casserole, or make this easy air fryer cauliflower recipe.
I’m all about the air fryer because it’s super easy to use and easy to clean up. Just a few simple ingredients and the cauliflower goes from raw to roasted in about 10 minutes. Just add a squeeze of lemon to it before serving and you have an amazing side dish that even the veggie-resistant people in your house are going to love.
What You’ll Need
- Cauliflower – A medium-sized head cut into pieces is perfect for this recipe. You could also get a package of pre cut florets to save a bit of time and energy.
- Oil – you can use olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, or another oil you have on hand
- Spices- Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper create the perfect flavor blend
- Lemon – a fresh squeeze of citrus juice gives the cauliflower a burst of freshness.
How to Cut Cauliflower
- Remove the Leaves: Start by pulling off all the green leaves from around the cauliflower. You can do this with your fingers or use the knife to cut them where they meet the stem.
- Cut the Stem: Flip the cauliflower so the stem is facing up. Slice around the stem with your knife, and remove as much of it as you can. This will help the core florets to break away more easily.
- Break into Florets: With the stem out, you can start breaking the cauliflower into large florets with your hands. For more control over the size, place the cauliflower back on the cutting board, stem side down, and cut through where the florets meet the base.
- Trim to Desired Size: Once you have large florets, you can cut them into smaller, bite-sized pieces if needed. Try to keep them uniform in size for even cooking.
Time-saving Tip: If you want to save a bit of time, rather than getting a cauliflower head and cutting it up, you can use pre-cut florets. They are often a bit more expensive, but they do save you some time in the kitchen.
How to Make Air Fried Cauliflower
Step 1 – Seasoning mix. In a small bowl combine the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 2 – Prepare the cauliflower. Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl and pour the oil over them. Toss to coat. Then sprinkle the seasoning mix over the florets and toss again until evenly coated in spices.
Step 3 – Air fry it. Place the prepared florets in the air fryer basket. You can stack them slightly but don’t pile a bunch on top of each other or you won’t get the crisp results we’re looking for.
When the florets are arranged, place the basket in your air fryer and set the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you cook the florets for, the more tender they become. If you like them firmer, cook for 10 minutes, but if you prefer them softer, 15 minutes works best.
Step 4 – Toss. Halfway through the cook time, toss the florets. When the timer goes off, remove the florets from the basket and squeeze a little lemon juice over it before serving.
Step 5 – Serve. Serve the fried cauliflower hot from the air fryer with your favorite dips or sauces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Cauliflower fits into most keto, low-carb, Paleo, and Whole30 diets. Raw cauliflower has about 3.5 grams of carbs per 6 ounces, but since it has a lot of fiber, the net carbs are only 2 grams! It’s also a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B6.
We don’t recommend using frozen cauliflower for this recipe. Frozen cauliflower has more water in it and when it begins cooking in the air fryer that water prevents it from getting crisp. It also makes it more difficult for the seasoning mix to stick to the cauliflower.
Dips and Sauces to Serve with It
Fried cauliflower is great on its own, but as with most appetizers and snacks, dips and sauces make it even better. Here are some of my favorite dips and sauces to make along with the cauliflower:
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Air Fryer Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Cauliflower florets, approximately 1 medium head of cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Lemon
Instructions
- Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl and pour the oil over them. Toss to coat. Then sprinkle the seasoning mix over the florets and toss again until evenly coated in spices.
- Place the cauliflower in the basket.
- Set the air fryer to 400 degrees for 10-15 mins. Toss halfway through. Time may vary depending on how tender you want the cauliflower.
- Once cauliflower has finished squeeze the lemon over it before serving.
Nutrition
